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