From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *baʀu.
*paʀu
- sea hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus)
- Western Oceanic
- → Mailu: waru
- Meso-Melanesian
- North New Guinea
- Papuan Tip
- Central-Eastern Oceanic
- Southern Oceanic
- Southeast Solomonic
- Bugotu–Gela
- Malaita–Makira
- Micronesian: *fau-fau
- Central Pacific
- Rotuman: hau
- Fijian: vau
- Proto-Polynesian: *fau
- Tongic
- Nuclear Polynesian
- Samoic–Outlier
- Eastern Polynesian
- Marquesic
- Hawaiian: hau
- North Marquesan: hau
- South Marquesan: fau
- Tahitic