Hawaiian Inoa By Abigail Roxas Kalihi, O‘ahu There were limited but highly valued personal possessions in the early days of Hawai’i. “Poi pounders, woven mats, a man’s malo (loin cloth), the stone adze of a canoe maker, the bone hooks of a fisherman, the spear of a warrior – all these were prized.” (Pukui, Haertig, Lee) Aside from these possessions, the most precious possession one can own was their name. A Hawaiian name tells a lot about a person. It might tell you about the place and conditions of birth, family lineage, ancestor’s occupation, and mana. “Whatever the meaning behind the inoa… the name itself had mana; the name itself might bear a kapu. Both could play a part in shaping the character, personality – even the fate and fortunes – of the bearer!” (Pukui, Haertig, Lee) Hawaiian names also uphold values bestowed upon the child which creates a unique and special meaning. It is also believed that Hawaiian names are crafted very carefully and diligently because they were thoug...
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