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It took me a long time to find anything about the meaning of Puna names and the history of places in Puna.
Puna Names and History
| Name | Meaning and History |
|---|---|
| Halema'uma'u | Crater also known as the fire pit, within Kilauea Crater, 165 m (495 ft) deep and 6 km (3.6 miles) wide, which formed through series of collapses between 210 and 500 years ago; literally, "fern house," referring to a house of ferns built by Kamapua'a, a rebuffed suitor of Pele, to keep her from escaping and causing eruptions. |
| Kaimu | Beautiful black sand beach and surf spot formed by steam explosions when lava met the sea in about 1750; literally, "gathering [at the] sea [to watch surfing]." |
| Kalapana | A priest of Pele, literally "announce noted place". Town in the Puna district, once famous for its black sand beach (named Kaimu), but covered in 1990 from the Pu'u O'o eruption. |
| Kapoho | Kilauea volcano lower East Rift Zone eruption of 1960 which resulted in the destruction of the village of Kapoho; 10 km2 of land was covered by the eruption, which occurred 50 km (30 miles) downrift from the summit. Literally, "the depression." |
| Kilauea | Active volcano on the flank of Mauna Loa with two main rift zones: the East Rift Zone and the Southwest Rift Zone. Kilauea was continuously active from the late 1700's until 1924 as summit eruptions within Halemau'uma'u Crater, and again in 1952, 1960 (downrift covering town of Kapoho), and 1972-74 (Mauna Ulu East Rift Zone eruption), prior to start of 1983 Pu'u O'o eruption. For the past 200 years, Kilauea and Mauna Loa have erupted on average every two to three years, making them the world's most frequently active volcanoes; since 1950, Kilauea eruptive activity had dominated. Since 1956, average volume of lava erupted is about 91 million cubic meters/year (120 million cubic yards/year). Summit elevation is 1,277 m (4190 ft). Literally, "great spewing, wide-spreading" (i.e. volcanic eruptions). Estimated age of 600,000 years, though 90% of its surface is less than 1,100 years old. |
| Pahoa | Town in Puna district. |
| Pohoiki | Boat ramp on the southeast of Cape Kumakahi that is nearest to Puna Ridge; literally, small depression (Pele is said to have dug a crater here). |
| Puna | Literally, a "spring (of water)." |
| Puu | Literally, "hill". |
| Puu Oo | Name of the current active eruption of Kilauea Volcano, and named after a volcanic cone that was built during its initial phases. Longest lasting single eruption in Hawaiian recorded history; current eruption began in January, 1983 in Napau Crater, moved downrift within hours, eventually building a cone 250 m high. The Kupainaha lava pond was active from 1986 to 1993, and the current eruption consists primarily of lava channels and tubes which emanate from Pu'u O'o and travel downhill over 10 km (6 miles) where they erupt into the ocean. During the eruption several subdivisions, and the National Park's Wahaula Visitor center were destroyed. Literally, "hill of the oo" (a species of native bird, a black honey eater, that is now extinct). |
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