Hawaii Magazine
What they mean and what they tell us about a place s history and culture.
Jan 25, 2017
What’s in an outdoor name?
Many people know the story of how Diamond Head got its English-language name 19th-century British sailors initially mistook calcite crystals on its slopes for the precious stone. The Oahu volcanic crater’s original name, however, was Leahi, bestowed by Hawaiians who thought the crater’s shape resembled the dorsal fin of a tuna. (Diamond Head also claims the Hawaiian name Kaimanahila, or “diamond hill.”) Knowing the meaning of place names in Hawaii, where history and mythology often intertwine, adds depth and perspective to our travels here.