Kāwelu

See also: kāwelu

Hawaiian

Etymology

kāwelu, an endemic Hawaiian grass.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kaːˈwe.lu/, [kaːˈʋɛ.lu]

Proper noun

1. (Hawaiian mythology) A woman who committed suicide and was brought back from the underworld by her husband.
2. a female given name from Hawaiian, formerly also given to men.

References

• Mary Kawena Pukui - Samuel H. Elbert, Hawaiian Dictionary, University of Hawaii Press 1971, page 394
• Hawaii State Archives: Marriage records Kawelu (in the old orthography) occurs in 19th century marriage records as the only name (mononym) of 18 women and 6 men.