>Status Map
>Information
>Hawaiian Fonts
>Place Names
 


The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is currently updating the 1:24,000 quadrangle maps of Hawai‘i. One of the features of the updated maps will be the addition of diacritical marks to the Hawaiian names. The Hawai‘i Board on Geographic Names, which is responsible for designating official names and spellings of geographic features in Hawai‘i, is reviewing each name that appears on the quadrangle maps and adding the ‘okina and kahakō, or diacritical marks, as appropriate. The lists below are the decisions that have been rendered so far by the Board. Since this is an ongoing process, new names will be added to the list until all quadrangles have been reviewed. It should also be noted that the Board has adopted a policy of only adding diacritical marks where there is solid evidence that there should be an ‘okina kahakō. Therefore, there are many instances where no decision has been rendered and the Board has advised USGS to leave the name without any diacritical marks until further research can be conducted. As a general rule of thumb, the Board has used the book, Place Names of Hawai‘i (Pukui, Elbert & Mookini), supplemented with the recommendations of ‘Ahahui ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i. The Board has deviated from these sources when other experts, such as native Hawaiian speaking elders from a particular area, have provided alternative pronunciations.

 
Note: In order to properly view the Excel files with the proper Hawaiian characters, please download the Hawaiian Fonts and add them to your Fonts Folder on your computer.