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I'm from O'ahu, Hawai`i and I'm also of part native Hawaiian (Kanaka Maoli) blood/ancestry. Kai means "sea" in Hawaiian. NOT "attractive" nor does it mean "ocean." In Hawaiian "ocean" is Moana (Mo-ah-na). Also Kai is a more male name though some places online like to say it's unisex. In Hawaiian culture giving the child a Hawaiian name is a very thought out and serious thing. You don't name the child until post birth and it has to have great significance in the meaning. Usually the Hawaiian grandparent(s) will help out with the name as well.

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Most of these baby name sites have Hawaiian names translated completely wrong and I find it sort of sad that they go through the effort to make a "Hawaiian name" section and butcher the meaning. Naming is a very spiritual thing in my culture.

This message was edited 11/26/2005, 2:54 PM