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The earliest Hawaiian word lists

Anderson - 1778    Samwell - 1779    Beresford - 1787    Martinez - 1789    Santeliz es Pablo - 1791    Quimper - 1791    
Lisiansky - 1804    Campbell - 1809    Gaimard/Arago - 1819    Bishop/Ellis - 1825    Botta - 1828    Dumont - 1834    

William Ellis: Artemas Bishop's List
(1825)

William Ellis (1794–1872) was an English missionary and author. He traveled through the Society Islands, Hawaiian Islands and Madagascar, and wrote several books describing his experiences. He first arrived in Honlulu on April 16, 1822, with a small group from Tahiti, returning in August. He brought his family to Hawaii, arriving on the Active on February 4, 1823. In June 1823 Ellis joined American Missionaries on a tour of the island of Hawaiʻi, to investigate suitable sites for mission stations. Returning to Honolulu, he learned the Hawaiian language, transcribed the language into a roman alphabet and helped set up a printing press. In August 1824, because of his wife's poor health, he returned to England, where he published his narrative of his travels in Hawaii.   (adapted from Wikipedia: William Ellis)

In one of the appendices to the book, he included a list of 248 Hawaiian words with English glosses, based on "a larger vocabulary… prepared by the Rev. Artemas Bishop (1795-1872), the American Missionary… A copy of the original manuscript was procured by Mr. Pickering early in 1825, and has [been] obligingly lent…"

However, Bishop was unaware of the publication, and wrote to the ABCFM, Boston, in November, 1826, "…I was not a little surprised to find extracts from a very imperfect & faulty vocabulary… which I should have been unwilling to have any part published without corrections…" Bishop listed 61 forms to be corrected, ending his letter, "I regret very much that the few words taken from my vocabulary should need so many corrections … the greatest source of error was mistaking one letter for another…" Future editions of Ellis's book published a much shorter list, not coinciding with the original. (see references)

adapted from Albert J. Schütz, "Voices of Eden" pp. 214-16.

In the list below, Bishop's corrections have been made, and original words indicated in square brackets. Many glosses have been corrected. Numerous examples of 'u' misread as 'a' can be found, which, among other misinterpretations, suggest that Ellis's understanding of Hawaiian was inferior to Bishop's...

analyzed and annotated by Laiana Wong,
Bishop's corrections added by Trussel

click on column heading to sort

num.list wordmodern Hawaiianlist gloss
21.A i luna [Aulana]ai luna ('up there')these above
215.Paa pupaʻapūaltogether
95.Heleuma [Heleama]heleumaan anchor
1.Aaand
202.Ohiaʻōhiʻaapple
173.Lipilipiaxe or hatchet
134.Inoʻinoadj. bad, vile, wicked, sinful; n. iniquity, depravity; also, a blow, a squall, a storm
135.Inoinoʻinoʻinovery bad
200.Ohule [Ohale]ʻōhulebaldheaded
104.Hinanahīnaʻia basket
15.Auau [Anau]ʻauʻauto bathe, to touch the body
164.Kuonokūʻonoa bay
188.Naninanibeautiful, handsome
130.Imuai muabefore
101.Hiapohiapoonly begotten
208.Opuʻōpūthe belly
4.Akiʻakito bite, as, to bite off thread
161.Kokokokoblood
65.Botipokia boat
138.Ivi, or Iwiiwibone, shell, the hard part of a cane
66.Bukepukea book
87.Hanau [Haanaa]hānauto be born
206.Umauma [Omaoma]umaumabosom
225.Uūthe breasts, milk, & c.
32.Ahoahothe breath, patience, kindess, forbearance
217.PerikanePelekaneBritain
142.Kaikaina [Kaikaine]kaikainaa younger brother of a brother or younger sister of a sister
143.Kaikunanekaikunānethe brother of a sister
159.Keikuanakaikuaʻanaan elder brother
155.Kapikikapikia cabbage
235.Umeteʻumekea calabash
90.Hea, or Kahea [Hahea]hea, kāheato call
96.He 'lii moku [He' lii moka]he aliʻi mokua ship-captain
52.Anaanacavern, cave, sepulchre
49.Alii [or arii]aliʻiking, chief, & c.
158.Keikikeikia child, a son
26.Auwaeʻauwaethe chin
190.Nihinihi [Ninehi]nihinihi ('petals')circular
36.Akakaʻakāka ('clear'), kaka ('rinse')to cleanse
34.Akaakaakākaclear, intelligible, transparent
175.Lolelolecloth
171.Lii [Liia]līcold
222.Puoa [Puola]pūʻoʻa ('tomb')a tomb, enclosed with long poles in the manner of a cone. [comb]
223.Ranakiralanakilaa conqueror
151.Kamailiokamaʻilioconversation
167.Kupapaukupapaʻua corpse
105.Hoahanauhoahānaua cousin; relative
43.Alalaʻalalāto cry
229.Ue [Uee]uēto cry
147.Kaukamakaʻukamaa cucumber
13.Auau₂ ('current'), ʻau₁ ('swim')n. current, tide, v. to swim
220.Poeleelepōʻeleʻeledarkness
157.Keikimahinekaikamahinea daughter
12.Aoʻao₃ ('ship's biscuit'), ao₁ ('daylight'), ao₃ ('world'), ʻau₃ ('handle')bread, daylight, the world, a handle
118.Ihoihov. to descend; adv. recently, lately, just now
198.Oi ihooi₁ ihoto descend
3.Akeaketo desire
6.Amitaʻāmika ('relish'; cf. Andrews: amika, 'to desire food or drink')to desire food or drink
132.Ineinainainato despise
*Bishop: omit, it is the same as Inaina
41.Akua la puakua lapu (kiapolō)an evil spirit, the devil (Kebilo.)
179.Makemaketo die
69.Eeuʻeleuready, quick, expert, diligent; also foolhardy, headstrong, & c.
221.Poulipōulido [dark]
127.Ilioʻīlioa dog
154.Kalakālā ('dollar') (cf makakāʻalā)a dollar; also applied to spectacles called makakala
2.Arakoualakō₁ ('to drag, pull along')to drag
93.[Heina]he inudrink
*Bishop: omit, no such word
137.InuInuto drink
*Drink ye the good water. E inu ʻoukou i ka wai ʻono
204.Onaʻonadrunken
216.Pepeiao [Pepeido]pepeiaothe ear
109.Honuahonuaearth
9.Aiʻain. food, v. to eat
16.Aihamuʻai hamuto eat voraciously the refuse food
62.Avaruʻawalueight
30.Ahiahiahiahievening
102.Hiilanihiʻilanito exalt
178.Makamakathe eye
207.Onoheʻōnohithe eyeball
199.Ohanaʻohanaa brood of any living creatures of one sort (ohua is the word for family)
86.Hanaihānaito feed
29.Ahiahifire
114.Iaiʻa ('fish'), ia ('he, she, it')fish; also, he, she, it
50.Alima, or Arimaʻalimafive
78.Haehaea flag, the colours of a ship
89.Hawawahāwāwāfoolish
115.Iakoʻiako₂ ('forty tapas, canoes, feathers')forty
27.Ahaʻahā ('four')four, in number [sour]
71.Ehaʻehāfour
18.Aikaneaikānea friend of the same sex, who is in the habit of giving and receiving on terms of friendship and civility
7.Aaaaʻa₂ ('joyous hospitality')social, friendly, hospitable
201.Ohiʻohito gather, to collect together, as food
77.Haawihāʻawito give, to forgive
53.Anianianianiglass
70.Eu? ʻeu ('to crawl along')to go, to march
145.Kao [Kae]kaoa goat
40.Akuaakuaa deity, God, spirit, any supernatural being, any object of religious homage
92.[Heamihi]hea mihi ('call of repentence') ? he maikaʻigood
*Bishop: omit, no such word
177.Maitaimaikaʻigood
232.Ukana waiwaiukana waiwaigoods, commodities
165.Kupunekanekupuna kānea grandfather
166.Kupunewhainekupuna wahinea grandmother
191.Nuinuigreat
97.Heohohe ohohair
169.lawoholauohohair
174.Lima [Limalima]limathe hand
88.Hanikahainakāa handkerchief
131.Inainainainato hate, to be angry
193.Oia [Oe ala]ʻo iahe, she, or it
219.poopoʻothe head
210.Lohe [Orohe]lohe ('hear')to hear
172.Liolioa horse
84.Halehalehouse
230.Uharuuhalu (Andrews: 'hungry; weak from hunger')hungry
14.AuauI
237.Umikamariiʻumi kamaliʻiinfanticide
227.Uaoʻuaoto interpose between two parties at a variance, to intercede
81.Haohaoiron
80.Hoihoi [Haihai]hoihoito rejoice in, to be pleased with
28.Ahaoleloʻahaʻōlelo ('legislature, talking group')a deliberative body, to consult together in a body, to put to trial in presence of a council, Judgment
25.Aupuniaupunikingdom, state of peace, undisturbed state of a nation
214.Pahipahiknife, sword
19.Ainaʻāinaland, island, country, farm, lot
192.Nuinuinuinui (Andrews: 'to be large, very great')very large
44.Alakaialakaʻito lead, to conduct, to guide
168.Laa [Lau]laua leaf
91.[Heao]he aʻo ('learn'), he ao ('cloud')v. to learn, n. a cloud
*Bishop: omit, no such word
203.Olaolan. life, salvation; v. to be safe, to be alive
99.Hewilahe uilalightning
83.Haku [Haka]hakulord, chief
59.Aroha oealoha ʻoelove to you, peace to you
162.Kulinakūlinamaize
153.Kanakakanakaman
24.Aumoeaumoemidnight, or a very late hour
243.Waia [Waiu]waiūmilk
176.Mahinamahinathe moon
68.eeeʻeto mount, to leap upon
163.Kuahivikuahiwia mountain
121.Ioleʻiolemouse
244.Wahawahamonth [mouth]
136.Inoainoaa name
10.Aiʻāʻīthe neck
239.Upena [Upine]ʻupenaa net
218.Popōnight
209.Oreoreʻōleʻōle₂ ('rant')a noise
*Bishop: no such word for noise
245.Walaau [Walaaa]walaʻau ('talk, speak, shout')noise
119.Ihuihuthe nose
120.Ihu loihiihu lōʻihilong nose
108.Honihonito join noses
23.Aoheʻaʻohenot
54.Anoʻānōnow
211.Lono [Orono]lono ('news, report')to regard
45.Alanaʻālanaan offering
35.Akahiʻakahione, first
46.Alaniʻalanithe orange
238.Umu [Uma]umu = imu ('underground oven')a place for baking, an oven
187.Naianaiʻaa porpoise
226.Ualaʻualapotatoes
141.Kaikaikeikaikapowerful
*Bishop: omit, substitute ikaika
111.Hoomakaukauhoʻomākaukauto prepare
149.Kahunakahunaa priest
63.Bono, or ponoponotrue, right, straight, correct, proper
76.Haaheo [haahe]haʻaheoproud, magnificent
103.Hiuhiu₁ ('haul energetically with ropes')to pull upon a sail or anchor
248.Witi, or Witiwitiwikiwikiquick, swift
228.Ua [U'a]uarain
56.Anuenueānuenuethe rainbow
234.Ulaʻulared
156.Keiki papakeiki papaa resident
185.Muliwai [Muluwai]muliwaia river
106.Hoeulehoe ulirudder, helm
58.Arohaalohathe common salutation at meeting and parting; affection, love, gratitudew, thanks, sympathy, pity, gried
125.Iliahiʻiliahisandal-wood
82.Haumanahaumānascholar, disciple
140.Kaikai₁ ('sea'), kai₃ ('My, how much! How very! How terrific!')n. the sea; adj. great, intense
183.Moanamoanathe ocean, applied only to the broad expanse of waters
123.Ikeʻiketo see, to perceive, to understand
*I have just seen your letter. Ua ʻike iho nei au i ka palapala; I understand even all your letter. Ua ʻike au a pau loa i ko palapala.
129.Imi [Imo]ʻimito seek, to search after
20.Aipupuuʻāʻīpuʻupuʻuone who serves another for his food, a servant
31.Ahituʻahikuseven
181.Manomanōa shark
196.Oiʻoisharp
205.Olula [Olala, or orara]ʻōluloperson shipwrecked
112.Hokekehaʻukeke ('to shiver')cold, shivering
*Bishop: omit, not such word in that use
150.Kamaakāmaʻashoes
148.Kahakaikahakaithe beach, the sea shore
144.Kaikuwahinekaikuahinethe sister of a brother
22.Aonoʻaonosix
37.Akamaiakamaisagacious, skilful, expert, wise, intelligent, ingenious, artful
126.Iliʻiliskin, bark, rind
139.Ivipoiwi poʻo ('head bone, skull')the skull
100.Hiamoehiamoeto sleep
74.Emoʻemo ('delay')slow
160.Koakoaa soldier
224.Tamaitikamaikia son
75.Emooreʻemo ʻoleshortly, soon
116.Iheihea spear
231.Uhaneʻuhanea spirit, the soul
85.Halilihāliʻito spread a table
107.Hōkū [Hoka, or Hota]hōkūa star
17.Aihueʻaihuev. to steal, n. a thief
5.A-Aʻaʻāa stone, stony
122.Ikaika, or itaitaiikaikastrong, powerful
184.Monimonito swallow
246.Waimakawaimakatears
189.Niho, or Ninonihoteeth
79.haihaʻito tell, to relate
236.Umiʻumiten
55.Anahulu [Ana hura]anahulua period of ten days
11.Aiaaiathere
124.Ilaila [Ilaida, or Ilaila; Iraida, or Iraira]i lailathere
113.Huehue, ʻaihuea thief
213.Ououthou, thine
182.Meameaa thing
186.Naunāu ('for you, by you...')thou
194.Oeʻoethou
195.Oe Neʻo ia neithou
*Bishop: omit
39.Akolu or Akoruʻakoluthree, third
152.Kaniaikaniʻāʻīthe throat
*Bishop: omit, Ai is throat
94.Hekilihekilithunder
180.Manavamanawatime
240.Wawātime
64.Bakapakatobacco
57.Apopoʻapōpōtomorrow
48.Aleloalelothe tongue
51.Alua, or Aruaʻaluatwo
60.Avaawaa valley, a harbour, a passage between two reefs
61.Awawaawāwaa valley
33.Ahupuaaahupuaʻa ('land division')a small division of land with houses. (Kulanakauhale is a city)
170.Leoleoa voice
233.Uku [Uka]ukuwages, compensation
42.Alaalato wake, to watch, to be careful
146.Kaua [Kaaa]kauawar
110.Horoiholoito wash
242.Waiwaiwater
47.Aleʻalea wave, a billow
117.Iheaināhea ('when past') āhea ('when future')when
197.Oiaiʻoiaiwhilst
38.Akeaākeawide, broad
247.Wainawainawine
72.Ekeuʻēkeua wing
73.Ekekeuʻekekeua pair of wings
241.Wahie [Wahia]wahie ('firewood')wood
128.Iloiloa worm
98.Hewa, or hevahewawrong, improper, sinful; n. sin, error
8.Aeʻaeyes
67.EʻēYes; in answer to a question, and in acknowledging the common salutation
133.Inehineii nehineiyesterday
212.Oukou [Oukoa]ʻoukou ('you three or more')you

REFERENCES

Ellis, William. 1825. A Journal of a Tour around Hawaii, the Largest of the Sandwich Islands by a Deputation from the Mission on Those Islands. Boston: Crocker and Brewster. xii, [13]–264 pp. ["The following Journal was drawn up by Mr. Ellis, from minutes kept by himself, and by his associates on the tour (Asa Thurston, Charles S. Stewart, Artemas Bishop, Joseph Goodrich), who subsequently gave it their approbation" (p. vii). In this edition, the comments on the language (pp. 243–52) are confined to a short discussion of the alphabet, including "interchangeable letters." The word list is the fuller one (248 items, based on vocabulary collected by Artemas Bishop and used without his permission), with italicized forms matching those in Catherine the Great’s "radical words," and a very large number of mistakes and misprints. "General remarks on the Polynesian language. Copied from the Introduction to a Grammar of the Tahitian Dialect of the Polynesian Language printed by the English Missionaries at the Society Islands, in 1823," pp. 252–54. "Vocabulary of the Fejeean language," from John Pickering’s copy of William P.Richardson() 's word list, collected in 1811, pp. 254–58. In the 1826 edition (London), the Appendix was expanded considerably to include a discussion of the language family, the alphabet, "defects" and "excellencies" of the language, and a grammatical sketch. The word list was corrected and shortened to seventy-four words, including hokú ‘star’, with the final long vowel marked with an acute accent. The 1979 edition, based on the 1827 edition, includes on the title page: With an introduction by Thurston Twigg-Smith and an introduction to the new edition by Terence Barrow, Ph.D. Rutland, VT, & Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle Company. xxiv, 363 pp. [In the appendix, "Remarks on the Hawaiian language" (pp. 334–42), approximately three pages of pronoun paradigms have been omitted.]

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