In Hawaii, we don’t necessarily view our town names as odd but it takes most visitors a while to become familiar with the pronunciation of the names of many Hawaiian cities, villages, and towns. These Hawaiian town names are some of the most interesting and unusual that we’ve come across during our travels throughout the islands.

1) Captain Cook
Captain Cook, HI, USA
Steve Judd/Flickr
This town was named after the exploring Captain Cook, and this Hawaiian town is such a great place to visit!
2) Cod Fish Village - must be a huge fishing village?
Cod Fish Village, HI 96732, USA
Travis/Flickr
This interesting town must be filled with great fishermen!
3) Haleiwa – If you weren’t aware, a ‘W’ in the middle of a word is pronounced as a ‘V'.
Haleiwa, HI 96712, USA
Ryan Ozawa/Flickr
This town has a name that’s from the Hawaiian language and it’s a beautiful town that we love visiting!
4-6) Hanalei, Kapaa & Lihue
Hanalei, HI, USA
Jeff Muceus/Flickr
Other fun town names with origins in the Hawaiian language, and some of the most beautiful places on the islands!
7) Hikapoloa
Hikapoloa, HI 96719, USA
Rakesh A/Flickr
A fun, unique town in Hawaii, with a long history of legends in the area.
8) Honokaa – There are so many double vowels in the Hawaiian language…
Honokaa, HI 96727, USA
David Fulmer/Flickr
This is another beautiful town whose name is based in the Hawaiian language. It may be a small town, but it’s worth a visit!
9) Kealakekua – I'm pretty sure your GPS won't know how to say this right.
Mike/flickr
But that’s what makes the islands unique! And this Hawaiian town is a total hidden gem.
10) Pāpā, Hawaii looks like any other Hawaiian town, but it is an unusual name…
P?p?, HI 96704, USA
Christian Michel/Flickr
And a very small village in Hawaii.
11) Ulupalakua
Jo-Anne J/tripadvisor
Ulupalakua is Hawaiian, meaning "breadfruit ripened on the back."
12) Volcano – This town on the Big Island is actually situated near a volcano, so it’s not too odd.
Volcano, HI, USA
Craig James/Flickr
An unusual Hawaiian town name, but pretty self-explanatory.
13) Villages Two, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Ten, etc.
Village Two, HI 96779, USA
Google Maps Screenshot
Definitely some rural villages that didn’t end up with one of the more unique names we’ve seen on the list!

Are you searching for great places to stay during your next trip to Hawaii? We recommend checking out Booking.com. They offer great deals on the best hotels in Hawaii.

Other funny town names, odd, or hard-to-pronounce Hawaiian city names include Ah Fong Village, Chin Chuck, Elevenmile Homestead, Happy Valley, Kaneohe, and Pepeekeo. Have you visited any of these places? Let us know in the comments below!

Looking for something to do in one of these interesting spots? Hawaii’s Magical Kaneohe Sandbar Is Only Accessible During Low Tide.

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Hawaiian Town Names

Megan McDonald | July 15, 2022

How old is the Hawaiian language?

The islands of Hawaii were formed over 3.4 million years ago, but the first record of the Hawaiian language we have is in 1778. But we know the language is much older than this! The oral language was most likely spoken in the islands for many hundreds, if not thousands, of years prior.

Do people still speak the Hawaiian language?

Absolutely! But it is critically endangered, according to UNESCO. The Hawaiian language was banned for many years, resulting in just over 26,000 native Hawaiian speakers on this day. 

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