Details

Summary note

"Legends of Old Honolulu (Mythology)" by W. D. Westervelt is a collection of Hawaiian legends and myths written in the early 20th century. This work shares tales from Hawaiian culture, showcasing their historical narratives and mythological beliefs surrounding the islands' creation, deities, and legendary figures. The book serves to preserve and interpret the rich folklore of Hawaii, aiming to reconnect readers with the cultural origins and spiritual heritage of the indigenous peoples. The opening of the book begins with a foreword emphasizing the significance of legends in understanding a culture's history and aspirations, likening them to geological records. The introduction discusses the nature of the ancient Hawaiians as imaginative storytellers, detailing how these legends have been compiled from oral traditions and written accounts by scholars and missionaries since the early 19th century. As the narrative progresses, it hints at the migrations of the Hawaiian people, and key figures such as Wakea and Papa are introduced as pivotal in the creation myth and the subsequent tales that shaped the identity of the Hawaiian race. The initial chapter touches on these themes, illustrating how legends intertwine with the history of the islands and its people. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Notes

• Reading ease score: 78.8 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
• Release date is 2021-10-16

Creation/​Production credits

Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

Original version

Original publication data not identified

Contents

• The migration of the Hawaiians
• Legendary places in Honolulu
• The god of Pakaka Temple
• Legend of the bread-fruit tree
• The gods who found water
• The water of life of Ka-ne
• Mamala the surf-rider
• A shark punished at Waikiki
• The legendary origin of Kapa
• Creation of man
• The chief with the wonderful servants
• The great dog Ku
• The cannibal dog-man
• The canoe of the dragon
• The wonderful shell
• The ghost dance on Punchbowl
• The bird-man of Nuuanu Valley
• The owls of Honolulu
• The two fish from Tahiti
• Iwa, the notable thief of Oahu
• Pikoi the rat-killer
• Kawelo
• "Chief man-eater"
• Lepe-a-moa
• Kamapuaa legends
• Appendix: Polynesian language. Partial list of Hawaiian terms used.

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LCCN

16024114

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