Piilani

Pi'ilani is a Hawaiian name most widely associated with a Maui chief from pre-contact Hawaii. In traditional Maui history and legend, Pi'ilani is described as a ruling figure who oversaw parts of the island and supported significant building projects and religious sites. The name has persisted in Hawaiian culture and is found in genealogies and place-name traditions on Maui.

In modern usage, Pi'ilani is used as a given name for people of Hawaiian heritage. The spelling with the kahakō (Piʻilani) is common, though variations without diacritics are also seen in English-language contexts.

The Pi'ilani Highway, also known as Route 31, is a major road on Maui named in his honor. It runs along the island’s south-central coast, connecting Kahului with the Wailea and Kihei areas and serving as a key corridor for residents and visitors. The highway and its surrounding communities reflect the enduring cultural memory of Pi'ilani within Maui's landscape.

Cultural significance: Pi'ilani appears in Hawaiian mo'olelo (oral histories) and genealogies as part of Maui’s ancestral ruling line. The figure embodies the island’s legacy of leadership, territorial organization, and the intertwining of honor, land, and religion in traditional Hawaiian society.