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Hawaiian Names for Pets

`Eleu
[eh’ leu]
Alert, Lively, Energetic

Ku`u Maka
[koo’ oo mah’ kah]
Apple of My Eye

Hae
[hae]
Barky (to bark, growl)

Nani
[nah’ nee]
Beautiful, Pretty

Maka
[mah’ kah]
Beloved one

Nui
[nui]
Big, Great, Important

Manu
[mah’ noo]
Bird

Hiwakea
[hee vah keh’ (y)ah)
Black-and-White

Maka Koa
[mah’ kah koh’ (w)ah]
Bold, Fierce

Koa
[koh’ (w)ah]
Brave, Bold, Fearless

Kekoa
[keh koh’ (w)ah]
Brave, Courageous

Hinuhinu
[hee’ noo hee’ noo]
Bright, Shining, Splendid

Pilialoha
[pee lee ah loh’ ha]
Buddy

Lulu
[loo loo]
Calm, Peace

Pôpoki
[POH’ poh kee]
Cat

Po`okela
[poh oh keh lah]
Champion, Best, Superior

Ali`i
[Ah lee’ ee]
Chief, King, Queen

Pôlunu
[POH’ loo noo]
Chubby

Lae`ula
[lae oo’ lah]
Clever, Well-trained

`Auli`i
[au lee’ ee]
Dainty, Cute, Perfect

Lâlama
[LAH’ mah]
Daring, Fearless, Clever

Nahoa
[nah hoh’ (w)ah]
Defiant, Bold

Kaimana
[kai mah nah]
Diamond

Kei
[kei]
Dignified, Glorious, One’s Pride

`Îlio
[ee lee’ oh]
Dog

Holo Nui
[hoh’ loh nui]
Fast Runner, Galloper

Polo
[poh’ loh]
Fatso (as in large, thick, plump)

Punahele
[poo nah heh’ leh]
Favorite

Maka
[mah’ kah]
Favorite One

Mâkaha
[MAH’ kah hah]
Fierce, Ferocious

Polupolu
[poh’ loo poh’ loo]
Flabby, Fatso

Pua
[poo’ (w)ah]
Flower

Weuweu
[weu weu]
Fluffy

Luluâ`ina
[loo (W)AH’ ee nah]
Freckles

Noa
[noh’ (w)ah]
Free, Freedom

Aikâne
[ai KAH’ neh]
Friend

Maka Launa
[mah’ kah lau’ nah]
Friendly

Lelele
[leh’ leh]
Frisky

Laka
[lah’ kah]
Gentle, Tame

Makana
[mah kah’ nah]
Gift, Prize, Reward

Puahina
[poo (w)ah hee’ nah]
Gray

Hina
[hee’ nah]
Gray

Hau`oli
[hau oh’ lee]
Happy

Lani
[lah nee]
Heaven

Meli
[meh’ lee]
Honey

Hiwa
[hee’ vah]
Jet Black

Le`a
[Leh’ ah]
Joy, Happiness

Poki
[poh’ kee]
Kamehameha the Great’s dog

Kiki
[kee kee]
Kiss

Lale
[lah’ leh]
Legendary bird

Mo`o
[moh’ oh]
Lizard

Manu Aloha
[mah’ noo ah loh’ hah]
Lovebird

Kûpa`a
[KOO’ pah ah]
Loyal

Laki
[lah’ kee]
Lucky

Maka Le`a
[mah’ kah leh’ ah]
Mischievous

Kanoe
[kah noe’]
Mist

Uakea
[oo (w)ah keh’ (y)ah]
Misty

Pôhina
[POH’ hee nah]
Misty, Hazy, Gray

Hapa
[hah pah]
Mixed breed, Mutt

Mahina
[Mah hee nah]
Moon

Mâpina
[MAH’ pee nah]
Muffin

Nîele
[NEE’ (y)eh leh]
Nosey, Inquisitive, Busybody

Pâ`ani
[PAH’ ah nee]
Playful

Hiwahiwa
[hee’ vah hee’ vah]
Precious, Beloved, Darling

Makamae
[mah kah mae’]
Precious, Cherished

Pûkini
[POO’ kee nee]
Pudding

Nonolo
[noh’ loh]
Purring

Koke
[koh’ keh]
Quick Runner

Miki
[mee’ kee]
Quick, Alert, Active

Kolohe
[koh loh’ heh]
Rascal, Naughty

Kekipi
[keh kee’ pee]
Rebel

`Ula
[oo’ lah]
Red, Scarlet

Kama Hele
[kah’ mah heh’ leh]
Rover, Traveler

`Ehu
[eh’ hoo]
Ruddy, Red

Kai
[kai]
Sea

Makai
[mah kai]
Seaside

Ka`imi
[kah ee’ mee]
Seeker

Aka
[ah’ kah]
Shadow

`Alohi
[AH’ loh hee]
Shine, glitter, sparkle

Lelemu
[leh’ moo]
Slowpoke, Lazy

Li`i
[lee’ ee]
Small, tiny

Akamai
[ah kah’ mai]
Smart

Hau
[hau]
Snow

Koki
[koh’ kee]
Snub-nosed (as in bulldog)

Kikokiko
[kee’ koh kee’ koh]
Speckles (spotted)

Kiko
[kee’ koh]
Spot

Pôhaka
[POH’ hah kah]
Spot

Hôkû
[HOH’ KOO’]
Star

Pu`ipu`i
[poo’ ee poo’ ee]
Stocky (as in, short and stout)

Ikaika
[ee kai’ kah]
Strong, Powerful

Po`o Pa`a
[poh oh pah’ ah]
Stubborn, Hardhead

Ipo
[ee poh]
Sweetheart, lover

Kalâ
[kah LAH’]
The Sun, Sunny

Kahekili
[kah heh kee’ lee]
Thunder

Pilikia
[pee lee kee’ (y)ah]
Trouble

Nalu
[nah loo]
Waves, surf

`Umi`umi
[oo’ mee oo’ mee]
Whiskers

Puakea
[poo (w)ah keh (y)ah]
White Flower, Pale

Lupo
[loo’ poh]
Wolf

Melemele
[meh’ leh meh’ leh]
Yellow

Hawaiian terms for pets

Nâ Kauoha Kumu
(Basic Commands)

  • Noho [noh’ hoh] – Sit
  • Moe [moe] – Lie (down)
  • Kû [koo] – Stay
  • Mai [mai] – Come
  • Hele [heh’ leh] – Go
  • Hâmau [HAH’ mau!] – Hush
  • Kali [kah’ lee] – Wait
  • Haehae! [hae hae] – Bark!
  • Mâlie [MAH’ lee (y)eh] – Calm (down)
  • Ma waho? [mah vah’ hoh?] – Outside?
  • Ma loko? [mah loh’ koh?] – Inside?

Ka Mâlama Hânai â Huhu
(Pet Maintenance)

  • Pôloli? [POH’ loh lee?] – Hungry?
  • Make wai? [mah keh vai?] – Thirsty?
  • Pelena? [peh leh’ nah?] – Biscuit?
  • Mâona? [MAH’ ah nah?] – Full?
  • Hau`oli? [hau oh’ lee?] – Happy?
  • Ka manawa `au`au [kah mah nah’ vah au au] – Bath time
  • Mai pe`e [mai peh’ eh] – Don’t hide

Na Hana Ma`ale`a Hânai â Huhu
(Pet Tricks)

  • Pôpô [POH’ POH’] – Ball
  • Lâ`au [LAH’ au] – Stick
  • Ki`i mai [kee’ ee mai] – Fetch
  • `Apo [ah’ poh] – Catch
  • Hâ`ule [HAH’ oo leh] – Drop (it)
  • Pohâ [poh HAH’] – Bang
  • Make [mah’ keh] – (Drop/play) dead
  • Huli [hoo’ lee] – Roll over
  • `Olu`olu [eh oh’ loo oh’ loo] – Beg please
  • Kolo [koh’ loh] – Crawl
  • Lele [leh’ leh] – Jump
  • Honi [hoh’ nee] – Kiss
  • Ne`ene`e [neh’ eh neh’ eh] – Snuggle
  • Haehae [hae hae] – Speak (bark)
  • Wili [vee’ lee] – Turn (as in revolve)
  • Lima [lee’ mah] – (Shake) hand(s)
  • `Akau [ah’ kau] – Right
  • Hema [heh’ mah] – Left

Holoholo
(Going Out for Pleasure)

  • Holoholo? [hoh’ loh hoh’ loh?] – Go (for a walk)?
  • Kaula? [kau’ lah] – Leash?
  • Hele [heh’ leh] – (Let’s) go
  • Hila [hee’ lah] – Heel
  • Holo! [hoh’ loh!] – Run!

Ka Hânai â Huhu Maika`i / Maika`i `ole
(Good / Bad Pet)

  • `Ae [ae] – Yes
  • `A`ole [ah oh’ leh] – No
  • Maika`I [mai kah’ ee] – Good
  • Kolohe [koh loh’ heh] – Naughty