Where does “カメハメハ” come from?

カメハメハ (Japanese) comes from English Kamehameha, from Hawaiian kā, from Proto-Polynesian taʻa, from Proto-Austronesian taqan — to hold back; to keep in reserve.

カメハメハ (Japanese): The name of several kings of Hawaii, most notably

Definitions

  1. The name of several kings of Hawaii, most notably

Ancestry of “カメハメハ”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishKamehameha
2Hawaiianto strike, hit, thrust, dash, hurl; container;...
3Proto-Polynesiantaʻa
4Proto-Austronesiantaqanto hold back; to keep in reserve
Every word from Proto-Austronesian taqanEvery word from Proto-Polynesian taʻaEvery word from Hawaiian