Cannibal Road. Idiot Street. Rascal Lane.

These are just some of the translations of Hawaiian street names found in Rich Budnick's "Hawaiian Street Names: The Complete Guide to O'ahu Street Names Updated" (Aloha Press, $12.95).

More than 5,000 names are in the book, which has been updated after being out of print for 10 years.

City law requires that streets be given Hawaiian names — though you see older neighborhoods with non-Hawaiian names — yet many residents have no idea what they mean.

"For some people, (knowing the meaning) brings a smile or makes them embarrassed," Budnick said. "Every street name has a meaning, and I would hope people would want to know what they are."

The book explains the island's most famous street names: While named after royalty, Kapi'olani Boulevard also means "arch of heaven" and Kalakaua Avenue translates to "the day of battle."

"And when you're driving down that street, you feel like you're in the day of battle just driving through the traffic there," said Budnick, laughing.

And then there are the unexplained names such as 'Ewa Beach's 'Aikanaka Road (it means man-eating) or Mo'omuku (mutilated lizard) Place in Kuli'ou'ou.

"There are dozens of streets you wonder why the street was named that," Budnick said.

LOOKIN’ GOOD

Kapukawai Street (Waipahu): Handsome
Kupu'eu Place (Waipahu): Hero, wondrous one
Lakimau Street (Diamond Head): Always lucky
Lakoloa Place (Kalihi): Very rich, prosperous
Lalawai Drive ('Aiea): Successful, well-to-do
Pahukula Place (Kuli'ou'ou): Chest of gold

TROUBLE!

'Apake'e Street (Wai'anae): Deceitful
Kahekili Highway (Kane'ohe): Thunder
Kaie'e Street ('Ewa Beach): Tidal wave
Kalapu Street ('Ewa Beach): Ghost
Ka'onawai Place (Manoa): The liquid intoxicant
Nakiu Place (McCully): The spies
Na'opala Lane (Kalihi): Rubbish

GROSS

'Aikanaka Place/Road ('Ewa Beach): To eat human flesh
'Ilipilo Street (Kailua): Smelly skin
Kauhako Street/Place (Hawai'i Kai): The dragged large intestines
Mo'omuku Place (Kuli'ou'ou): Mutilated lizard
Lumi'au'au Street (Waipahu): Bathroom

SO RANDOM

Helekula Way/Place (Wai'anae): To go to school
Ki'ona'ole Road (Kane'ohe): Without dung heaps
Komai'a Drive (Manoa): Dragging bananas
Ki'i'oni'oni Loop/Place (Wai'alae): Motion pictures, movies
Wai'aka Place (McCully): Laughing water

VA VA VOOM

'Ano'ilei Place (Hau'ula): Cherished, sweetheart
Hanakealoha Place (Palolo Valley): Love-making
Ho'oha'i Street/Place (Pearl City): To flirt
Pa'ale'a Street (Palolo Valley): Pleasure-loving
Poli'ala Street (Waimanalo): Fragrant breast
'Eu Lane (Kalihi): Rascal
Lukini Place ('Ewa Beach): Perfume
Kani'ahe Street/Place (Wahiawa): To giggle or laugh softly
Wela Street/Lane (Kaimuki): Lust, passion

HARD TIMES

Kuewa Drive (Waialua): Wanderer, homeless
Nalulu Place (Wai'alae 'Iki): A dull headache
Meahala Street (Waipahu): Sinner
Hepa Street (Waipahu): Idiot, imbecile, moron
Kahalewai Place (Hale'iwa): Prison, jail
Pokapahu Place (Diamond Head): Bursting bullet
'Onaha Street (Kahala): Bow-legged
Kalena Street (Wahiawa): The lazy one

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Ma'ipalaoa Road (Wai'anae): Whale genitals
'Iole Street/Place (Kane'ohe): Hawaiian rat
Ka'uku Place (Hawai'i Kai): Louse
Kaluamo'o Street (Kailua): Lizard pit
Ke Ala Mano Street (Kalihi Valley): Shark's road
Miula Street ('Ewa Beach): Mule
Popoi'a Road (Kailua): Fish rot$

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.