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This is a collection of lore related to the Polynesian culture-hero, Maui, particularly his labors in creating the world. The book also includes some myths about Hina, Maui's mother, and several tales local to the Hawaiian islands.
Maui is a mythic figure that lifts up the heavens and fishes up islands from beneath the sea with his magic fishhook; a folk hero that snares the sun to make it move more slowly and discovers the secret of fire. Hina is a goddess that creates the finest white kapa and spreads it in the heavens as clouds. She sacrificed herself for her people in a time of drought and famine, and now watches over them from her home in the moon.Two of the most beloved mythical figures in Polynesian folklore are the demi-god Maui, and his mother, Hina. Their stories are told in places spread over a vast geographic area, from Hawaiçi, to New Zealand, Tahiti, and beyond. This highlights the vastness of Polynesian...
Maui and Hina -- Pele and her family -- Ghosts and ghost-gods -- Myths and legends of old Oahu -- A longer tale: The bride from the underworld.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
The Life and Times of Kamehameha presents a century-old series of articles by William Drake Westervelt, published in English language periodicals between 1903 and 1925. It reveals familial and diplomatic relationships among the chiefs of the various islands and districts. Fierce battles, pivotal moments, and political maneuvers paved the way for Kamehameha's consolidated rule of all the islands of Hawaii. The events described in this text open a window, not only into ancient Hawaii, but also into the early years of the Twentieth Century. Illustrations by Dietrich Varez depict Kamahemeha's legendary feats, mythological figures, and the lifestyle and activities of ancient times. Born under a s...
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Excerpt from Legends of the Wailuku: As Told by Old Hawaiians and Done Into the English Tongue Fed from the great watershed of Hawaii far up the densely wooded flanks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea - often snow-capped in winter - the Wailuku River roars through the very center of Hilo, principal town of the Island of Hawaii. There are many vague stories as to why the Wailuku River was so named. In the Hawaiian tongue Wailuku means literally "destroying water." In olden times before there were bridges and other safeguards the river wrought considerable damage to property and during the rainy season it took its toll of human lives. Legen...
"Mr. Rice's theory as to the origin of these legends is based on the fact that in the old days, before the discovery of the islands by Captain Cook, there were bards and storytellers, either itinerant or attached to the courts of the chiefs...these bards or storytellers sometimes used historical incidents or natural phenomena for the foundation of their stories, which were handed down from generation to generation." Hawaiian Legends (1923) is a collection of Hawaiian myth and folklore complied and translated by William Hyde Rice. Having been born and spent his entire life immersed in the culture of Hawaii, Rice spent many years collecting and translating the stories he had heard in his childhood, gathered through books and sought out from elders. Determined to capture the authentic spirit of the Hawaiians, his cumulative volume is a celebration of the days of old Hawaii and the stories that have lived through the ages. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Hyde Rice's Hawaiian Legends is a classic of Hawaiian literature reimagined for modern readers.
Facing the Spears of Change takes a close look at the extraordinary life of John Papa `Ī`ī. Over the years, `Ī`ī faced many personal and political changes and challenges in rapid succession, which he skillfully parried or seized, then used to fend off other attacks. He began serving in the household of Kamehameha I as an attendant in 1810, at the age of ten, and became highly familiar with the inner workings of the royal household. His early service took place in a time when ali`i nui (the highest-ranking Hawaiians) were considered divine and surrounded with strict kapu (sacred prohibitions); breaking a kapu pertaining to an ali`i meant death for the transgressor. He went on to become an...
Hawaiian Mythology is a collection of books by William Drake Westervelt, one of Hawaii's foremost authorities on island folklore. It contains five books Westervelt wrote about Hawaiian legends, folklore and mythology. "Legends of Maui" includes numerous myths of Māui, Polynesian demi god of Polynesia and Hina who is sometimes in myths his mother, and sometimes his wife. These myths and legends originate from various island groups around the Pacific and they are pesented in a clear and thorough manner. "Legends of Old Honolulu" is collection of ancient Hawaiian folktales which also includes some information about where the Hawaiians came from and the sacred places in Honolulu. As might be ex...