Office of Planning and Sustainable Development

HBGN Background | Brief Background of proposed name change

In March of 2024, members of the Hawaiʻi Board on Geographic Names (“HBGN”) expressed a desire to discuss the official name of the largest island in the Hawaiian Archipelago, the “Island of Hawai‘i.” Members proposed a review of the name, given that it is the only island in the Hawaiian Archipelago whose name includes the phrase “Island of.” Simply put, members wanted to consider changing the Primary Name to “Hawai‘i,” in line with the naming convention of the other islands, e.g., Maui, Oʻahu, etc. However, discussing a name change first requires it to be on the Board’s agenda for a future meeting. Thus, in the April 2024 Notice of Meeting and Agenda for the HBGN, Agenda Item 5 called for a “Discussion and decision on Island of Hawaiʻi.”

Subsequently, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development received many emails and phone calls from the public seeking clarification regarding Agenda Item 5. Concerns were expressed over the lack of notice of the issue, disquiet about what naming options were being presented, who was making the proposed change, and under what authority. It was not surprising that the public was disturbed by the news given the lack of information about the circumstances that gave rise to Agenda Item 5. Indeed, many members of the public expressed concern that they did not even know who or what the Hawaiʻi Board on Geographic Names was or to what end it was acting.

At the Board’s April 2024 meeting, there were many attendees who wished to comment, both in person and virtually. Board members spent the early part of the meeting explaining the circumstances surrounding the discussion and addressed most of the concerns. Moreover, the Board made clear that the decision will only directly affect State agencies as it is only empowered by statute to affect the name the State government uses on its maps and in its documents.