Naming the Baby

MaileAna got her name as a compromise to preserve our cultural backgrounds. Bob was born in Philadelphia and raised in Hawaii since he was four-years-old and I was born and raised on Guam. We wanted to name our baby girl something that depicted our love for the cultures we grew up in. And, we also wanted to include reference to a namesake,  woman who is very dear to both of us, Anna Wong Kao. Bob's consideration was a Hawaiian name and mine was something similar to Mariana, taking into account the Northern Mariana Islands.

We settled on maile which is a vine that is used at formal ceremonies in Hawaii and Ana to add the Chamorro sound and namesake for Anna Kao. What we didn't agree on was it's presentation. Bob wanted Anna as a namesake for Kao and the baby's middle name but I wanted Ana as part of the first name as in MaileAna a modernization of Mariana (Mariana Islands). Being head of this household, Bob got his wish and Maile Ana Steffy is her formal name. But, since possession is 9/10ths of the law - in this WebSite - MaileAna is mommy's way of presenting this little goddess' name.

Articles

Maile Lei
The maile is a vine with shiny, oval leaves with pointed tips approximately 1-3 inches in length. This lei is associated with Laka, the Goddess of Hula.	MaileAna was 10-years-old when this site was published in 1998.

Tuesday's child is full of grace

July 16, 2000: MaileAna taking a break from riding  her bike at Asan Memorial Park.	June 1991: MaileAna was featured in the 2nd Anniversary Edition of Håfa! magazine. Photo By Eduardo Siguenza	Born: July 19, 1988 Time: 11:45 P.M. Weight: 7 lbs. 10 oz. Length: 22 inches Guam Memorial Hospital Oka Point Tamuning, Guam
1989: Hawaii Glamour Shot	January 17, 2000: Maile & Ali St. John's soccer practice.	Surfing at PIC Saipan
November 22, 1999: Annual physical with Dr. Gabe Lombard	November 25, 1998: Yapese Princess MaileAna	1989: MaileAna Style Brushing teeth in closet in Hawaii.
October 10, 2002: Volleyball at St. Paul's gym	November 25, 1999 St. John's 6th Grade Photo	November 3, 1999 Mango Mania
1990-91: Three-year-old MaileAna is wearing the aqua & white striped dress (W/BOW) standing in the middle row in this Chalan Pago Learning Center photo.	February 22, 2003: With Madison at Uncle Jimmy Dee's Agaña Bay Beach.	January 22, 2000: Cuddling a rabbit at the Juan Blaz Ranch in Yigo.