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The legends of a people are of interest to the scholar, the thinker, and the poet. They tell us of the struggles, the triumphs, and the wanderings of the people, of their thoughts, their aspirations; in short, they give us a twilight history of the race. As the geologist finds in the rocks the dim records of the beginnings of life on our planet, the first foreshadowings of the mighty forests that have since covered the lands, and of the countless forms of animal life that have at last culminated in Man, so does the historian discover in the legends of a people the dim traces of its origin and development till it comes out in the stronger light of the later day. So it is with the legends of the Hawaiians, or of the Polynesian race. We see them, very indistinctly, starting from some distant home in Asia, finally reaching the Pacific Ocean, and then gradually spreading abroad over its islands till they dominate a large portion of its extent. In bringing together this collection of Hawaiian legends, the author of this little book has conferred a great favor upon all those residents of Hawaii and of those visitors to its shores who may take an interest in its original inhabitants, once an exceedingly numerous people, but now a scattering remnant only. To that native race this little book will be at once a joy and a sorrow; to the heart of the haole, who has lived among them, known them intimately for thirty years or more (as has the writer of this Foreword), and learned to love them, this collection of the legends of old Honolulu brings a warm "Aloha!
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Ku and Hina—man and woman—were the great ancestral gods of heaven and earth for the ancient Hawaiians. They were life's fruitfulness and all the generations of mankind, both those who are to come and those already born. The Hawaiian gods were like great chiefs from far lands who visited among the people, entering their daily lives sometimes as humans or animals, sometimes taking residence in a stone or wooden idol. As years passed, the families of gods grew and included the trickster Maui, who snared the sun, and fiery Pele of the volcano. Ancient Hawaiians lived by the animistic philosophy that assigned living souls to animals, trees, stones, stars, and clouds, as well as to humans. Religion and mythology were interwoven in Hawaiian culture; and local legends and genealogies were preserved in song, chant, and narrative. Martha Beckwith was the first scholar to chart a path through the hundreds of books, articles, and little-known manuscripts that recorded the oral narratives of the Hawaiian people. Her book has become a classic work of folklore and ethnology, and the definitive treatment of Hawaiian mythology. With an introduction by Katherine Luomala.
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 was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. 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. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. 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.
This collection of ancient Hawaiian folktales also includes some information about where the Hawaiians came from and the sacred places in Honolulu. As might be expected in stories originating on a small island, many of them feature the sea, boats, sea creatures or water.
This literary treasure provides one of the earliest glimpses into pre–colonial Hawaaiin culture. This book, one of six written by Dr. Westervelt, is a fascinating compilation of Hawaiian legends and historical tales. The origins of the Hawaiian people, the demi-god Maui's search for immortality for mankind, the coming of Captain Cook, the wars of King Kamehameha, as well as other aspects of Hawaii's incredible history fill its pages. Librarians, students, collectors, and anyone who enjoys reading about ancient Hawaii will delight in Hawaiian Historical Legends. Dr. Westervelt is one of the best-known raconteurs of Hawaiian stories. Hawaiian Historical Legends presents a variety of stories both legendary and historical. The author also considers the question of Polynesian origins and the speculative subject of Spanish visitants. Other titles n this series on Hawaii include: Hawaiian Legends of Ghosts and Ghost Gods, and Hawaiian Legends of Old Honolulu Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes.
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 expected in stories originating on a small island, many of them feature the sea, boats, sea creatures or water. "Legends of Gods and Ghost-Gods" focuses on Polynesian mythology, taking a close look at Hawaiian folktales, mythology, and the history of the polytheistic practices still in place to this day. "Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes" – The first part of this book focuses on the legends of Hawaii and its volcanoes. The second part considers the geology of the region and discusses the crack in the floor of the Pacific, Hawaiian volcanoes, volcanic activity and the changes in the Kilauea crater. It also looks at the foundation of the observatory.