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Ala Wai Marina
Is located where the Ala Wai Canal meets the ocean. This popular boat marina was featured in the opening credits of the TV show "Gillagan’s Island" as the marina the SS Minnow set sail from on the three hour tour.

Aloha Tower

This landmark on Oahu was built in 1925 and at ten stories was the tallest building in Honolulu until the 1940’s. It is now dwarfed among the skyscraper office and apartment buildings. The first cruise ships would port at Aloha Tower and be showered with leis and aloha. Today cruise ships still port at the tower as well as there are wonderful shops and restaurants for all to enjoy. Aloha Tower means "welcome tower".

 

Castle’s

Waikiki deep water surfing spot one mile offshore. This spot was formally called Kalehuawehe. It is now named for the James B Castle home that was located where the Elks Clubhouse now stands. Waves at Castle’s break can range between 10-25 feet in the summer.

 

Chain of Craters

The main road leading down the Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island is named for the large pit craters formed in pre-historic time along Kilauea’s southeast rift zone.

 

Chinaman’s Hat

Also known as Mokoli’i is located off shore from the Kualoa ranch on Oahu. It is named Chinaman’s Hat because the island looks like the hat of a Chinaman. The Hawaiian name Mokoli’i means tiny lizard. Legends say a lizard was destroyed by the goddess Hi’iaka and the tip of it’s tail is the island.

 

Chun’s Reef

A popular surfing area on the north shore of Oahu located near the highway between Haleiwa and Waimea. The area is named for the John Chun family who had a house inshore of the break.

 

Coconut Island

Is located in the Kaneohe Bay on Oahu and was the island shown in the opening credits of the TV show "Gillagan’s Island" that Gillagan, Skipper, Professor, Maryanne, Ginger, and the Howells were stranded on. The island now a marine research center for the University of Hawaii. The island gets its name from the coconut trees on the island.

 

Crouching Lion

A natural wonder on Oahu is a rock formation that looks like a crouching lion. Legonds say a demigod came from Kahiki with Pele and was turn to stone. He asked Pele’s sister Hi’iaka to set him free and when she refused he tried to pull himself loose and rose to a crouching lion position. There is a restaurant called the "Crouching Lion" right in front of the formation. Pull into the driveway to get a good look or to take photos.

 

Diamond Head

Diamond Head is a prominent symbol of Hawaii and is located on Oahu. This world famous tuff crater was formed by violent explosions approximately 100,000 years ago. In ancient times the Hawaiians called this crater Lae’ahi meaning brow of an ahi because the view of Diamond Head from the Waikiki side looks like the extended dorsal fin of an ahi (tuna). The Hawaiian name was later shortened to Le’ahi. The name Diamond Head comes from when the first foreigners came to Hawaii and mistook deposits of calcite crystals on the surface for diamonds. Almost every bit of this "fools diamond" has been removed but the name Diamond Head is still the common name for this crater. The highest point is Le’ahi Peak at 760 feet above sea level, the rim averages about 400 feet.

 

Disappearing Sands Beach

During times of high surf the violent wave action will cause the bright white sand beach to disappear in a matter of hours then reappear when the wave action returns to normal. This area is also known as Magic Sands Beach. Located between Kailua and Keauhou in north Kona on the Big Island.

 

Ewa

This town on Oahu is located west of Pearl Harbor and is used when giving directions on the island. Legends say when surveying Oahu the gods Kane and Kanaloa would mark a boundary by throwing a stone. Where the stone fell would be the boundary line. The stone they threw to mark the district of Ewa was not found, it strayed. Ewa in Hawaiian means "stray".

 

Ford Island

This island is located in Pearl Harbor on Oahu and is used for military purposes. It is named for it’s former owner, Dr. SP Ford.

Haleakala
Is a dormant shield volcano on the island of Maui that last erupted in 1790 and has an estimated age of 2 million years old. It’s elongate summit crater is 2580 ft (860 m) deep, 7.2 miles (12 km) by 2.1 miles (3.5 km) wide. It is breached by erosion on northwest and southeast by large valleys, forming between 50,000 and 300,000 years ago. Haleakala literally means "house [used] by the sun". Legends say the demigod Maui lassoed the sun here in order to lengthen the day and permit his mother, Hina, to dry her tapa. The summit measures at 10,023 ft/3055 m above sea level.

Halema'uma'u
Located on the Big Island. This crater, also known as the fire pit, is within Kilauea Crater. It is 495 ft (165 m) deep and 3.6 miles (6 km) wide and formed through series of collapses between 210 and 500 years ago. Halema’uma’u literally means "fern house" referring to a house of ferns built by Kamapua'a, a rebuffed suitor of Pele, to keep her from escaping and causing eruptions.

Hale’iwa

Popular surf town on the north shore of Oahu and location site for Baywatch Hawaii. Hale’iwa means house of the Iwa. Iwa are frigate birds which were admired by the Hawaiians for their beauty.

 

Hale Koa

Beautiful military hotel located on Waikiki Beach, Oahu. Hale Koa means "house of the soldier" in Hawaiian. The Barracks at Iolani Palace were once known as Hale Koa.

Hana

The literal translation means to labor, like in a profession carried on rather than incidental labor.

Hanauma Bay

This popular snorkel spot on Oahu is a crater which one side had collapsed allowing the ocean to fill it and form a fabulous marine sanctuary. In 1967 the marine life conservation district was created. Hanauma Bay means "curved bay" or hand "wrestling bay" for the shape of the bay.

 

Hawaii

Hawaii is the largest and newest of the Hawaiian Islands and is the home of the active volcanoes. The island is 76 miles wide, 93 miles long, with an area of 4,038 square miles and growing. The island of Hawaii is also known as "the Big Island" and is larger than all of the other Hawaiian islands combined. In 1980 there was a population of 92,053.

 

Helu-moa

A section of land near the Royal Hawaiian Hotel at Helu-moa Street in Wakiki, Oahu is the former site of a heiau where Kahahana, an Oahu chief, was sacrificed when Kahekili’s men killed him in 1785. Helu-moa means "chicken scratches" in Hawaiian and comes from the sightings of a supernatural rooster that sometimes appeared there.

Hilo
Town located on lush tropical eastern coast of the Big Island. Named perhaps for the first night of the new moon, or a Polynesian navigator.

Honolulu

Honolulu, Oahu with over a million residents is most populated city in the islands and is also the capital of Hawaii. Honolulu means "sheltered bay".

 

Iao Needle

This beautiful rainforest valley on Maui was once a sacred place used to bury island chiefs. There is a great hiking trail through the lush valley to the needle. Iao means "cloud supreme" in Hawaiian.

 

Ilikai Hotel

As you begin to enter Waikiki on Oahu you will probably pass the Ilikai Hotel. This hotel was featured in the opening credits of Hawaii 5-0 featuring Steve McGarrett on the balcony of the hotel. Ilikai means "surface of the sea"

 

Iolani Palace

The only royal palace in the USA is the Iolani Palace on Oahu. The first royal palace was built for Kamehameha III in 1845 and was named Iolani in 1863 for Kamehameha IV which Iolani was one of his Hawaiian names. In 1879 the present palace was built on the site of the first palace. Queen Lilioukalani was imprisoned in Iolani Palace in 1895 during the over through of the Hawaiian monarchy. The palace served as the territorial and state capitol until the current capitol was built in 1969. The Iolani Palace served as Hawaii 5-0 head quarters on the TV show. The palace has been mostly restored with many original pieces, tours are available.

 

Kahanamoku

Duke Kahanamoku was a beloved Hawaiian who spread his love and knowledge of surfing around the world as the ambassador of surfing. Duke was not royalty but the people of Hawaii loved his as if he was one. Duke was named after his father who was named by Bernice Pauahi Bishop to commemorate the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to Hawaii in 1869. Duke was not only known as the father of modern surfing but was also an Olympic swimming champion. A statue of Duke next to the Waikiki police station welcomes everyone to enjoy the ocean. Duke Kahanamoku 1890-1968.

 

Kaho’olawe

Kaho’olawe is a small uninhabited island off the coast of Maui which was used as a bombing target by the Military from World War II to the late 1990’s.

Kailua-Kona
Town on the western coast of the Big Island known for its tourism and year round sunshine. Kailua-Kona literally means "two seas (probably currents)".

Kaimü
Beautiful black sand beach and surf spot on the Big Island formed by steam explosions when lava met the sea in about 1750. Kaimu literally means "gathering [at the] sea [to watch surfing]."

Ka Lae South Point, Hawai'i
Located on the Big Island and is the southernmost point in all 50 states. Ka Lae literally means "the point."

Kalapana
Is a town on the Big Island in the Puna district once famous for its black sand beach (named Kaimu). Kaimu was covered in 1990 from the Pu'u O'o eruption. Kalapana was a priest of Pele, the name literally means "announce noted place".

Kalaupapa

This infamous peninsula on the remote north side of Molokai was were Hansen’s disease sufferers were banished to starting in the early 1886. It is now a historical park educating others about Hansen’s disease and what the sufferers had to endure. There is also a settlement and hospital for Hansen disease patients. Kalaupapa means "flat plain".

 

Kahanamoku

Duke Kahanamoku was a beloved Hawaiian who spread his love and knowledge of surfing around the world as the ambassador of surfing. Duke was not royalty but the people of Hawaii loved his as if he was one. Duke was named after his father who was named by Bernice Pauahi Bishop to commemorate the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to Hawaii in 1869. Duke was not only known as the father of modern surfing but was also an Olympic swimming champion. A statue of Duke next to the Waikiki police station welcomes everyone to enjoy the ocean. Duke Kahanamoku 1890-1968.

 

Kamehameha

The Hawaiian Islands were once ruled by many chiefs until Kamehameha the first, also known as Kamehameha the Great, fulfilled an ancient prophecy and united the islands under one rule. Kamehameha means the lonely one. This great warrior lived from approx. 1758-1819 and made a major impact on the history of the Hawaiian people. Many street and locations bear the name Kamehameha around the islands. Kamehameha means "the lonely one".

Ka’öiki Fault Zone
Located on the Big Island and is the active fault zone that accommodates stress between the active volcanoes of Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Ka’oiki literally means "the small thrust."

Kauai
The island of Kauai is known as the "Garden Isle" because it is so green and lush. It is the oldest island in the state. The island is 33 miles long, 25 miles wide and an area of 553 square miles. In 1980 Kauai’s population was reported at 38,856.

Kealakekua Bay
Located on the Big Island. This was the site of the death of Captain James Cook, the western explorer credited with discovering the Hawaiian Islands, but who met an untimely and violent death when native Hawaiians found out that he and his seamen were mortal and not gods. The bay is also a marine preserve and a popular place for snorkeling. Kealakekua literally means "pathway [of] the god."

Kealakekua Fault
Is located on the Big Island and was activated during the 1950-1952 earthquakes which had magnitudes of 6.0-6.9 and caused damage to south Kona.

Kiki a Ola Ditch
Also known as Menehune Ditch. Kiki a Ola literally means "container acquired by Ola". The legend goes that Chief Ola ordered the Menehune to build a watercourse on Kauai. Each Menehune brought a stone and the ditch was finished in a single night.

Kilauea
Is located on the Big Island and is the active volcano on the flank of Mauna Loa. Kilauea has two main rift zones: the East Rift Zone and the Southwest Rift Zone. Kilauea was continuously active from the late 1700's until 1924 with summit eruptions within Halemau'uma'u Crater. It again became active in 1952, 1960 (downrift covering town of Kapoho), and 1972-74 (Mauna Ulu East Rift Zone eruption). In 1983 the latest eruption began which has been continuously flowing since at Pu'u O'o. For the past 200 years, Kilauea and Mauna Loa have erupted on average every two to three years, making them the world's most frequently active volcanoes. Since 1950 Kilauea eruptive activity had dominated. Since 1956 the average volume of lava erupted is about 120 million cubic yards/year (about 91 million cubic meters/year). The summit elevation is 4,190 ft (1,277 m). Kilauea literally means "great spewing, wide-spreading" (i.e. volcanic eruptions). It has an estimated age of 600,000 years, though 90% of its surface is less than 1,100 years old.

Kilauea Iki
Small crater just outside of Kilauea Crater on the Big Island. Kilauea Iki literally means "little Kilauea."

Kohala Volcano
Extinct and oldest volcano on the Big Island last erupting 120,000 years ago. It is 5,480 ft (1,670 m) tall and is estimated to be 500,000 years old. The Giant Pololu landslide occurring 250,000-300,000 years ago catastrophically removed much of northeast flank: 12 miles (20 km) of shoreline, 0.6 miles (1 km) of elevation), and distributed the debris 78 miles (130 km) onto the sea floor.

Koko Head Crater
A predominate tuff cone on the east side of Oahu. In giving driving direction the term "go Koko Head" means head east. Koko literally means "blood". The tuff cone is blood red with iron rich soil.

Kona
There is a town of Kona on the Big Island, Kauai, Molokai, and Oahu. Kona literally means "leeward".

Lae’apuki
Located on the Big Island and is the coastal entry point of Pu'u O'o eruption. This location was where one of the largest bench collapses occurred during the eruption which killed one person and injured several. Lae’apuki literally means "short point."

Loihi Seamount
Is a future site of the newest Hawaiian Island. It can’t be called an island until it breaks the ocean surface, which wont be for over a thousand years. This hot spot is located 21 miles (35 km) off the southern coast of the Big Island, rising 9240 ft (3080 m) high to within 3300 ft (1100 m) of the sea surface. The summit is about 3.6 miles (6 km) across, containing a caldera and several pit craters. Hydrothermal activity and fresh basaltic glass have been recovered on Loihi indicating recent submarine volcanic activity. Earthquake swarms occurring annually since 1971 suggest major submarine eruptions or magmatic intrusions analogous to processes occurring along subaerial Hawaiian rift zones. The 1996 frequent activity consisted of over 4000 located events, and resulted in the creation of a 300 ft (100 m) wide pit crater. Loihi means "long" or "tall".

Maui
Maui is known as the "Valley Isle" because it was formed by two main large mountains with a big valley in the middle. It is the second largest island in the state of Hawaii at 48 miles (80 km) long and 26 miles (43 km) wide. Maui is the home of dormant Haleakala volcano and has an estimated age of 1 million years. In 1995 the estimated population was 105,000. This island was named for the demigod Maui.

Mauna
Literally means "mountain."

Mauna Iki
Located on the Big Island and is a cone along Kilauea's Southwest Rift Zone. Mauna Iki literally means "little mountain".

Mauna Ke’a
Is the highest mountain in Hawaii at 13,796 ft (4205 m) above sea level and is located on the Big Island. Mauna Ke'a is a dormant volcano and last erupted about 4,500 years ago. It has an estimated age of 1 million years. There are no pronounced rift zones. Mauna Ke’a literally means "white mountain" as its’ summit is often snow-capped during the winter months.

Mauna Loa
Is located on the Big Island. Mauna Loa is the second highest mountain in Hawai'i, as well as the largest single mountain mass on Earth, rising 13,677 ft (4169 m) above sea level and about 29,000 ft (8840 m) above the ocean floor. Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984 along its northeast rift zone, and lava reached to within 4 miles (6.5 km) of Hilo. The summit crater is known as Moku'aweoweo, and has two rift zones: Northeast and Southwest. Mauna Loa literally means "long mountain." Estimated age of 1 million years.

Mauna Ulu
Located on the Big Island and is the cone that formed in the Kilauea East Rift Zone eruptions of the 1960s and 1972-74. Height 363 ft (121 m). Mauna Ulu literally means "growing mountain".

Moloka’i
Is known as the "Friendly Island" and "The Most Hawaiian Island". Moloka'i is 38 miles (68 km) long, 10 miles (17 km) wide, with a 1995 estimated population of 6700 people. Molokai is known to have the highest % Hawaiian population in the islands. Much of the northern half of the island slid catastrophically into the ocean during a landslide event (Wailau slide). Up to 13,000 square kilometers of debris covered 120 miles (200 km) of adjacent sea floor, based on side scan sonar mapping in the 1980's.

Pali
Literally means "cliff". The Nuuanu Pali on the windward island of Oahu was formed during a catastrophic landslide event. The Nuuanu slide caused 23,000 square kilometers (4680 square miles) of debris to cover 235 km (141 miles) of adjacent sea floor, based on side scan sonar mapping in the 1980's. The Nuuanu Pali is also the location of a great battle where Hawaiian warriors of Oahu were fought against the powerful Kamehameha the great and his warriors. The warriors of Oahu put up a good fight but were no match for the army of Kamehameha and hundreds of Oahu warriors jumped from the Pali cliffs to their death rather than be taken prisoner.

Puna
The town of Puna on the Big Island was named for Puna’auia, an ancient navigator who brought his family to Hawaii. According to legend the entire Hawaiian race is a descendent from Puna’auia. Puna literally means a "spring (of water)."

Pu’u
Literally means "hill". Many streets that are on a hill have Pu’u in their name.

Pu’u O’o
Is the current active eruption of Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island.It is named after a volcanic cone that was built during its initial phases. This is the longest lasting single eruption in Hawaiian recorded history; current eruption began in January 1983 in Napau Crater, moved downrift within hours, eventually building a cone 250 m high. The Kupainaha lava pond was active from 1986 to 1993, and the current eruption consists primarily of lava channels and tubes which emanate from Pu'u O'o and travel downhill over 6 miles (10 km) where they erupt into the ocean. During the eruption several subdivisions, and the National Park's Wahaula Visitor center were destroyed. Pu’u O’o literally means "hill of the oo" (a species of native bird, a black honey eater, that is now extinct).

Tantalus
Cinder cone located behind Honolulu. Named by high school students for a Greek god who was always thirsty. He was punished by being placed in a pool of water and when he tried to drink the water receded. Round Top Drive is a scenic drive up Tantalus and offers a fabulous panoramic view of Honolulu.

Waikiki
Waikiki is located on the island of Oahu and means "spouting water". Before the Ala Wai Canal was built the fresh water from the mountains would flow down and literally bubble out of the ground in Waikiki.

Some information based on details found in "Place Names of Hawaii", M. K. Pukui, S. H. Ebert, & E.T. Mookini, University of Hawaii Press, 1974 & 1975 and the "Task force on professional standards for Hawaii’s tour guides".

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