Hawaiʻi Sāmoa Havaiʻi Savaiʻi connection in language

A Havaiʻi - Savaiʻi theory is that Hawaiʻi, often pronounced “Havaiʻi” by Hawaiʻians, is named after the Big Island of Hawaiʻi which in turn was named after (or has a cognate relationship with)the Big Island of Savaiʻi in Sāmoa.

With a strong connection among Polynesian languages like Hawaiʻian and Sāmoan place names of islands and villages can be compared and in addition to theorizes of Polynesian Migration. In comparison, some of the words have direct traslations and/or cognate relationships between the languages with interchangeable letters.

S and H

The “S” in Sāmoan language can be transferred as “H” in other Polynesian languages. The largest Island in Sāmoa is Savaiʻi now when the “H” is in place of the "S" we have voyagers that named the new “Big Island” in this northern chain Havaiʻi now spelled as Hawaiʻi. Hamoa, Maui located near Hana is another way to say Sāmoa

W to V

Although spelled with a “W” Hawaiʻians will pronounce the name of the island and state as if it was spelled with a "v", Havaiʻi. In French Polynesia the island of Raiatea was known as “Havaiʻi” which was likely named after Savaiʻi, Sāmoa when the Polynesian settlers voyaged east.

Also on the “Big Island” of Havaiʻi there is an area in the northwest Kohala coast named "Upolu" which is the second largest Island of Sāmoa.

T and K

Hawaiʻi uses “K” and when using “T” in the Hawaiʻian language it is referred to as the “old way” Sāmoan language uses the “T” but informally in some conversation will use “K” Sāmoans refer to the “K” as the old way and that the missionaries thought it to be more formal of them to speak and write with “T”.

Besides the name Havaiʻi itself coming from Savaiʻi other locations in Havaiʻi that share names with Sāmoa is Ka'u on the big island of Hawaiʻi is a district near the Kilauea volcano. Ta'u is located in the Manuʻa Islands of Sāmoa. Kula Maui is also the same name as the village of Tula, on the Island of Tutuila Amerika Sāmoa.

K and ʻ

Besidnes the “T” and “K” being transferable, Polynesian languages often have a "k" in place of he glottal stop. For example Nuku'alofa in Tonga would be translated to Sāmoan as Nuʻuʻalofa. Around Polynesia the Manuʻa of Sāmoa are also known as Manuka.

On the Big Island of Havaiʻi in the Ka'u district is an area known as Manuka, Manuka Beach / Manuka Bay.

F and H, N and G

With translating the “F” into “H” like Hawaiʻian 'Hale' (house) and Sāmoan Fale (house) and the “N” into “G” like Hawaiʻian word 'Nalu' (an ocean wave) Sāmoan word 'Galu' (an ocean wave). Hawaiʻian word Mauna (mountain) and Sāmoan word Mauga (mountain) one can even stretch as far as theorizing that Hawaiʻians using 'Hana' as a village name of Maui and 'Faga' as a village name of Savaiʻi the links between the two names as prefixes to village names in both Sāmoa and Hawaiʻi.

These village names with the Hana prefix in Hawaiʻi include: Hanalei Hanapepe and Hanamaulu. Village names of Sāmoa with the prefix 'Faga' include Fagatogo, Fagaʻalu, Fagaʻitua, Fagasa, Fagaliʻi, Fagamalo.

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