Save Gender Masculine Usage Hawaiian (Rare) Pronounced Pron. /ko.a.ˈli.ʔi/ [key·simplify] Meaning & History Means "chiefly warrior" or "ruling warrior," from koa meaning "soldier, warrior, fighter" and liʻi, shortened from aliʻi meaning "chief, officer, ruler, monarch, peer, headman, aristocrat, king, commander."