Hoei

Hoei is a term that appears in several unrelated contexts, primarily as a proper name. In the Japanese language, Hoei (乃英等) is a family name that can also function as a given name, although it is relatively uncommon. The etymology of the surname is uncertain; it is not listed among the most frequent Japanese surnames and is largely concentrated in certain prefectures. Individuals bearing the name Hoei include a handful of contemporary professionals in fields such as academia, business, and the arts, but no single figure has attained worldwide renown.

In a separate usage, Hoei refers to a village situated in the province of Gauteng in South Africa, known locally for its small-scale agricultural activities. The village is part of a municipality that underwent a name change in the early 2000s, and its population is predominantly engaged in subsistence farming. The locality also hosts a modest primary school and a community health post that serves the surrounding rural area.

Occasionally the letters HOEI are used as an acronym, for example in the context of the "Holographic Optical Engineering Initiative," a research consortium focused on adaptive optics technologies. This usage appears in technical literature and grant proposals but does not refer to a single, well-known organization.

Because the term has these distinct meanings, context is essential to determining whether Hoei denotes a person, place, or acronym. The term does not have a single, unifying definition, and no substantial cross-disciplinary references exist.