Synopsis: There are many examples of English names that were translated into Hawaiian by first-language speakers of Hawaiian, whether they were people’s names or place names.

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Welina e nā makamaka heluhelu o Kauakūkalahale. Ua uluhua wale paha kekahi mau kānaka i kekahi mau pule aku nei i hala i ka mo’olelo “He keu a ka hana keaka maika’i.” ‘O ka namunamu e wawā ana, ‘o ia ho’i, no ke aha lā i unuhi ‘ia ai ka inoa o Maluhia Honua Meka mai loko mai o ka inoa haole (Metta World Peace, a ‘o Rona Alatesa ia ma mua). Hō’ike mai ana kekahi, ‘a’ole kūpono ka unuhi ‘ana i ka ha’iinoa pili kahi a i ka ha’iinoa pili wahi paha mai loko mai o kekahi ‘ōlelo a i kekahi.

E nā makamaka heluhelu, e kupu a’e ana kekahi nīnau no ka ha’iinoa pili wahi e like paha me nā moku’āina (Mikikana, Nepalaka, a pēlā aku), nā kūlanakauhale (Kapalakiko, Kakalameko, a pēlā aku) a me nā inoa alanui paha (Alanui Vinia, Alanui Betela, a pēlā aku). A i ka ‘ike ‘ana aku i ia mau inoa i unuhi ‘ia (ma luna a’e nei, e hō’ole mai paha kekahi, “Kā! ‘A’ole ia he mau unuhi! Ua ho’ohawai’i ‘ia a’e ia mau inoa.” A inā pēlā, eia mai kekahi mau inoa i unuhi ‘ia, ‘o ia ho’i, ke Alanui Mālawaina (Vineyard), ke Alanui Kālepa (Merchant), ke Alanui Pāpū (Fort), ke Alanui Mō’ī (King), ke Alanui Mō’ī wahine (Queen) a pēlā aku.

‘O ka mea ‘āpiki, ‘a’ole i mōakāka i ko ‘oukou mea kākau, ‘o ka inoa hea lā ka inoa mua? ‘O ka inoa Hawai’i, a ‘o ka inoa haole paha. ‘O ke alanui Mō’ī, a ‘o ke alanui King. ‘O wai ka mua? ‘O Mō’ī ka mua, a ‘o King kona hope? A ‘o King paha ka mua? A ‘o Mō’ī kona hope? Ua pa’i ‘ia aku ke “alanui Moi” ma ka nūpepa Ka Hae Hawaii i ka makahiki 1856, a ma mua aku paha kekahi. ‘Eā, he mea ‘ole paha ka ‘ike ‘ana, ‘o Mea ka mua, a ‘o Mea kona hope. ‘O ka mea nui, ke ‘ike a’e nei kākou, he unuhi ka hana, ‘o ia ho’i, ua unuhi ‘ia kekahi inoa, he inoa haole (King), a he inoa Hawai’i paha (Mō’ī).

E ‘ōlelo mai paha kekahi, “Kā! Pēlā wale nō nā ha’iinoa pili wahi. Akā, ‘a’ole pēlā nā ha’iinoa pili kahi, e like me Limaikaika (Armstrong), Papai (H. Crabb), Wilisona lāua ‘o Halekeokeo (Wilson and Whitehouse), a pēlā aku. ‘Eā, ma ua mau kumu alaka’i nei ma luna a’e nei, e ‘ike ‘ia a’e nei, he unuhi ‘i’o nō ka hana, ‘a’ole i ho’ohawai’i ‘ia aku ia mau inoa (koe ‘o Wilisona). A ‘o kekahi mea paha i mōakāka, ‘o ia mau inoa haole ka mua a ‘o ka inoa Hawai’i i unuhi ‘ia mai loko mai o ka inoa haole kona hope.

Ke lana nei ka mana’o o ko ‘oukou mea kākau, ua ahuwale ka hana a ko kākou mau kūpuna ma ka ‘ōlelo makuahine a lākou. Ua unuhi nō kekahi o lākou i ka inoa Hawai’i mai loko mai o ka inoa haole, inā he ha’iinoa pili kahi, a he ha’iinoa pili wahi paha. A kohu mea lā, ‘a’ohe hewa o ia. A ‘o ka hana wale nō a ko ‘oukou mea kākau, ‘o ia ka hahai ‘ana i ka hana a kona mau kūpuna. Inā ‘a’ole i pilikia ke kūlana o ka ‘ōlelo Hawai’i i ka ‘ōlelo haole, inā ua mau ia ‘ano hana a hiki i kēia lā.

(‘A’ole i pau.)

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E ho’ouna ‘ia mai na ā leka iā māua, ‘o ia ho’i ‘o Laiana Wong a me Kekeha Solis ma ka pahu leka uila ma lalo nei:

>> kwong@hawaii.edu

>> rsolis@hawaii.edu

a i ‘ole ia, ma ke kelepona:

>> 956-2627 (Laiana)

>> 956-2627 (Kekeha)

This column is coordinated by Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.