Folktales of Hawai‘i: He Mau Ka‘ao Hawai‘i
With Folktales of Hawai‘i: He Mau Ka‘ao Hawai‘i, Bishop Museum celebrates Mary Kawena Pukui and honors the Hawaiian storytelling tradition. Pukui stands alone in the history of Hawai‘i for her unparalleled contributions to the preservation and revitalization of Hawaiian language and culture. Throughout her life, she was a beloved and highly sought-after kumu (source or teacher) of Hawaiian knowledge and an ardent practitioner and student of storytelling.
Many of these folktales are presented both in Pukui's original Hawaiian and in English translation. Their sequence reflects the order of traditional hula presentations, beginning with stories about the gods. followed by those of the chiefs, and then tales of ordinary people. These mo‘olelo-part of the culture and place that engender them-provide entertainment as well as an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the rich cultural tradition of Hawai‘i.
Cover art and illustrations of plants of the Ka‘u district by Sig Zane.
$15.95
isbn 978-0-930897-43-7
softcover 6x9, 160pp.
Available at Bishop Museum's Shop Pacifica (phone 808-848-4158, email at shop@bishopmuseum.org) and other fine bookstores throughout the islands.
Tags: Bishop Museum Press, Hawaiian folktales, Hawaiian language, mary kawena pukui
