Here's why:
* Historical Context: The term "Siamese" comes from the ancient kingdom of Siam, which is now Thailand. Hawaiians wouldn't have used the term in the same way Europeans did, as their cultural and linguistic context was different.
* Focus on Local Animals: Hawaiian culture has a strong focus on indigenous animals and plants. They would have likely had their own terms for cats, perhaps based on their appearance or behavior.
Possible Alternatives:
* "Pōpoki Siam": This would literally translate to "Siam cat" and could be used in a general sense, but it doesn't reflect any specific Hawaiian terminology.
* "Pōpoki Mea Nui": This translates to "big-nosed cat," which could be a descriptive term for the Siamese breed.
It's important to remember that Hawaiian language is constantly evolving, and new terms are always being created. While there may not be a perfect translation, it's possible to find ways to describe a Siamese cat in Hawaiian using existing vocabulary.