We Dare You to Say These 11 Hawaii Places Correctly on Your First Try (Spoiler: You Can’t)

Here are 11 Hawaii place names that most people cannot say correctly on their first try — and a quick guide to help with pronunciation:

1. Haleakalā (ha-lay-ah-KAH-lah)
   This famous volcano’s name means “House of the Sun.”
2. Kīlauea (kee-lah-way-ah)
   An active volcano on the Big Island, often mispronounced with hard or silent letters.
3. Pāhoa (pah-HOH-ah)
   A small town near Kīlauea, with a soft “pah” and clear breaks between syllables.
4. Lānaʻi (lah-nah-EE)
   A small island, the apostrophes indicate glottal stops, breaking syllables distinctly.
5. Kāneʻohe (kah-nay-OH-heh)
   A town on O’ahu with a tricky combination of vowels and the ‘okina (glottal stop).
6. ʻAiea (ah-ee-AY-ah)
   A moderately challenging name with smooth vowel transitions.
7. Wailua (why-LOO-ah)
   A name often said incorrectly; the emphasis breaks naturally with vowel sounds.
8. Kōloa (KOH-loh-ah)
   A town on Kauaʻi with long vowels and smooth syllable flow.
9. Kūhiō (koo-HEE-oh)
   Often mispronounced, but the Hawaiian language’s emphasis makes it distinct.
10. Kaʻū (kah-OO)
    One of the Hawaiian districts on the Big Island, a very short name but with a glottal stop.
11. Puʻuhonua (poo-oo-HO-nu-ah)
    Refers to sacred places of refuge, with a poetic and rhythmic pronunciation.

Most Hawaiian place names feature glottal stops called ʻokina, and vowel pronunciations that should not be blended improperly. Mastering these will have you sounding more like a local and less like a visitor! The key is to listen carefully, honor the ʻokina, and respect the musical flow of the language.

SOURCES

[1](https://rappelmaui.com/where-the-streets-have-long-names-a-pronunciation-guide-to-mauis-places/)
[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He_bISj85FY)
[3](https://mauiguidebook.com/basic-maui-info/how-to-pronounce-hawaiian-words/)
[4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ09tNtDayY)
[5](https://www.nps.gov/locations/hawaii/pronunciation-of-place-names.htm)