Why is the Hawaiian word for "home" also "home"?

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by winkosmosis

I find it hard to believe that the Hawaiians didn't have a word for "home". Why would it be a loan word from English? I've Googled and can't find an answer. I can't be the only person wondering this!

The English word "home" covers a broad spectrum of meaning and can range from a simple hut to an entire country or "homeland." Instead of a single word, Hawaiians have several words and phrases that are used to express the concept of "home." Some of the Hawaiian words and expressions are fairly straightforward, while others are somewhat poetic.

For instance, several posters have mentioned a couple of the Hawaiian words that can be used for "home," such as "hale" (house) and "kauhale" (a group of huts/structures that comprise the functions of a house). While "hale" are "kauhale" are adequate, they fail to express the full range of meaning encompassed by the English word "home." Oftentimes, poetic Hawaiian words, such as "nohona" (dwelling, residence), "mole" ("taproot," source) and "kumu" (base, source) are somewhat closer to the intended meaning of the English word "home." Unfortunately, the use of poetic Hawaiian words can garble the meaning.

Phrases such as "hale noho" ("sitting house"), "wahi noho" ("sitting place"), "one hānau" ("birth sands") and "kulāiwi" ("bone field") are also used to express the concept of "home." However, like poetic Hawaiian words, some of these phrases can garble the intended meaning unlike a more straightforward word. Hence, the wholesale adoption of the English loanword "home." It perfectly expresses all of the nuances of the English word "home" and is easily understood.

Originally Posted by winkosmosis

Also, is it just coincidence that the word for "of" is "o", just like the abbreviated/Irish version of the word in English?

It's just a coincidence. Depending on the context, "a," "ko," "kō," and "ka" are also used to express the same thing as the English language preposition "of."

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by MauiPartTimer

If "hale" translate to "house", what's the ancient Hawaiian word for "condo"?

There's no "ancient" Hawaiian word for "condo," since "condos" didn't exist prior to the 1950s. Fortunately, the Hawaiian language is fairly adaptable. "The term "hale keʻena" ("room house"/"unit house") has been used by some modern-day Hawaiian speakers to describe a "condo."

[winkosmosis]

Very informative post Jonah K

[McFrostyJ]

Thanks Jonah K! Wish it would let me give you another Rep point.