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Title: The Legends and Myths of Hawaii: The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People by David Kalakaua, R. M. Daggett ISBN: 0-8048-1032-X Publisher: Charles E Tuttle Co Pub. Date: September, 1972 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.75 (4 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Fact , Fiction, Past , Present, All The Same To His Majesty!
Comment: The Legends and Myths of Hawaii is one of the finest books you will ever read concerning that magical fleet of islands anchored in the Pacific, not to mention one of the very best mythology books you will find anywhere. Written with great gusto by David Kalakaua, His Hawaiian Majesty who was also somewhat of a Renaissance Man, these fabulous tales mix fact with fiction, historical figures with gods and goddesses, past and present into a rich stew of oral myth/history, certain to captivate even the most jaded reader. Indeed, the most striking feature of these wonderful tales is how the author accepts as gospel truth many suppositions that scientists and cultural anthopologists are still debating more than a century after his death. For example, most "scholarly" references to Ancient Hawaii mention the Menehunes, that proto-Hawaiian, pre-Polynesian race of people that supposedly inhabited the islands until the turn of the last millenium, but most sources still conjecture whether this band of early settlers existed in actual fact or only in myth and legend. His Majesty not only acknowledges that Menehunes lived and thrived, but actually may have survived the later "Polynesian invasion" which was supposed to have wiped them out; he cites a recent census where 65 inhabitants of a remote valley actually identified themselves as "Menehune"!!! It seems that many of our esteemed present-day scholars should in fact examine these tales more closely, the better to clear up ancient factual mysteries. (Halfway around the world, Hellenistic scholars, those concerned with ancient Greece, used Homer in their quest to unearth their legendary rival city of Troy in present-day Turkey. The bards of old truly knew what they were talking about!!) Fans of Greek and other mythologies, as well as The Bible, will no doubt discover similarities between several of these stories and the legends of other cultures, most notably in the tale of "Hina, the Helen of Hawaii," that leads off this collection. Still, even if you could care a hill of taro for the factual content or scholarly discussions of Ancient Hawaii, do yourself a favor and buy this book anyway. Kalakaua, is first and foremost, a great storyteller, and all those who love a great story will be thrilled for hours. It's hard to pick out personal favorites because all are so good, but "Hina," "Umi, the Peasant Prince of Hawaii," and any story starring Pele, the often beautiful, always dangerous volcano goddess, are all standouts. So, if you love the myth and magic that is Hawaii, buy this most wonderful book today. The words of His Majesty await your endless pleasure!
Rating: 5
Summary: Classic and Royal History of the Hawaiian People. " WAR "
Comment: This book is indeed a masterpiece written by a real Hawaiian King himself, his majesty King David Kalakaua. As a Polynesian Hawaiian I have heard connections of the Hawaiians to Samoa, but I always thought they were just hearsays. Now its clear as crystal how Hawaiians are related to Samoa, the big island chiefs came from Samoa.
The Hawaiian King himself proclaims the Kamehameha lineage back to the Ali'i chief from Samoa named Pili, brought over by a high priest (Kahuna) named Pa'ao from Samoa. The Hawaiian King clearly identifies which ruling alii chief families descended from Tahiti, Society islands, Marquesas and the Ali'is who ruled big island Hawai'i from Samoa, the alii chief Pilikaeae or simply Pili.
The book is testament to the vast knowledge of the great Kamehameha Kings in King David Kalakaua. The written word by the Hawaiian king should be heralded and treasured for he possessed the highest of confidence, counsel, validity and security of information from his own family, advisors and educators his time.
The King's book is truly of highest value and respect, very eloquent, academic and articulate. The book is highly educational and full of information which clarify a lot about the origins of the Hawaiian people from Samoa, Tahiti and the Marquesas.
Pele the volcano goddess was an immigrant from Samoa to Puna, Hawaii according to the King Kalakaua. Classic relevations, this is a great source for understanding the birth of the Hawaiian people and their culture. The original Kanaka maoli from Samoa, Tahiti and the Society islands. The Hawaiian King proclaims the origins of the Hawaiian people from the Polynesian navigators.
A great book to fully understand the beginnings of the Hawaiian people. Written and published by the Hawaiian King King David La'amea Kalakaua in 1888. Great book, full of revelations and answers. Hawaiiana, Samoana & Polynesia exposed by a royal Hawaiian King himself, King David Kalakaua. Indeed a masterpiece.
Rating: 5
Summary: An Invaluable Folklore Document By Hawaii's Last King
Comment: Originally published in 1888, The Legends And Myths of Hawaii by King David Kalakaua is probably the best book currently available on Hawaiian folklore, and due to its authentic pedigree, likely to be for some time. Written with a certain amount of historical bias and thus subjectivity, only a thoroughly objective, enthusiastic and well-conceived scholarly overview will be able to equal it.
Though the actual Christian missionaries were to come later, in the early 19th century, and under the rule of an inappropriate king, a band of political and religious leaders of the only-recently united Hawaiian islands formed a conspiracy with the intent of overthrowing the centuries-old native Hawaiian religion and tabu traditions. The conspirators had recently witnessed the arrival of foreigner merchants and sailors to the islands, white men who clearly acted as they pleased and defied tabu without punishment from the native gods. The weak young king, already something of a hedonist, if an innocent one, was, under the influence of alcohol, persuaded by the conspirators to join them in a public display of tabu defiance. Sadly, the conspirators were successful, and on that day the tabu system, gods, and idols of the Hawaiian people officially went into the fire for the first and last time.
Author Kalakaua, a direct descendant of the royal line and indeed, descended from even some of the conspirators, was famous during his reign for attempting to reverse this cultural dissolution and return the full ancient majesty of the native Hawaiian traditions back to prominence among his people. Legends And Myths Of Hawaii was part of his effort, and as such has an important and dignified history. Throughout the volume, the reader can sense the author's closeness to his material, not only physically and emotionally, but in terms of time and history. Only a hundred years before his book was written, the Hawaiian people were, after fifteen centuries, still 'pure,' free of Western influence, and living a relatively comfortable stone-age existence.
Well introduced by R. M. Daggett and highly readable throughout, the book is appropriately short of broadly sensational characters and events, stressing instead the importance of honor and nobility of character, the warrior code and spirit, respect for self, family and nature, and finding the necessary path between individual and communal needs. Sneakiness, pettiness, and selfishness are disreputable qualities; facial beauty, excellent physical proportion, athletic ability and joy in life are highly valued.
Sex roles are traditional. Men are men and expected to be honorable, whether warrior, athlete, shaman, nobleman, folk-singer, story-teller, fisherman, farmer or food gatherer. Women are seen as behaving appropriately when warm, supportive, comforting, and pure of intention. Interestingly, though denied the best food under the tabu system, women are often portrayed as objects of veneration, worthy of the sacrifice of a man's life, and held as equals in love relationships. For both sexes, responsible and dedicated parenting is an fundamental function.
These are vital, proud legends of heroes and heroines; their blood can be felt percolating just under the book's pages. The stories are archetypal: there are quests and plagues upon the land, a high priest swallowed by a whale until comfortably vomited up, and solar and lunar myth motifs. War and the actions that lead to war are a constant theme; gods, demi-gods and goddesses are continually present. Though giants, evil spirits and monsters lurk under the sea, behind mountains and in trees and rocks, the writing is evenly balanced so just the suggestion of a hidden underwater cave, a long journey, an inter-family act of betrayal or a timeless, unconditional love creates the required interest and suspense. No single story-telling component is emphasized over another, and though each tale has a point and lesson of sorts, the writing is never didactic. Each of the legends is warmly told, and Kalakaua's terse but beautiful descriptions of nature are easy to visualize.
Amazingly, Kalakaua jumps from the myths of island antiquity to those of his own century without a shift or change of tone. For the Hawaiian people, he seems to be saying, the miraculous moment is always now, as it was then, in the present; the legends are still unfolding, and wonders never cease.
Legends And Myths of Hawaii also contains a map of the islands, an excellent glossary of Hawaiian words and their meanings, as well as a brief but effective pronunciation guide. Highly recommended.
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Title: Hawaiian Mythology by Martha Warren Beckwith, Katharine Luomala ISBN: 0824805143 Publisher: University of Hawaii Press Pub. Date: February, 1977 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: Shoal of Time a History of the Hawaiian Islands by Gavan Daws ISBN: 0824803248 Publisher: University of Hawaii Press Pub. Date: February, 1989 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: New Pocket Hawaiian Dictionary: With a Concise Grammar and Given Names in Hawaiian by Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel H. Elbert, Esther T. Mookini, Yu Mapuana Nishizawa ISBN: 0824813928 Publisher: University of Hawaii Press Pub. Date: January, 1992 List Price(USD): $5.95 |
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Title: Ancient Hawaii by Herbert Kawainui Kane, Herb Kawainui Kane, Herb Kawainui Kane ISBN: 0943357020 Publisher: Kawainui Press Pub. Date: 08 August, 1998 List Price(USD): $12.50 |
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Title: Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen by Liliu'okalani, Queen Liluokalani, Queen Liliuokalani ISBN: 0804810664 Publisher: Charles E Tuttle Co Pub. Date: October, 1991 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
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