The story behind Kawena
ka (“the”) + wena (“glow”). Made famous by Mary Kawena Pukui, whose name was shortened from Kawenaʻulaokalaniahiʻiakaikapoliopelekawahineʻaihonua "The rosy glow of the sky of Hiʻiaka in the bosom of Pele, the earth-eating woman."
Pronunciation
Hawaiian: /kaˈwe.na/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Hawaiian: [kəˈʋɛ.nə]
Popularity
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Names Similar to Kawena
Kalena
ka (“the”) + lena (“yellow”).(Yellow was a royal color.) Later also used as a phonetic rendering of the English Karen.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kalia
kalia (“waited for”), also the name of a native tree of the linden family.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kaliʻa
From ka (“the”) + liʻa (“desire”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kamila
Learned borrowing from Latin Camilla. kamila (“camellia”)
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kolokea
kolo (“to creep”) + kea (“white”) = "white creeping (mist)".
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alana
Feminine form of Alan (from Alan + -a). In regular use since the 20th century. alana (“awakening”); the modern usage is reinforced by English Alana.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Kawena
Hilo
Cognate of Māori Whiro, Rarotongan ʻiro and Tahitian Firo.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Hōkūlani
From hōkū (“star”) + lani (“sky”), literally “heavenly star”.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Kahealani
From ka (“the”) + hea (“mist; to call, name”) + lani (“sky”) = "the heavenly mist" or "the calling of heaven" .
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Kawena
Hanalei
From Hana- (“Bay”, in compounds) + lei (“lei, necklace”), literally “crescent bay”.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Hauʻoli
From hauʻoli (“happiness”).
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Haunani
hau (“snow”) + nani (“beauty”) = "beautiful snow", as on mountain tops in Hawaii.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length