köken: From Proto-Polynesian *awa (“channel, opening in a reef”), from Proto-Central Pacific *awa, from Proto-Oceanic *sawaŋ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *sawaŋ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *sawaŋ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sawaŋ. Cognates include Māori awa, Tahitian ava, Tongan ava and Samoan ava.