Hawaiian Folk Tales

Hawaiian Folk Tales

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hawaiian Folk Tales, by Various This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
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
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HAWAIIAN FOLK TALES ***

Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ (This file was made using scans of public domain works from the University of Michigan Digital Libraries.)

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 Healing in Hawaii. Translated by Thos. G. Thrum 51
VII. A Visit to the Spirit Land; or, The Strange Experience of a Woman in Kona, Hawaii. Mrs. E. N. Haley 58
VIII. Kapeepeekauila; or, The Rocks of Kana. Rev. A. O. Forbes 63
IX. Kalelealuaka. Dr. N.