Pronouncing Place Names on Maui

Pronouncing Place Names on Maui or town names can be difficult for first-timers.

They struggle to pronounce Hawaiian names -- (as they would pronounce an unfamiliar word in English).

They say they are taking the Road to Hana, which they pronounce in various ways: “HANN-nah” or “HAY-nah” or “HAH-nah” as it is actually pronounced.

And Lahaina comes out variously, often as: “lah-HAY-nah” instead of “lah-HIGH-nah” as it is actually pronounced.

Napili is not pronounced like the city in Italy, but instead is “nah-PEE-lee”.

-----

Since the arrival and predominance of foreigners over the past two centuries, the original Hawaiian names have been shortened and anglicized:

Ka’anapali -- [kah-ah-nah-PAH-lee] -- or shortened to [kah-nah-PAH-lee]

Lanai’i -- [lah-NAH-ee] -- or shortened to [lah-NY]

Moloka’i -- [moh-loh-KAH-ee] -- or shortened to [MOH-loh-ky]

-----

In the printed pronunciation guide following each Hawaiian place name, syllables in CAPITAL LETTERS are stressed when pronouncing.

-----

Ha’iku -- [hah-EE-koo] -- or shortened to [HY-koo]

Hali’imale -- [HAH-lee-MAH-lee]

Hamoa -- [hah-MOH-ah]

Hana -- [HAH-nuh]

Hanakao’o (Canoe Beach) -- [hah-nah-kah-OH-oh]

Honoapiilani -- [hoh-noh-ah-pee-ee-LAH-nee]

Honokohau -- [hoh-noh-koh-HOW]

Honokowai -- [hoh-noh-koh-WHY]

Honolua -- [hoh-noh-LOO-ah]

Ho’okipa -- [hoh-oh-KEE-pah]

Huelo -- [WHEH-loh]

Iao (Valley) -- [EE-ow]

Ka’ahumanu -- [kah-ah-hoo-MAH-noo]

Ka’anapali -- [kah-ah-nah-PAH-lee] -- or shortened to [kah-nah-PAH-lee]

Kahakuloa -- [kah-hah-koo-LOH-ah]

Kahana -- [kah-HAH-nah]

Kahekili -- [kah-heh-KEE-lee]

Kahului -- [kah-hoo-LOO-ee]

Kailua -- [ky-LOO-ah]

Kapalua -- [kah-puh-LOO-uh]

Kaupo -- [KOW-poh]

Kipahulu -- [kih-pah-HOO-loo]

Ke’anae -- [KEH-ah-ny]

Kihei -- [KEE-hay]

Ko’olau -- [KOH-oh-lauw]

Kula -- [KOO-luh]

Ma’alaea -- [mah-ah-LYE-uh]

Makawao -- [MAH-kah-wow]

Makena -- [mah-KEH-nuh]

Mala -- [MAH-lah]

MAUI -- [MOW-wee]

Mokulele -- [moh-koo-LEH-leh]

Moloka’i -- [moh-loh-KAH-ee] -- or shortened to [MOH-loh-ky]

Molokini -- [moh-loh-KEE-nee]

Lahaina -- [lah-HIGH-nah]

Lanai’i -- [lah-NAH-ee] -- or shortened to [lah-NY]

Launiupoko -- [lah-nee-uh-POH-koh]

Nahiku -- [nah-HEE-koo]

Napili -- [nah-PEE-lee]

Ohe’o -- [oh-HEH-oh]

Olinda -- [oh-LIHN-dah]

Olowalu -- [oh-loh-WAH-loo]

Oneloa -- [oh-neh-LOH-ah]

Pa’ia -- [pah-EE-ah]

Pe’ahi -- [peh-AH-hee]

Pi’ilani -- [pee-ee-LAH-nee]

Puamana -- [poo-ah-MAH-nah]

Pukulani -- [poo-koo-LAH-nee]

Pulehu -- [poo-LEH-hoo]

Pu’u Keka’a (Black Rock) -- [poo-oo keh-KAH-ah]

Pu’unene -- [poo-oo-NEH-neh]

Ulupalakua -- [oo-loo-pah-lah-KOO-ah]

Wahikuli -- [wah-hee-KOO-lee]

Waiehu -- [why-EH-hoo]

Waihe’e -- [why-HEH-eh]

Waikapu -- [WHY-kah-poo]

Wailea -- [why-LAY-uh]

Wailua -- [why-LOO-ah]

Wailuku -- [why-LOO-koo]

Waianapanapa -- [why-NAH-pah-NAH-pah]

Walmart -- [WAHL-mart]

-----


Pronouncing Hawaiian Names is not as hard as it looks.


Return to First Trip to Maui.








-----

Looking for something else?

Use this search feature to find it:





-----

The Hawaiians say Maui No Ka Oi -- Maui is The Best!

Helping More People Vacation on Maui The Best Way.

-----

TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Share this page:
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.