I have a Hawaiian name. Kapuananiokalaniakea – beautiful blossom of the wide heavens. Pronounce every vowel, and you’ve got it.
Hawaiian tradition says you must use a person’s full name. Addressing someone using an abbreviated portion of her name is thought to also abbreviate the person.
I am a whole person. I deserve a whole name.
Makes sense, except…look at my name! It’s twelve syllables long! It’s too much for standard American tongues.
So I shorten it to Puanani – beautiful blossom. Which gets shortened to Pua – blossom. Which gets shortened to Pu.
Pu?!
- 1. Polite name for awful, smelly stuff you step in and need to scrape off the bottom of your shoe when you’re out walking in the park
2. A muddle-headed bear who lives in the Hundred Acre Woods.
3. Pee-yew!
4. General name for a pumpkin or a squash. (Hawaiian Dictionary definition)
Hmm.
Perhaps it's time to re-examine tradition.
6 comments:
Stick with Lala. Can't go wrong!
Every Hawaiian name needs to have a minimum of two syllables. Don't you think?
By the way--what would "Lala" mean in Hawaiian?
Pua is nice! Blossum. That's pretty.
:)
Pu will never do.
Pu will never do.
I love your name. Are you from Hawaii originally?
My husband lived there for many years and considers it home. Unfortunately, I have only been able to visit the islands.
Post a Comment