Customer Rating: 
Summary: A Treasure
Comment: This book is a treasure. "Place Names of Hawaii" is an exceptional and important reference book for anyone who is interested in the Hawaiian language or anyone who just wants to know the meaning behind the names of streets, towns, valleys, land sections, fish ponds, craters, mountains, streams, islands, churches, buildings, et cetera. Every entry has an English translation of the Hawaiian name (when possible) as well as background information. It is invaluable reference book for any Hawaiian language student, but "Place Names" should also be in the library or book collection of everyone who lives in Hawaii and has a library or book collection.
Place Names of Hawaii, and Supplement to the Third Edition of the Hawaiian-English Dictionary. was the 1966 first edition, it had about 1,125 entries and was described as a "Supplement to the Third Edition of the Hawaiian-English Dictionary. The Hawaiian Dictionary: Hawaiian-English, English-Hawaiian is perhaps the most important reference book on the Hawaiian language and "Place Names" is a product of the same team of Pukui/Elbert. This is the "revised and expanded edition" with about 4,000 entries. It should also be considered a supplement to the UH Hawaiian Dictionary, although it is also a stand alone reference and can be used and enjoyed all by itself.
The revised and expanded edition of "Place Names" has been available for more than 30 years. I can not understand how it is that I am the first to write a review for Amazon; considering how important this book is to Hawaii and its language. If you like this book, I also suggest Hawaiian Street Names: The Complete Guide to Oahu Street Names. It lists many streets that are not listed in "Place Names". Make sure you get the updated edition.
The Hawaiian language lives, not only in its spoken language, books, songs and chants, but also in its place names. I live on Oahu and find it curious and confounding that many people who live here have no understanding, curiosity or appreciation about the place names that they deal with every day, like the street they live on or the town they live in. Many residents do not correctly pronounce Oahu or Honolulu. The island is not "Awahu" nor is it the city of "Hanalulu" or "Hanolulu". Get this book so that you can learn and understand what those Hawaiian place names mean and help keep Hawaii a special and beautiful place.
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