Hilo

See also: hilo, hiló, and hilo-

English

Etymology

From Hawaiian Hilo, of uncertain etymology but possibly related to hilo (“to twist”).

Proper noun

Hilo

1. The largest town on the island of Hawaii, in Hawaii County, Hawaii, located at the eastern corner of the island.

Translations

A large town in Hawaii

• Armenian: Հիլո (Hilo)
• Finnish: Hilo
• Georgian: please add this translation if you can
• Greek: Χίλο (Chílo)
• Hawaiian: Hilo
• Pitcairn-Norfolk: Hilu
• Russian: Хи́ло (ru) (Xílo)

See also

• Puna District

Anagrams

• Holi

Hawaiian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhi.lo/

Etymology 1

Cognate of Māori Whiro, Rarotongan ʻiro and Tahitian Firo.

Proper noun

Hilo (sense 4)

Hilo

1. first night of new moon in the old Hawaiian calendar
2. (Hawaiian mythology) a Polynesian navigator
3. a male given name from Hawaiian, rare today

References

• Mary Kawena Pukui - Samuel H. Elbert, Hawaiian Dictionary, University of Hawaii Press 1986
• Hawaii State Archives: Marriage records Hilo occurs in 19th century marriage records as the only name (mononym) of 4 women and 10 men.

Etymology 2

From hilo “to twist” (i.e. twisting of new ropes by Kamehameha I's men to anchor their guarded wa‘a) related to Māori whiro ~ whirowhiro and tawhiro plus Tongan filo

Proper noun

Hilo

1. Hilo (a town in eastern Hawaii)
2. the eastern area of the island of Hawaii