Where does “Kawena” come from?

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

Ancestry of “Kawena”, step by step

Kawena traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Hawaiian kā

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

via Hawaiian wena

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Hawaiianwenaglow
Every word from Proto-Austronesian taqan →Every word from Proto-Polynesian taʻa →Every word from Hawaiian kā →