Chapter X: Appendix: Partial List Hawaiian Terms Used

Aa, 175, 184, 186. Ahua, 40–43. aikane, 93, 110. Ailaau, 1–3, 89. Aiwohikupua, 57, 58. Akanikolea, 46, 47. alahuna, 175. Alapai, 161. aloha, 21, 110. Aloipauaa, 39, 43. amama, 114. Aukelenuiaku, 8, 71. aumakua, 12, 13, 16, 33, 63. awa, 99.

eepa, 97.

Haehae, 76. Haena, 75, 78, 82, 83, 86, 94, 127. hala, 32, 73, 110. Halaauola, 77. Halawa, 131. Haleakala, 11, 56, 171. Halemaumau, 23, 44, 200, 204. Hamakua, 57, 60. Hapakuela, 71. Haumea, 4, 8, 64, 68, 69. Hawaii, 1–203. Hea, 131. heeholua, 37. heenalu, 37. Hiiaka, 5–9, 69, 72, 83–138. Hilo, 28, 36, 53, 66, 74, 108, 109, 110, 136, 139, 140, 144, 151, 158. Hina, 6, 64, 191. Hoaika, 124. Hoaiku, 103, 124. holua, 22, 23, 38–42, 60. Honolulu, 10. Honuaiakea, 9. Hopoe, 28, 87–95, 109, 110, 234. Hualalai, 57, 146, 172, 185. Huehue, 147, 148. hula, 74, 79, 86, 88. Hulihia, 73, 84. humuhumu, 45, 105. hunahuna, 82.

ikoi, 16. Iku, 9, 51. ipuholoholona, 112.

Ka, 105. Kaahumanu, 149, 150. Kaakaauea, 44. Kaeaniuaula, 44. Kaelehuluhulu, 148. Kahanai, 14. Kahawali, 37–44. Kahikinui, 11. kahili, 73. Kahoupokane, 57. kahu, 97. Kahuku, 22–25. kahuna, 44. Kailua, 153. Kaimimiki, 177, 188. Kalakaua, 65, 66. Kalakeenui-o-Kane, 9. Kalalau, 15. Kalaniopuu, 139. Kaliu, 91. Kalua, 174, 193. Kamaka-a-ke-akua, 148, 157. Kamakau, 140. Kamapuaa, 45–54, 71, 105. Kamehameha, 139–157, 168. Kamohoalii, 5, 9, 63, 68, 72. Kanakawahine, 39. Kanaloa, 64, 137. Kane, 64, 81, 114. Kaneakalau, 31. Kanehekili, 69. Kanehoalani, 7, 48, 64. Kanehunamoku, 5. Kanepuahiohio, 5. Kapiolani, 139, 152–163. Kapo, 70. Kapoho, 28, 39. Kapueuli, 44. Kau, 14–16, 186. Kauai, 10–16, 58, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 81, 85, 135. Kauanohunohu, 44. Kauila, 37. Kaunu, 127. Kauwilanui, 69. Kawaihae, 141. Keaau, 73, 74, 93, 94. Keahialaka, 3. Kealakekua, 182. Kealiamanu, 10. Kealiapaakai, 10. Kealohilani, 133. Keauka, 5. Keaumiki, 5. Keawemauhili, 139, 152. Keei, 183. Keliikuku, 31. Keoua, 139–145, 191. kihei, 42. Kilauea, 2–7, 18–36, 50–66, 86–89, 113, 114, 124, 135, 139, 140–153, 173–203. Kilinoe, 79, 81. kiluai, 111. Kinoohu, 100. Kiwalao, 139, 152. Koa, 14, 15. Koahi, 5. Koai, 39. Kohala, 53, 105, 122. Kolea, 106. kolonahe, 82. Kona, 153, 156. Ku, 64, 68, 105, 137. Kuaihelani, 14, 71. Kukaepuaa, 52. Kukii, 42. kumawaho, 51. Kumukahi, 27–29, 46. Kuokoa, 7, 140, 147. kupilikia, 111. kupua, 14, 45, 97, 117. Kuwahailo, 8, 64, 65, 68.

Laieikawai, 57. Laka, 7, 74. Lanahiku, 93. Laupahoehoe, 62. Leahi, 10. leho, 46. lehua, 75, 81, 91, 109. lei, 12, 110. Liholiho, 153. Lilinoe, 56. Lohiau, 6, 71–96, 125–138. Lono, 80, 85. Lonomakua, 51, 52, 137, 138.

Mahiki, 119, 120, 122. Mahuike, 67. maile, 75. Makaukiu, 118–122. mana, 14, 92. Maui, 58, 59, 66, 67, 139, 140, 171. Mauliola, 77. Mauna Kea, 55–60, 140, 141, 171, 178, 185, 203. Mauna Loa, 12, 61, 62, 77, 141, 173, 178–203. Menehune, 7. Moanalua, 10. Moemoeaoulii, 4. Mokuaweoweo, 173, 174, 178, 185. Mokuola, 28. Mona, 141. moo, 97. Moolau, 122, 124.

Naihe, 152, 153, 155, 156. Namakaokahai, 8–11, 14, 63, 64, 68. Nanahuki, 109. Naue, 85. Niihau, 5, 6, 80, 81, 85. Noho, 120, 121. Nuuhiwa, 67. Nuumealani, 9–12.

Oahu, 10, 31, 43–50. Oalalaua, 157. ohelo, 154. ohia, 32, 36, 88, 100. Onomea, 62. opelu, 48.

pahoehoe, 175. Palaau, 77. Panaewa, 98–103. Paoa, 6–11, 51. Papa, 4, 64. Papalauahi, 29, 30, 109. pau, 91, 123. Pauopalae, 97, 125, 130, 132. Pele, 3–205. Pii, 14–17. Pikeha, 49. Pili, 120, 121. Poliahu, 55–62. Pueo, 17. Puna, 27, 29, 35, 66, 72, 73, 80, 86, 94, 157. Punaluu, 179, 180. Puu-o-Pele, 10.

tabu, 47, 72, 115. ti, 72, 85, 128, 173.

uhiuha, 84. Ululani, 150. Uwekahuna, 44.

Wahieloa, 71. Wahineomao, 104–138. Waiakea, 184. Waialama, 184. Waiau, 56, 57. Waikiki, 187. Wailuku, 120. Waimea, 140. Waipio, 122.

POLYNESIAN LANGUAGE

“A few words should be added on the peculiar genius and structure of the Polynesian language in general and of the Hawaiian dialect in particular.

It is the law of all Polynesian languages that every word and syllable must end in a vowel, so that no two consonants are ever heard without a vowel sound between them.

Most of the radical words are dissyllables, and the accent is generally on the penult. The Polynesian ear is as nice in marking the slightest variations in vowel sound as it is dull in distinguishing consonants.

The vocabulary of the Hawaiian is probably richer than that of most other Polynesian tongues. Its child-like and primitive character is shown by the absence of abstract words and general terms.

As has been well observed by M. Gaussin, there are three classes of words, corresponding to as many different stages of language: first, those that express sensations; second, images; third, abstract ideas.

Not only are names wanting for the more general abstractions, such as space, nature, fate, etc., but there are very few generic terms. For example there is no generic term for animal, expressing the whole class of living creatures or for insects or for colors. At the same time it abounds in specific names and in nice distinctions.

So in the Hawaiian everything that relates to their every-day life or to the natural objects with which they are conversant is expressed with a vivacity, a minuteness and nicety of coloring which cannot be reproduced in a foreign tongue. Thus the Hawaiian was very rich in terms for every variety of cloud. It has names for every species of plant on the mountains or fish in the sea, and is peculiarly copious in terms relating to the ocean, the surf and waves.

For whatever belonged to their religions, their handicrafts or their amusements, their vocabulary was most copious and minute. Almost every stick in a native house had its appropriate name. Hence it abounds in synonyms which are such only in appearance, i.e., “to be broken” as a stick is ‘haki,’ as a string is ‘moku,’ as a dish ‘naha,’ as a wall ‘hina.’

Besides the language of every-day life, there was a style appropriate to oratory and another to religion and poetry.

The above-mentioned characteristics make it a pictorial and expressive language. It still has the freshness of childhood. Its words are pictures rather than colorless and abstract symbols of ideas, and are redolent of the mountain, the forest and the surf.

However it has been and is successfully used to express the abstractions of mathematics, of English law, and of theology.”

“The Hawaiian is but a dialect of the great Polynesian language,
which is spoken with extraordinary uniformity over all the numerous
islands of the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and Hawaii. Again,
the Polynesian language is but one member of that wide-spread
family of languages, known as the Malayo-Polynesian or Oceanic
family, which extends from Madagascar to the Hawaiian Islands and
from New Zealand to Formosa. The Hawaiian dialect is peculiarly
interesting to the philologist from its isolated position, being
the most remote of the family from its primeval seat in
Southeastern Asia, and leading the van with the Malagasy in the
rear. We believe the Hawaiian to be the most copious and
expressive, as well as the richest in native traditional history
and poetry. Dr. Reinhold Forster, the celebrated naturalist of
Captain Cook’s second voyage, drew up a table containing 47 words
taken from 11 Oceanic dialects and the corresponding terms in
Malay, Mexican, Peruvian and Chilian. From this table he inferred
that the Polynesian languages afford many analogies with the Malay
while they present no point of contact with the American.”

Baron William von Humboldt, the distinguished statesman and
scholar, showed that the Tagala, the leading language of the
Philippine Islands, is by far the richest and most perfect of these
languages. “It possesses,” he says, “all the forms collectively of
which particular ones are found singly in other dialects; and it
has preserved them all with very trifling exceptions unbroken and
in entire harmony and symmetry.”

The languages of the Oceanic region have been divided into six
great groups; i.e., the Polynesian; the Micronesian; the Melanesian
or Papuan; the Australian; the Malaysian; the Malagasy. Many
examples might be given if they were needed to illustrate the
connection of these languages. The Polynesian is an ancient and
primitive member of the Malay family. The New Zealand dialect is
the most primitive and entire in its forms. The Hawaiians,
Marquesans and Tahitians form a closely related group by
themselves. For example, the Marquesan converts are using Hawaiian
books and the people of the Austral Islands read the Tahitian
Bible.”

The above was written by W. D. Alexander in Honolulu in 1865, author of the “History of the Hawaiian Islands” as preface to Andrew’s Dictionary.

NOTES

[1] Hale-a-ka-la must be classed as an active volcano from evidences of prehistoric fires although long extinct, but the author gives these stories in another book, “Legends of Maui.”

[2] These are the lava stumps easily visited by any lover of the curious who journeys to Kilauea.

[3] Ohia ha or Paihi = Syzygium. Ohia-lehua = Metrosideros polymorpha sandwicense.

[4] Hala or Lahala = Pandanus adoratissimus.

[5] Metrosideros polymorpha.

[6] Columbrina oppositifolia.

[7] Pule anana.

[8] See “Home of the Ancestors,” Part II., Legends of Ghosts and Ghost-Gods.

[9] Cordyline terminalis.

[10] Same as Lahala or Puhala, Pandanus adoratissimus.

[11] See Appendix, “Hula.”

[12] Alyxia olivœformis.

[13] Cordyline terminalis.

[14] Ohia ai = Jambosa Malacrensis. Ohia Ha = Syzygium Sandwicense.

[15] Piper methysticum.

[16] One ohia tree is supposed to bear apples, another flowers only, the flowers being called lehua. There is much confusion in regard to these two trees even among botanists.

[17] Smilax Sandwicensis.

[18] Ti or ki or lauki, Cordyline terminalis.

[19] Native ulu = Artocarpus incisa.

[20] Cocos nucifera.

[21] Vaccinium penduliformis—var. reticulatum.

[22] Plants used for kapa were wauke, olona, mamaki, poulu, akala, hau, maaloa, and the mulberry.

[23] Tree fern—Cibotium Menziesii.