Hawaiianness
/həˈwaɪ.i.ən.nəs/noun
The quality, character, or cultural identity associated with Hawaiʻi or its people.
Did you know?The ultimate meaning of Hawaiʻi is uncertain; proposed explanations connect it with traditional Polynesian ancestry, homeland, or the legendary navigator Hawaiʻiloa, but no single origin is proven.
Etymological Timeline
Before European contact
Proto-Polynesian
*Sawaiki
“A reconstructed ancestral Polynesian name associated with a homeland or ancestral world; the connection to Hawaiʻi is widely discussed but not certain.”
Pre-contact Hawaiʻi
Hawaiian
Hawaiʻi
“The indigenous name of the island and archipelago now called Hawaii; its internal meaning is disputed.”
1778
English
Owhyhee
“An early English rendering recorded during Captain James Cook’s voyage.”
19th Century
English
Hawaiian
“Relating to Hawaiʻi, its people, language, or culture.”
Modern English
English
Hawaiianness
“The quality or distinctive character of being Hawaiian or associated with Hawaiʻi.”