Hawaii board votes to change official name of Hawaii Island [View all]

Source: The Hill

12/13/25 8:08 PM ET


HONOLULU (KHON2) — A simple name change, with statewide and national impact. At its Dec. 10 meeting, the Hawaii Board on Geographic Names voted to change the official name of the “Island of Hawaii” to simply “Hawaii,” bringing it in line with every other island in the state. The decision follows over a year of discussion — and public concern.

When the proposal was first put forward, many people didn’t even know the board existed. The change was made to be consistent with other islands and also be more culturally respectful. “I think we all know Hawaii is the state and also the name of an island, and there’s no distinction between the two, and we want to honor the history of the island itself and give it its proper name,” Marques Marzan, HBGN chair, said back in April.

Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda raised no objections to the name change. “I know it always has, historically, as kind of named after Hawaii Loa the Navigator. So, Hawaii makes sense. It could be confusing, because the state of Hawaii. But hey, I’ll take it. I mean, Hawaii, that sounds good to me,” said the Mayor.

The change would standardize “Hawaii” across federal and state maps, documents and signage.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/5647899-hawaii-name-change-decision/