What Are Hawaiians Called? Native Hawaiian vs Local Explained

Table of Content I. What Are Hawaiians Called? II. Native Hawaiian vs Local — Why This Confusion Exists III. Key Identity Terms in Hawaii IV. The Role of History and Colonization in Hawaiian Identity V. Language and Culture: How Identity Is Expressed VI. Hawaiian Identity in Modern Times VII. Conclusion VIII. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

Hawaii is often seen as a tropical destination, but for the people who live there, identity is a sensitive and deeply meaningful topic. One simple question reveals this more than any other:

What are Hawaiians called?

Ask visitors, new residents, or even people born in Hawaii, and you’ll hear different answers — many of them incorrect. That confusion is common, but it matters. In Hawaii, words reflect ancestry, history, and respect.

This guide explains what Hawaiians are actually called, why the term is often misused, and how to understand the difference between Native Hawaiian vs local in a way that’s accurate and respectful.

What Are Hawaiians Called?

Hawaiians refers specifically to the Indigenous people of Hawaii — also known as Native Hawaiians or Kānaka Maoli — and not to everyone who lives in or was born in the islands.

This distinction is often overlooked, but it is essential. Being Hawaiian is about ancestry, not residency.

In everyday conversation outside Hawaii, the word “Hawaiian” is often used loosely. Inside Hawaii, however, the meaning is precise — and tied directly to Indigenous identity.

Native Hawaiians or Kānaka Maoli

Native Hawaiian vs Local — Why This Confusion Exists

The confusion between Native Hawaiian and local exists because Hawaii is both an Indigenous homeland and one of the most multicultural places in the world.

Many people who grow up in Hawaii feel deeply connected to the islands. They may speak local slang, follow island customs, and live by the Aloha Spirit. Naturally, outsiders assume they are Hawaiian.

But cultural connection and ancestry are not the same thing.

• Native Hawaiian refers to Indigenous ancestry.
• Local refers to people born and raised in Hawaii, regardless of ethnicity.

This distinction isn’t about exclusion — it’s about recognizing Indigenous identity and history.

 

Historic photograph of Native Hawaiians Kanaka Maoli 19th century

Key Identity Terms in Hawaii

Understanding Hawaiian identity becomes clearer once you know the key terms commonly used in Hawaii.

Native Hawaiians (Kānaka Maoli)

Indigenous people with ancestral ties to Hawaii’s original Polynesian settlers. Their identity is rooted in genealogy, land (‘āina), language, and cultural responsibility.

Native Hawaiians (Kānaka Maoli)

Locals

People born and raised in Hawaii who may come from Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Portuguese, or other backgrounds. Local culture blends many influences but does not replace Indigenous identity.

Locals

Kamaʻāina

A Hawaiian term meaning “child of the land,” used for long-term residents who have built deep connections to Hawaii. Kamaʻāina may or may not be Native Hawaiian.

Kamaʻāina meaning

Malihini

Newcomers or visitors who are unfamiliar with local customs. Over time, Malihini can become Kamaʻāina through respect, learning, and community involvement.

Malihini meaning

The Role of History and Colonization in Hawaiian Identity

To understand why terminology matters so much in Hawaii, history is unavoidable.

In 1893, the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown. Five years later, Hawaii was annexed by the United States. Native Hawaiians lost sovereignty, land, and political control.

As Western systems replaced Indigenous governance:

• Hawaiian language was banned in schools
• Cultural practices were discouraged
• Land ownership shifted away from Native Hawaiians

The Role of History and Colonization in Hawaiian Identity

 

These events reshaped how identity is discussed today. For Native Hawaiians, protecting terminology is part of protecting history.

Language and Culture: How Identity Is Expressed

Identity in Hawaii is expressed through language, ceremony, and daily practice.

The Native Hawaiian language, ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, is one of the state’s official languages. Once nearly lost, it is now being revived through immersion schools and community efforts.

Hawaiian Alphabet & Pronunciation Guide

Cultural expressions such as:

• Hula and mele (chants)
• Sustainable practices like lo‘i kalo (taro farming)
• Communal feasts (‘aha‘aina)

Cultural expressions

 

are not performances for visitors — they are living traditions tied to identity and responsibility.

Hawaiian Identity in Modern Times

Today, Hawaiian identity continues to evolve. Native Hawaiians balance modern life with cultural preservation, language revival, and advocacy for land and rights.

Although Native Hawaiians are recognized as Indigenous people, they do not have federal tribal status. This reality makes cultural awareness and correct terminology even more important.

Hawaiian identity today is not frozen in the past — it is active, resilient, and ongoing.

Hawaiian Identity in Modern Times

Conclusion

Understanding what Hawaiians are called is not about being politically correct — it’s about being accurate and respectful.

A Hawaiian is not simply someone born in Hawaii. The term belongs to the Indigenous people of the islands: Native Hawaiians, or Kānaka Maoli. Others may be locals, Kamaʻāina, or newcomers, each with a different relationship to Hawaii.

When we use the right words, we acknowledge history, honor identity, and engage with Hawaii as a living culture — not just a destination.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are people from Hawaii called?

Most are called locals or Kamaʻāina. Only those with Indigenous ancestry are Hawaiian.

What does Kānaka Maoli mean?

It means “true people” and refers specifically to Native Hawaiians.

Are Hawaiians the same as Samoans?

No. They are distinct Polynesian cultures with different languages and histories.

What language do Native Hawaiians speak?

‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, along with English and Hawaiian Pidgin.