Hawaii etymology

Etymology

The name "Hawaii" originates from the Proto-Austronesian word "sawaiki," which likely referred to a sacred or mythical place.

Meaning

• Proto-Austronesian: "sawaiki" (sacred or mythical place)
• Tahitian: "Hawaiki," the legendary ancestral homeland
• Hawaiian: "Hawaii" (the name of the island and the state)

Origin

According to Polynesian mythology, the name "Hawaii" was brought to the islands by the first Polynesian settlers, who believed it to be the name of their legendary ancestral homeland, "Hawaiki."

Historical Usage

• Ancient Hawaii: Used to refer to the "Big Island" of Hawaii, the largest island in the archipelago.
• Kingdom of Hawaii: Renamed as the "Kingdom of Hawaii" in 1810.
• U.S. State: Became the 50th U.S. state in 1959, officially adopting the name "Hawaii."

Variations

• Hawaiki: Tahitian and Māori name for the ancestral homeland
• Savai'i: Samoan island also named after the Proto-Austronesian word "sawaiki"

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