Where does “Kaʻohu” come from?

Kaʻohu (Hawaiian) comes from Hawaiian kā, from Proto-Polynesian taʻa, from Proto-Austronesian taqan — to hold back; to keep in reserve.

Ancestry of “Kaʻohu”, step by step

Kaʻohu traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Hawaiian

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Hawaiianto strike, hit, thrust, dash, hurl; container;...
2Proto-Polynesiantaʻa
3Proto-Austronesiantaqanto hold back; to keep in reserve

via Hawaiian ʻohu

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Hawaiianʻohufog
Every word from Proto-Austronesian taqanEvery word from Proto-Polynesian taʻaEvery word from Hawaiian
Kaʻohu — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer