By Fred Alexander Santa Monica
As a Santa Monica resident, you received a letter requesting suggestions to name the short road just south of Colorado Avenue leading to PCH. I was astonished to read the new street name “Moomat Ahiko.” My first thought was that the name sounded like a WWII Japanese combatant — perhaps it was meant to appease our Japanese tourists. As soon as I got home I searched the Internet, no such luck. Certainly our council members could have picked a name more reflective of our beach community that everyone would understand, i.e. Seascape Drive, Ocean View Road, Sea Breeze Road, etc.
According to Councilmember Richard Bloom the name means: “breath of the ocean” in the language of Gabrielino Tongva Native Americans who were indigenous to this area. Now you are one of the select few who know the meaning of the name. To be fair, all council members did not approve this bewildering street name.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 10, 2006. Read the original PDF.