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