The name
In 1972, the local name of Magic Island was officially changed to Aina Moana Park, which means land from the sea, but many still call it by its original name.
Honolulu – The Big Pineapple
Possibly a play on New York City's renowned nickname, The Big Pineapple is one of several nicknames for the capital of Hawaii, and it's more than just a play on words.
Thomas Thrum (1923) translated Kakaako as to “chop, beat or prepare thatching” and indicated the salt marshes there were good places to gather pili grass, which Hawaiians traditionally used to thatch their houses.
Owned by Brookfield Retail Group, Ala Moana is the ninth largest shopping mall in the United States and the largest open-air shopping center in the world. Ala Moana is consistently ranked among the most successful malls in the world.
The ancient Hawaiian name for the area was Kâlia. It originally included many fishponds, taro fields, swamps, and residences for the fishermen. The land was held as Hawaiian Government property and sold in 1861 to Lot Kamehameha.
The Ala Moana Center was developed and designed by Don Graham. Critics viewed Graham's unusual design, which oriented the mall away from the Pacific Ocean and included two levels for retail and parking, as a potential failure.
Ala Wai, literally meaning waterway is a man made canal which was created in order to drain the wetlands of Waikiki in 1921.
Meaning:The beautiful one. Celebrate baby's radiance with the name Kanani. This feminine name has Hawaiian roots, translating to “the beautiful one.” Of course, baby is going to be a beautiful addition to your family.
The Hawaiian word for beautiful is nani [nah-nee]. In case no one's told you today, nani no ʻoe – you are beautiful.
Hawaiʻi Island (The Big Island)
That's just how common this nickname is in the local dialect. Regardless, Hawaiʻi Island is called the Big Island because it's big—like, really big.
Waikīkī, a Hawaiian word translating to 'spouting water'' was a marshland and popular gathering place for the Oʻahu royal family. Waikīkī was originally much larger than it is today, including the Mānoa and Palolo Valleys.
Oahu: The Gathering Place
With the state's highest population, 72% of residents "gather" in Oahu, calling it home. It's also where you'll find the state capital of Honolulu, as well as Hawaii's main port, financial district, military base, international airport, and university, making it a tourism mecca.
Haole is only one of several words commonly used in Hawaii to describe various ethnicities. Technically, haole means someone who is foreign, as opposed to someone who is local. Haole has come to be a term for those of European ancestry.
E hō mai. E hō mai. Grant us the knowledge from above.
The Hui Aloha 'Aina (translated as the Hawaiian Patriotic League) petition – clearly marked "Petition Against Annexation" and written in both the Hawaiian and English languages – was signed by 21,269 native Hawaiian people.
The word wahine came into English in the late 18th century from Maori, the language of a Polynesian people native to New Zealand; it was originally used for a Maori woman, especially a wife. The word is also used for a woman in Hawaiian and Tahitian, though spelled "vahine" in the latter.
Kalena. Pronounced ka-LEE-na, Kalena is the Hawaiian form of Karen, which is the Danish short form of Katherine. It became common in English-speaking countries in the 1930s. Like Katherine, Karen means “pure.”
[Andrews Dictionary (Hawaiian)] NAI-NAI. v. See NAI. To exercise or cherish bad feelings; to be sour or crabbed towards others; to be evilly disposed; to struggle against opposition; to hop.
[Parker Dictionary (Hawaiian)] Opa (o'-pa), adj. Weary: tired: having strength exhausted; worn out.
Nani(Nah-knee) – it's the standard term used, but it can also be used to show something or someone is pretty. Ho'onani (ho-oh-nah-knee) – this is more of a verb, used to describe something pretty or beautiful. Makalapua (ma-caw-la-poo-ahh) – the Hawaiian way to say handsome.
Shoots is slang for okay or an acknowledgment. “We go to da beach, brah? Shoots!”
Created by directors Ron Clements and John Musker, and voiced by Dwayne Johnson, Maui is loosely based on Māui from Hawaiian mythology. In the film, Maui is depicted as a demigod who was abandoned by his parents and eventually adopted by the gods.
Although Moana is from the fictional island Motunui some 3,000 years ago, the story and culture of Moana is based on the very real heritage and history of Polynesian islands such as Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti. In fact, once you start looking for ties to Polynesian culture in Moana, it's hard to stop!
The name Ala Moana means “path to the sea,” which is fitting due to the shopping center's proximity to the sea.