Wehewehe Wikiwiki Hawaiian language dictionaries

In fast speech, often preceded by ke.

1. n., Name, term, title.

• Examples:
  • Inoa laula, inoa nui, general name.
  • Ola ka inoa, the name lives [a family name is given to a child].
• References:
  • PPN hingoa.

2. n., Namesake.

• Examples:
  • E hele aku māua me Inoa, we'll go with Namesake [said only by one of his own namesake; the possessive may be omitted; also used in the vocative].

3. n., An affectionate term for affinal relatives, or in-laws of in-laws, or relatives usually not related by blood.

• Related:
  • Inoa may be followed by a kinship term indicative of generation (as moʻopuna, kaikamahine, keiki, makua, kupuna), or of the common relative (as puluna, hūnōna.) A grandchild's spouse's relatives united by affection to the speaker might thus be called inoa moʻopuna. Similarly the cousins of a puluna (parents-in-law of an offspring) might be inoa puluna, and the cousins or in-laws of a parent might be inoa makua. The relationship might also extend to close family friends.

4. Name chant or song.

• Examples:
  • He inoa no ka lani (chant), a name chant in honor of the chief.