Papahānaumokuākea Meaning

The meaning behind Papahānaumokuākea comes from ancient Hawaiian folklore concerning the genealogy and formation of the Hawaiian Islands. Broken out – papa means foundational earth, hānau means to give birth, moku means small island or large land division, and ākea means wide expanse. Papa (mother earth) and Wākea (father sky) were two of the most recognized Hawaiian ancestors. The union of Papa, worshipped as a primordial force of creation with the power to give life and to heal, and Wākea, worshipped as paternal sky, created and gave birth to the entire archipelago in the vast expanses. The name describes a fertile woman giving birth to a wide stretch of islands beneath a benevolent sky.

The process to give a Hawaiian name to the Monument was an initiative of the State of Hawai‘i Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group, which is comprised of academic scholars, teachers, cultural practitioners, community activists, and resource managers. Representatives from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the State of Hawai‘i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs also participated in the discussions that led to the final decision.

The Hawaiian archipelago is long line of fiery islands that stretch from the Big Island to Kure Atoll. The preservation of the monument, as well as the name Papahānaumokuākea, strengthens Hawai‘i’s cultural foundation, and grounds it to an important part of Hawaii’s historical past. It is a name that encourages birth, abundance, and the continued procreative forces of earth, sea, and sky. Papahānaumokuākea will continue providing life for everything that gives birth in the Hawaiian archipelago.