[Hawaiian, alteration of earlier Hawaiian and Hawaiian dialectal (Niihau) kuikui, from Proto-Polynesian *tuitui, possibly from Proto-Eastern-Malayo-Polynesian *tuRi-tuRi (compare Biak (Malayo-Polynesian language of the Schouten Islands) kukĕr, tree with an edible nut), possibly from reduplication of Proto-Eastern-Malayo-Polynesian *tuRi, to string (as candlenuts on the midrib of a palm frond for use as a candle), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tuhuR, to string, skewer, of Proto-Austronesian origin.]