Hawaiian Folk Tales

Hawaiian Folk Tales

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Title: Hawaiian Folk Tales A Collection of Native Legends
Author: Various
Editor: Thomas G. Thrum
Release Date: May 25, 2006 [EBook #18450]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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HAWAIIAN FOLK TALES ***

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Hawaiian Folk Tales

A Collection of Native Legends
Compiled by
Thos. G. Thrum
With sixteen illustrations from photographs
Chicago A. C. McClurg & Co. 1907

Copyright, 1907 By A. C. McClurg & Co.
Entered at Stationers' Hall, London, England Published March 1, 1907
The Lakeside Press R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company Chicago

PREFACE
It is becoming more and more a matter of regret that a larger amount of
systematic effort was not established in early years for the gathering
and preservation of the folk-lore of the Hawaiians. The world is under
lasting obligations to the late Judge Fornander, and to Dr. Rae before
him, for their painstaking efforts to gather the history of this people and
trace their origin and migrations; but Fornander's work only has seen
the light, Dr. Rae's manuscript having been accidentally destroyed by
fire.
The early attempts of Dibble and Pogue to gather history from
Hawaiians themselves have preserved to native and foreign readers
much that would probably otherwise have been lost. To the late Judge
Andrews we are indebted for a very full grammar and dictionary of the
language, as also for a valuable manuscript collection of meles and
antiquarian literature that passed to the custody of the Board of
Education.
There were native historians in those days; the newspaper articles of S.

M. Kamakau, the earlier writings of David Malo, and the later
contributions of G. W. Pilipo and others are but samples of a wealth of
material, most of which has been lost forever to the world. From time
to time Prof. W. D. Alexander, as also C. J. Lyons, has furnished
interesting extracts from these and other hakus.
The Rev. A. O. Forbes devoted some time and thought to the collecting
of island folk-lore: and King Kalakaua took some pains in this line also,
as evidenced by his volume of "Legends and Myths of Hawaii," edited
by R. M. Daggett, though there is much therein that is wholly foreign to
ancient Hawaiian customs and thought. No one of late years had a
better opportunity than Kalakaua toward collecting the meles, kaaos,
and traditions of his race; and for purposes looking to this end there
was established by law a Board of Genealogy, which had an existence
of some four years, but nothing of permanent value resulted therefrom.
Fornander's manuscript collection of meles, legends, and genealogies in
the vernacular has fortunately become, by purchase, the property of the
Hon. C. R. Bishop, which insures for posterity the result of one devoted
scholar's efforts to rescue the ancient traditions that are gradually
slipping away; for the haku meles (bards) of Hawaii are gone. This fact,
as also the Hawaiian Historical Society's desire to aid and stimulate
research into the history and traditions of this people, strengthens the
hope that some one may yet arise to give us further insight into the
legendary folk-lore of this interesting race.
T. G. T.
Honolulu, January 1, 1907.

NOTE
In response to repeated requests, the compiler now presents in book
form the series of legends that have been made a feature of "The
Hawaiian Annual" for a number of years past. The series has been
enriched by the addition of several tales, the famous shark legend

having been furnished for this purpose from the papers of the Hawaiian
Historical Society.
The collection embraces contributions by the Rev. A. O. Forbes, Dr. N.
B. Emerson, J. S. Emerson, Mrs. E. M. Nakuina, W. M. Gibson, Dr. C.
M. Hyde, and others, all of whom are recognized authorities.
T. G. T.
Honolulu, January 1, 1907.

CONTENTS
I. Legends Resembling Old Testament History. Rev. C. M. Hyde, D.D.
15
II. Exploits of Maui. Rev. A. O. Forbes
I. Snaring the Sun 31 II. The Origin of Fire 33
III. Pele and the Deluge. Rev. A. O. Forbes 36
IV. Pele and Kahawali. From Ellis's "Tour of Hawaii" 39
V. Hiku and Kawelu. J. S. Emerson 43
Location of the Lua o Milu 48
VI. Lonopuha; or, Origin of the Art of