Find out how popular the last name Kahala is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kahala.

Kahala, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kahala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kahala in America

Kahala is the 92358th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kahala surname appeared 199 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kahala.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kahala to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kahala

The surname Kahala is believed to have originated from the Hawaiian language. It is derived from the Hawaiian word "kahala," which means "the place of the pandanus tree." The pandanus tree is a type of small tree or shrub that is native to Hawaii and other Pacific islands.

Kahala was likely initially used as a place name or topographic name, referring to a specific location where pandanus trees grew abundantly. Over time, it may have been adopted as a surname by families residing in or near those areas.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Kahala date back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when Hawaii's population and culture were first documented by European explorers and missionaries. However, it is possible that the name existed in oral traditions and local records much earlier.

One notable individual with the surname Kahala was Kalani Kahala, a Hawaiian chief and landowner who lived in the early 19th century. He was known for his involvement in the land disputes and negotiations that took place during the Great Mahele, a major land redistribution program in Hawaii in the mid-1800s.

Another historical figure with the Kahala surname was Hiapo Kahala, a Hawaiian scholar and teacher who lived in the late 19th century. He was instrumental in preserving and documenting Hawaiian language, culture, and traditions during a time when they were under threat from Western influences.

In the 20th century, Keahi Kahala was a renowned Hawaiian musician and composer, known for his contributions to the renaissance of traditional Hawaiian music and dance. He was born in 1920 and passed away in 1998.

Makana Kahala was a Hawaiian activist and advocate for indigenous rights, who played a significant role in the Hawaiian sovereignty movement in the late 20th century. She was born in 1945 and dedicated her life to preserving and promoting Hawaiian culture, language, and self-determination.

Kekoa Kahala was a Hawaiian artist and sculptor, known for his intricate wood carvings and sculptures that depicted traditional Hawaiian motifs and legends. He was born in 1935 and his works are displayed in various museums and galleries throughout Hawaii.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kahala

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kahala.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kahala was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kahala has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kahala was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kahala, please contact us.

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