Story: Tapa whenua – naming places

Mauna Loa, Hawaii (1st of 2)

Mauna Loa, Hawaii

In the distance is Mauna Loa (long mountain), in Hawaii. Hawaii shares many place names in common with other Polynesian islands – with slight changes as Polynesian languages spread and evolved. In Māori, mountain is ‘maunga’, so, for example, Maunganui is ‘big mountain’ and Maungatapu is ‘sacred mountain’.

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Photograph by Juerg Alean

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How to cite this page:

Rāwiri Taonui, 'Tapa whenua – naming places - Exploration and naming', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/18633/mauna-loa-hawaii (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 24 Nov 2008