Makena

Makena has independent connections in East Africa and Hawaii. In Kenyan naming traditions it is associated with happiness, including the Kikuyu interpretation happy one and use among Meru speakers. Separately, Mākena is a place on Maui, whose Hawaiian name is associated with abundance. These are distinct roots sharing a similar English-letter spelling.

Some English-speaking families also use Makena as a spelling related to McKenna, which has a separate surname history. The intended family connection therefore matters more than assigning one universal translation. A child named for the Maui place, a Kenyan relative, or a family McKenna may have a different story behind the same six letters. Keeping that story preserves the meaning the parents actually chose.