Hawaiki

English

proper noun

Definitions

(mythology) The original home of the Māori, before they travelled across the sea to New Zealand. It also features as the underworld in many Māori stories.

Etymology

Borrowed from Maori Hawaiki derived from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *Sawaiki (traditional homeland).

Origin

Proto-Nuclear Polynesian

*Sawaiki

Gloss

traditional homeland

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms

Hawaiʻi Hawaiian
Hawaiki Maori
Savai'i Samoan
*Sawaiki Proto-Nuclear Polynesian