The words we use to describe Native Hawaiians, our culture, and our history carry deep meaning. They can honor our ancestors and affirm our identity – or unintentionally suggest that we belong only to the past.
One word we encourage people to avoid is “ancient.” While often used respectfully, it can imply that Native Hawaiian culture and people no longer exist. That we are relics of another time.
Referring to our kūpuna (ancestors, elders) as “ancient” risks separating them from who we are today. In truth, our kūpuna are not distant figures. Their knowledge, values, and practices are alive in us, in the way we care for ʻāina, raise our families, and practice our traditions.
Similarly, the phrase “Hawaiians of antiquity” may sound formal or scholarly, but it creates the same problem. The word “antiquity” is often used in academic settings to describe civilizations that no longer exist.
That framing does not reflect our reality as Native Hawaiians – a people whose ancestral line, cultural systems, and identity remain unbroken. Our kūpuna are not just of the past; they are our foundation and continue to guide our present and future.
This same understanding applies to wahi kūpuna, our ancestral places. In a Hawaiian worldview, these are not “ruins” or “relics.” They are living landscapes, imbued with the spirit and presence of those who came before us.
Wahi kūpuna connect us genealogically and spiritually, reminding us that our relationship to place is ongoing and alive. Just as our ancestors are not gone, their places are not forgotten. They are part of the same living continuum.
When referring to the time before Western contact, we prefer words that express the vitality and continuity of our people and culture. Terms like “kūpuna,” “early Hawaiian society,” or “early Hawaiian practitioners” honor the depth of our traditions while recognizing that they continue to live through us today.
Another word we encourage avoiding is “Hawaiiana.” This term became popular in the mid-20th century to describe Hawaiian- themed objects, stories, and practices. However, it often commodified and romanticized Hawaiian culture, turning it into a product rather than a living expression of Native Hawaiian worldview.
Today, we use “moʻomeheu Hawaiʻi” or “Native Hawaiian culture” instead. These terms center Native Hawaiian identity, sovereignty, and lived experience.
Language shapes understanding. When we choose words that reflect the living nature of our culture, we honor the resilience and strength of our people. Our history is not frozen in time, it moves with us, breathes with us, and continues to grow within us through every generation guided by the wisdom of our kūpuna.
