updated: 2/27/2026
The earliest Hawaiian word lists
Esteban José Martinez's List
(1789)
In 1789, Spain attempted to assert its authority over settlement and trade on the Pacific coast of North America by seizing two English vessels. Esteban José Martinez [1742-1798], second pilot on the Santiago, was directly involved in this "Nootka Controversy", and became captain of one of the seized ships, the Princess Royal, renamed the Princesa Real. He collected his vocabulary during his return voyage from Nootka Sound, explaining in his diary,This vocabulary comes from the Indian [Hawaiian] whom I have on board named José Mariano (alias) Matutaray. It is apparent in him that the natives of those islands use very few letters of the alphabet. His pronunciation is facile and they have many terms comparable to those of the language of the islands of Tahiti.The Hawaiian "Matutaray" had been taken prisoner on the other seized ship, the Argonaut, and, judging from the consistent use of t and r on the word list (rather than k and l), he probably came from Kauaʻi or Niʻihau. adapted from Albert J. Schütz, "Voices of Eden" pp. 36-37, and A. Grove Day, "An Early Hawaiian Vocabulary" |
analyzed and annotated by Edgar Knowlton
click on column heading to sort
| # | list word | modern Hawaiian | list gloss | Spanish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 134. | Aba | ʻawa ('kava') | any liquor | Cualquier licor |
| 36. | Abobo | ʻapōpō | tomorrow | Mañana |
| 81. | Aguajia | ʻāwela | hot | Caliente |
| 19. | Aguay | ʻauwae | chin | Barba [barbila] |
| 259. | Ajá | ʻahā | four | Cuatro |
| 233. | Aje | āhē | yes | Sí |
| 32. | Ajiajé | ahiahi ('evening') | night | La noche |
| 262. | Ajitu | ʻahiku | seven | Siete |
| 78. | Ajo | aho ('line, cord') | thread | Hilo |
| 113. | Aju-ura | ʻahu ʻula | feather cape | Esclavina de pluma |
| 94. | Amana | hāmale | hammer | Un martillo |
| 153. | Anapa | (ʻanapa 'shine, sparkle') | glass, tumbler | Un vaso |
| 248. | Ani-ani | aniani | mirror | Un espejo |
| 35. | Anó | ao ('light, day') | today | Hoy |
| 239. | A-oreyte | ʻaʻole ʻike ('I don't know') | I don't understand you | No te entiendo |
| 234. | Aori | ʻaʻole | no | No |
| 260. | Arima | ʻalima | five | Cinco |
| 263. | Arite | (ʻawalu) | eight | Ocho |
| 184. | Aroja | aloha ('to love') | friend | Amigo |
| 1. | Aru aru | ʻaluʻalu | body | Cuerpo |
| 257. | Arua | ʻalua | two | Dos |
| 176. | Aru-aru | (ʻaluʻalu 'skin, rind') | whalebone | Barba de ballena |
| 147. | Aruri | ʻāluli ('incline the head') | sight | Mira |
| 177. | Ata | ʻaka | laugh | Reir |
| 250. | Ata-ata | akaaka ('clear, shining, bright') | white | Blanco |
| 256. | Ataji | ʻakahi | one | Uno |
| 258. | Atoru | ʻakolu | three | Tres |
| 149. | Aureyti | ʻaʻole ʻike | I don't see it | No lo veo |
| 165. | Ay | ʻai | to eat | Comer |
| 264. | Ay-ua | ʻaiwa | nine | Nueve |
| 229. | Eati | ʻaki ('sharp recurring pain') | sick | Enfermo |
| 255. | Ere-ere | ʻeleʻele | black | Negro |
| 231. | Erenure | (ʻelelū 'cockroach') | a fly | Una mosca |
| 50. | Gua hina | (manamana) waena | middle finger | El dedo de enmedio |
| 15. | Guaja | waha | mouth | Boca |
| 142. | Gu-ajie | wahie ('firewood') | wood, in general | Madera en general |
| 63. | Guajine | wahine | woman | Mujer |
| 158. | Guaytaji | waikahe ('stream') | any river | Cualquier rio |
| 246. | Gueri-gueri | kulikuli | be silent | Calla |
| 64. | Heremature | ʻelemakule | old man | Viejo |
| 57. | Huja | ʻūhā | thighs | Los muslos |
| 54. | Huma-huma | umauma | chest | El pecho |
| 265. | Humi | ʻumi | ten | Diez |
| 20. | Humi-humi | ʻumiʻumi | beard | Las barbas del hombre |
| 191. | Jajao | (hahao 'insert, put in') | a bag, purse | Una bolsa |
| 216. | Jajao | hahau ('to strike, hit, whip, beat') | break | Rómpelo [romper] |
| 70. | Jamama | (hāmama 'open') | inkwell | Tintero |
| 174. | Jana | hana | work | Trabajar |
| 119. | Jare | hale | house | Casa |
| 117. | Jatiri | hekili | thunder | Trueno |
| 47. | Jatua | ke kua ('back') | the back of the same (hands) | El revés de dicha |
| 192. | Je-aa | he ʻaʻa ('cloth') | handkerchief, scarf | Una pañuelo |
| 75. | Jeagi | he ahi ('fire') | the light of the candle | La luz de una vela |
| 157. | Jeguay | he wai | fresh water | Agua dulce |
| 27. | Jejatu | he hōkū | the stars | Las estrellas |
| 162. | Jejou | he hao ('iron, general name for metal tools') | iron nail | Un clavo de fierro |
| 170. | Jejua | he hua | egg | Un huevo |
| 124. | Jemanu | he manu ('a bird') | a pigeon | Un palomo |
| 141. | Jemo o | he moʻo ('a lizard') | a snake | Una culebra |
| 155. | Je-o-ju | he ʻohu ('fog, mist, cloud on a mountain') | snow | Nieve |
| 90. | Jepa | he pā | a plate or pan | Un plato o cazuela |
| 107. | Jepu | he pū | gun or musket | Fusil o escopeta |
| 213. | Jepu | hopu | catch, grab | Agarra |
| 28. | Jera | ke lā | the sun | El sol |
| 29. | Jeraputa | ke lā puka | the sun comes out | El sol sale |
| 30. | Jeratomo | ke lā komo ('sinks') | the sun sets | El sol se pone |
| 7. | Jeray | he lae | forehead | Frente |
| 208. | Jerenone | hele none ('go slow') | walk, go | Anda |
| 18. | Jerero | ke lelo | tongue | Lengua |
| 203. | Jeri | he aliʻi | chief or captain | Un jefe o capitán |
| 206. | Jeripera | hele pēlā | go away | Anda vete |
| 38. | Jetay | ke kai | the sea | La mar |
| 129. | Jeto | he kō | sweet cane (sugar cane) | Caña dulc e |
| 17. | Jetui | ke kuʻi | molar | Muelas |
| 156. | Je-ú-a | he ua | rain | Llover |
| 82. | Jeuguaji | he uahi | smoke | El humo |
| 118. | Jeu-hira | he uila | lightning | Relámpago |
| 163. | Jeu-jay | he uhaʻi ('covering for door opening') | door | Una puerta |
| 127. | Jeuji | he uhi | yam | Ñame |
| 223. | Jey ri | he iwi | bone | Un huevo [hueso] |
| 159. | Jeya | he iʻa | fish in general | Pescado en general |
| 11. | Jeyju | he ihu | nose | Narices |
| 247. | Jininay | (hina moe 'to lie down to sleep') | lie down, go to bed | Acostarse |
| 190. | Jinu-jinu | hinuhinu ('bright, glossy, shining') | a lantern for light | Un farol para la luz |
| 197. | Joaguy | hāʻawi ('give') | give it to me | Vuélvemelo |
| 97. | Joata Magina | Hoaka mahina (Hoaka '2nd day of the month') | the moon rises | La luna se sale |
| 136. | Joe | hoe | paddle | El canalete |
| 146. | Jo-ite-ita | hōʻikeʻike ('display, exhibit') | let me see, show me | Déjame ver. |
| 224. | Joni | honi ('to smell, sniff') | smell or odor | Oler u olor |
| 92. | Jonoy | ___ | chisel | Un escopio |
| 209. | Joro | holo ('fleet, fast') | quickly | Apriesa |
| 204. | Jorono | hoʻolono | hear | Oye |
| 202. | Joroy | holoi | to wash | Lavar |
| 84. | Jo-uhire | (hōʻuwī 'twist') | lock | Una cerradura |
| 214. | Joy-joy | hoʻihoʻi ('return, give back') | let go | Larga |
| 205. | Joy-may | e hoʻi mai ('come back') | don't go away | No te vayas |
| 85. | Ju-ay | huʻe ('uncover, expose, open') | open | Abre |
| 152. | Ju-e-ja-ore | hue haole ('gourd, flask' + 'foreign') | small bottle, vial | Una limeta |
| 187. | Juna | (hūnā 'hide, conceal') | thief | Ladrón |
| 95. | Juo-ay | hue wai | gourd, water pitcher | Un bule |
| 116. | Jura | hula | dance or dancing | Danza o baile |
| 88. | Jurumano | hulu manu | feather (pen) | Una pluma |
| 71. | Lepo | lepo ('dirt, earth') | sandbox (for blotting ink) | Salvadera |
| 96. | Magina | mahina | moon | La luna |
| 23. | Majana | (māhana 'twins') | son | Hijo |
| 111. | Majiori | mahiole | feather helmet | Morrión de pluma |
| 212. | Mama | māmā | light (not heavy) | Ligero |
| 21. | Mamatani | makuakāne | father | Padre |
| 228. | Mamay | mamae | pain | Un dolor |
| 179. | Manaro | (mānalo 'sweet water, tasty') | give me more | Dame más |
| 201. | Mane | maʻaneʻi ('here') | on the other side | Del otro lado |
| 199. | Manu | manu | birds in general | Pájaros en general |
| 200. | Mao | ma ʻō ('over there') | on this side | De este lado |
| 31. | Marcemarrma | mālamalama ('light') | day | Dia |
| 40. | Matani | makani | wind | El viento |
| 160. | Matao | makau | fish hook | Un anzuelo |
| 22. | Matuagine | makuahine | mother | Madre |
| 125. | Maya | maiʻa | plantain, banana | Plátanos |
| 53. | Mayao | maiʻao | nails | Las uñas |
| 185. | Maytay | maikaʻi | good | Bueno |
| 80. | Mejana | mehana ('warmth') | heat | Calor |
| 115. | Memeri | memele ('sing') | song | Una canción |
| 168. | Móa | moa | rooster | El gallo |
| 195. | Moe | moe | to sleep | Dormir |
| 144. | Moena | moena | any sort of mat | Un petate cualquiera |
| 24. | Mopuna | (moʻopuna 'grandchild') | daughter | Hija |
| 138. | Motu | moku | vessel, ship | Una embarcación |
| 151. | Mú | mūʻā ('bottle-necked gourd') | flask, bottle | Un frasco |
| 198. | Nana | (nānā 'look at, see') | where to? | A dónde |
| 148. | Naná | nānā ('see') | I see it | Lo veo |
| 225. | Nanajo | nanahu | bite | Morder |
| 243. | Nani | nani | beautiful or precious | Bonito o precioso |
| 232. | Nanupata | (nalo paka 'tick, ensign fly') | mosquito | Un mosquito |
| 123. | Nené | nēnē ('Hawaiian goose') | duck | Pato |
| 16. | Nijo | niho | teeth | Dientes |
| 48. | Nimanuy | lima nui | thumb | Dedo pulgar |
| 178. | Ninau | (nīnau 'ask') | what do you call this? | Cómo se llama esto |
| 132. | Nio | niu | coconuts | Cocos |
| 220. | Nojo | noho | sit down | Siéntate |
| 221. | Nonoy | nonoi ('ask for something, request') | give me | Dame |
| 222. | Nonoy-ay | nonoi ʻai | feed me, give me food | Dame qué comer |
| 180. | Nuy nuy | nui nui | much, a lot | Mucho |
| 227. | O-ata | ___ | any sort of shell | Una concha cualquiera |
| 182. | O-au | ʻo wau ('I') | you | Tú |
| 253. | Omao-mao | ʻōmaʻomaʻo ('green') | yellow | Amarillo |
| 4. | Omoti | ___ | hat | Sombrero |
| 251. | Onena-nena | ʻōlenalena ('yellow') | green | Verde |
| 108. | Onepajú | one pahu ('sand' + 'box') | powder | Pólvora |
| 72. | Onetea | one kea ('white sand') | fine sand | Arenilla |
| 261. | ono | ʻaono | six | Seis |
| 10. | Onojó | ʻōnohi | eyeball | Ojos |
| 106. | O-o | ʻōʻō (' to pierce, lance, poke') | to kill or wound | Matar o herir |
| 183. | O-oe | ʻo ʻoe ('you') | I | Yo |
| 105. | O-oti | ʻoʻoki | to cut | Cortar |
| 56. | Opú | ʻōpū | belly | La barriga |
| 139. | Oputete | ___ | the sail of a ship | La vela de navio |
| 59. | Oro-oro | ʻoloʻolo (wāwae 'calf of the leg') | leg | La pierna |
| 91. | Oti-oti | ʻokiʻoki ('cut, prune') | a carpenter's saw | Una sierra de carpintero |
| 226. | Otomo | ʻōkomo ('insert') | finger ring | El anillo del dedo |
| 104. | Paji | pahi ('knife') | folding knife, razor | Navaja |
| 102. | Pajo | paheʻe | lance, spear | Lanza |
| 103. | Pajoa | pāhoa ('short dagger') | knife | Cuchillo |
| 100. | Pana | pana | arrow | Flecha |
| 121. | Papanani | papa ʻaina | table | Mesa |
| 86. | Papani | papani ('shut off, block') | close | Cierra |
| 68. | Papanojo | papa noho ('bench') | chair | Silla |
| 12. | Paparina | papālina | cheek | Carrillo |
| 238. | Pau | pau ('finished, consumed') | I don't have | Yo no tengo |
| 45. | Peaji | peʻahi ('the open hand') | hands | Las manos |
| 145. | Pepeji | pepehi ('to kill') | a dead person | Un muerto |
| 207. | Pimay | piʻi mai | come here | Ven acá |
| 49. | Pirimay | (lima kuhi) | index finger | El dedo indice |
| 120. | Piritea | ___ | bed | Cama |
| 83. | Poay | (pōʻai 'circle') | key | Una llave |
| 241. | Poctore | pōkole ('short, brief') | small | Pequeño |
| 33. | Poere | pōʻele | dark night | Noche oscura |
| 109. | Pojatu | pōhaku ('rock, stone') | bullet, canon ball | Bala |
| 143. | Pojatu | pōhaku | stone | Una piedra |
| 42. | Pojive | poʻohiwi | shoulders | Los hombros |
| 13. | Popoyao | pepeiao | ears | Orejas |
| 167. | Pua | puaʻa | pig | Un puerco |
| 41. | Puay | pūʻāʻī ('Adam's apple') | neck | El pescuezo |
| 186. | Punipuni | punipuni ('to lie') | bad | Malo |
| 240. | Pupú | pūpū | beads | Abalorios |
| 39. | Pupuji | pupuhi ('burn') | fire | El fuego |
| 194. | Ra-au | lāʻau | trees | Arboles |
| 196. | Rague | lawe ('take') | take this | Toma esto |
| 6. | Raóbojo | lauoho | hair of the head | Cabello o pelo |
| 237. | Rapa-rapa | (lapa 'blade, as of a knife') | silver or white metal | Plata o metal blanco |
| 14. | Reje-reje | lehelehe | lips | Labios |
| 101. | Rere | lele ('fly, sail through the air') | shoot an arrow | Disparar la flecha |
| 9. | Riji-rigi | lihilihi | eyelash, eyelid | Pestañas |
| 43. | Rima-rima | limalima | arms | Los brazos |
| 52. | Rimayti | lima iki | little finger | El dedo pequeño |
| 242. | Roro-giri | ___ | large | Grande |
| 65. | Ruagine | luahine | old woman | Vieja |
| 245. | Tagea | kāhea ('to call, cry out, invoke, greet') | speak | Habla |
| 61. | Taguamo | ___ | toes | Los dedos del pie |
| 46. | Taguarima | ka poho lima | the palm of the same (hands) | La palma de dicha |
| 66. | Tahiti | keiki | boy | Muchacho |
| 67. | Tahitimajine | keikimahine | girl | Muchacha |
| 110. | Tahura | kaula | string or rope | Cordel o cuerda |
| 140. | Tajuri | kahuli ('overturn, capsize') | to sink | Zozobrar |
| 130. | Tamau | kāmau ('small taro or sweet potato') | ___ | El melón |
| 285. | Tana-humi | (kanakolu) | thirty | Treinta |
| 279. | Tanaja | (ʻiwakalua kumahā) | twenty-four | Veinticuatro |
| 282. | Tanajitu | (ʻiwakalua kumahiku) | twenty-seven | Veintisiete |
| 281. | Tanaono | (ʻiwakalua kumaono) | twenty-six | Veintiséis |
| 280. | Tanarima | (ʻiwakalua kumalima) | twenty-five | Veinticinco |
| 283. | Tanarite | (ʻiwakalua kumawalu) | twenty-eight | Veintiocho |
| 277. | Tanarua | (ʻiwakalua kumalua) | twenty-two | Veintidós |
| 62. | Tanata | kanaka | man | Hombre |
| 276. | Tanatahi | (ʻiwakalua kumakahi) | twenty-one | Veintiuno |
| 278. | Tanatoru | (ʻiwakalua kumakolu) | twenty-three | Veintitrés |
| 284. | Tanayua | (ʻiwakalua kumaiwa) | twenty-eight | Veintinueve |
| 126. | Tanú | (kanu 'to plant') | banana | Banana |
| 60. | Tapuay | kapuaʻi | foot | El pie |
| 150. | Taray | kālai ('to carve, cut, hew') | axe | Un hacha |
| 131. | Taro | (kalo 'taro') | watermelon | La sandía |
| 189. | Tataja | kakaha ('scratch, mark, cut') | draw a line | Tirar una línea |
| 230. | Tatau | kākau | write | Escribir |
| 135. | Tautaji | kaukahi ('canoe with a single outrigger') | canoe | Una canoa |
| 249. | Tau-u-hira | ___ | a cane | Un bastón de mano |
| 25. | Tayta-hinu | kaikaina ('younger same-sex sibling') | brother | Hermano |
| 26. | Taytu-hana | kaikuaʻana ('older same-sex sibling') | sister | Hermana |
| 87. | Teateo | keʻokeʻo ('white') | paper | Papel |
| 175. | Tefora | koholā | whale | Ballena |
| 154. | Tejau | ke ao | clouds | Nubes |
| 5. | Tepó | ke poʻo | head | Cabeza |
| 235. | Tereague | keleawe | copper | Cobre |
| 137. | Tiapea | kia peʻa ('mast' + 'sail') | canoe mast | Un palo de canoa |
| 122. | Ti-ji | (kihi 'outside corner') | bench | Banco |
| 169. | Tinana | kīnana | hen | La gallina |
| 215. | Tiora | kiola ('throw') | throw it out | Tíralo [tírar] |
| 99. | Titoo | kīkoʻo ('chord of an arc, bent bow') | arc, bow | Arco |
| 3. | Toto | koko | blood | Sangre |
| 79. | Totoy | koʻekoʻe | cold | Frio |
| 236. | Toymeti | koʻi meki ('iron adze') | iron | Fierro |
| 93. | Toyti-pi | ___ | brush | Un cepillo |
| 193. | Tuagivi | kuahiwi | mountains | Montes |
| 211. | Tuamaja | kaumaha | heavy | Pesado |
| 8. | Tuamata | kuʻemaka | eyebrow | Cejas |
| 44. | Tue-tue | kuʻekuʻe | elbows | Los codos |
| 188. | Tuji | ___ | ruler to draw lines | Una regla de lelinear |
| 275. | Tumamahumi | (ʻiwakalua) | twenty | Veinte |
| 269. | Tumamajá | (ʻumi kumamāhā) | fourteen | Catorce |
| 272. | Tumamajitu | (ʻumi kumamāhiku) | seventeen | Diecisiete |
| 268. | Tumamakolu | (ʻumi kumamākolu) | thirteen | Trece |
| 271. | Tumamaono | (ʻumi kumamāono) | sixteen | Dieciséis |
| 270. | Tumamarima | (ʻumi kumamālima) | fifteen | Quince |
| 273. | Tumamarité | (ʻumi kumamāwalu) | eighteen | Dieciocho |
| 267. | Tumamarua | (ʻumi kumamālua) | twelve | Doce |
| 266. | Tumamataji | (ʻumi kumamākahi) | eleven | Once |
| 274. | Tumamay-ua | (ʻumi kumamāiwa) | nineteen | Diecinueve |
| 55. | Tuomó | kuamoʻo ('backbone, spine') | back | La espalda |
| 89. | Tuono | (kūʻono 'inside corner') | jar, pot | Una olla |
| 58. | Turi-turi | kulikuli | knees | Los rodillas |
| 51. | Turoto | (kūloko 'inside') | ring finger | El dedo del anillo |
| 98. | Tutagi Magina | Kūkahi mahina (Kūkahi '3rd day of the month') | the moon sets | La luna se pone |
| 210. | Tutuní | kūkini ('runner') | run | Corre |
| 74. | Tutuy | kukui ('lamp') | candle | Una vela |
| 219. | Tu-u | kū ('stand, erect, standing') | get up | Levántate |
| 77. | Tuy | kui | needle | Una aguja |
| 173. | Tuy | ___ | what are you doing? | Qué haces |
| 114. | Tuy-tuy | kuʻikuʻi | give blows (to box) | Dar de golpes |
| 133. | U-ara | ʻuala ('sweet potato') | potatoes | Papas |
| 218. | U-eje | wehe ('open, untie, uncover') | take off | Quítatelo [quitar] |
| 217. | Uji | uhi ('to cover, spread over, engulf') | put in | Póntelo [poner] |
| 112. | Ujimay | uhi moe ('bed spread') | feather cloak | Manto de pluma |
| 76. | Upa | ʻupā | scissors | Unas tijeras |
| 161. | Upena | ʻupena | fish net | Una red de pescar |
| 254. | Ura-ura | ʻulaʻula | red | Encarnado |
| 252. | Uri-uri | uliuli | blue | Azul |
| 128. | Uru | (ʻulu 'breadfruit') | ___ | Rima |
| 2. | Y ó | ʻiʻo | flesh, meat | Carne |
| 244. | Yna-yna | inaina ('anger, wrath, rage') | angry or brave | Corajudo o enfadado |
| 34. | Ynéginey | i nehinei | yesterday | Ayer |
| 166. | Ynu | inu | to drink | Beber |
| 69. | Ypú | ipu ('vessel, container') | chest or trunk | Caja o baúl |
| 164. | Yputa | ʻīpuka ('door, opening in wall') | window | Ventana |
| 73. | Ypututuy | ipukukui | candlestick | Un candelero |
| 171. | Yrio | ʻīlio | dog | Un perro |
| 172. | Yriofine | ʻīlio wahine | female dog | Una perra |
| 181. | Yti-yti | iki iki | a little | Poco |
| 37. | Yuta | i uka ('to inland') | land | Tierra |
REFERENCES
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