Psychology

The Legends and Myths of Hawaii: The fables and folk-lore of a strange people (Annotated)

Enriched Edition. Hawaiian Myths, Royal Memory, and Pacific Island FolkloreBy King of Hawaii David Kalakaua

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Length20h 44m

About this audiobook

The Legends and Myths of Hawaii gathers narratives of gods, chiefs, lovers, voyagers, and shape-shifting powers from the Hawaiian oral tradition, presenting them as both entertainment and cultural testimony. Its prose moves between Victorian ethnographic framing and the cadences of epic romance, translating mo'olelo into a form legible to nineteenth-century readers while preserving a sense of sacred genealogy, landscape, and chiefly memory. Published in a period when Polynesian traditions were being refracted through missionary, colonial, and antiquarian lenses, the book stands as a vital literary artifact of cultural preservation. David Kalākaua, king of the Hawaiian Kingdom from 1874 to 1891, was not merely a ruler but a deliberate custodian of national memory. Associated with the Hawaiian cultural revival, he supported hula, chant, music, genealogy, and courtly ceremony at a time when foreign political and religious pressures threatened Indigenous institutions. His interest in legend was therefore inseparable from sovereignty: to record Hawaiian myth was to assert the dignity and antiquity of his people. This volume is recommended to readers of folklore, Pacific studies, colonial-era literature, and Indigenous cultural history. Though shaped by its nineteenth-century presentation, it remains an illuminating gateway into Hawaiian cosmology, heroic tradition, and the politics of remembering. This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience. - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.

Mythological World Folklore Gods & Mortals Royalty & Courts Political Intrigue Rebellion Journey Supernatural