KAUAI.NAMEHistory of Kauai: Its Translation, Lanugage, and More
Translation
The oldest and fourth largest island of Hawaii, Kauai has been around long enough to have garnered several translations of its name.
Presently, Kauai is known as the “Garden Isle” but native Hawaiian tradition believes this island use to hold a different meaning. According to Hawaiian folklore, the man who discovered the Hawaiian Islands by the name of Hawai’iola, actually named the island after his favorite son.
Now, his son’s name was not Kauai. Rather, Kauai is also translated as “place around the neck” or the place where Hawai’iola would carry his favorite son when they would go places together.
Historians also believe that another possible translation of Kauai is “food season.”
Extinct Language
Natives of Kauai use to also speak a distinct dialect of the Hawaiian language. After a period of time, this language became extinct and, subsequently, was replaced by the dialect that many native Hawaiians still speak today.
Interestingly enough, Kauai itself would have been called Tauai in the now extinct Kauaiian language. That’s because ancient Kauaiian’s pronounced the beginning of their words with a “T”-like sound. The natives of today actually changed that “T” sound to a “K” sound in many of their words.
Last to Join
The island of Kauai was actually the last to join the “Hawaiian Islands” under the rule of the late King Kamehameha. Kauai actually didn’t become part of Hawaii until 1824.
Twice, King Kamehameha tried to overtake the island, but failed to do so. The first attempt failed due to a storm which destroyed his fleet, and the second attempt failed because of a deadly epidemic which swept through his armies and people.
Eventually, afraid of what would happen to his people and land if another invasion were to occur, the king of Kauai ceded his island to Kamehameha.