About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherUniversity of Hawaii Press

ISBN-100824805143

ISBN-139780824805142

eBay Product ID (ePID)371188

Product Key Features

Book TitleHawaiian Mythology

Number of Pages608 Pages

LanguageEnglish

TopicFairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology, Folklore & Mythology

Publication Year1982

GenreFiction, Social Science

AuthorMartha Warren Beckwith

FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height1.1 in

Item Weight28.9 Oz

Item Length9 in

Item Width6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

LCCN70-097998

ReviewsInvaluable for all those whose interest lies with the myths, legends, traditions, and folktales of the Hawaiian peoples ... a classic of Hawaiian ethnography and folklore.

Dewey Decimal398.2/09969

SynopsisKu and Hina-man andwoman-were the great ancestral gods of heaven and earth for the ancientHawaiians. They were life's fruitfulness and all the generations of mankind, both those who are to come and those already born. The Hawaiian gods werelike great chiefs from far lands who visited among the people, entering their dailylives sometimes as humans or animals, sometimes taking residence in a stone orwooden idol. As years passed, the families of gods grew and included thetrickster Maui, who snared the sun, and fiery Pele of the volcano. Ancient Hawaiian lived bythe animistic philosophy that assigned living souls to animals, trees, stones, stars, and clouds, as well as to humans. Religion and mythology were interwovenin Hawaiian culture; and local legends and genealogies were preserved in song, chant, and narrative. Martha Beckwith was thefirst scholar to chart a path through the hundreds of books, articles, andlittle-known manuscripts that recorded the oral narratives of the Hawaiianpeople. Her book has become a classic work of folklore and ethnology, and thedefinitive treatment of Hawaiian mythology. With an introduction by Katherine Luomala., Ku and Hina--man and woman--were the great ancestral gods of heaven and earth for the ancient Hawaiians. They were life's fruitfulness and all the generations of mankind, both those who are to come and those already born. The Hawaiian gods were like great chiefs from far lands who visited among the people, entering their daily lives sometimes as humans or animals, sometimes taking residence in a stone or wooden idol. As years passed, the families of gods grew and included the trickster Maui, who snared the sun, and fiery Pele of the volcano. Ancient Hawaiians lived by the animistic philosophy that assigned living souls to animals, trees, stones, stars, and clouds, as well as to humans. Religion and mythology were interwoven in Hawaiian culture; and local legends and genealogies were preserved in song, chant, and narrative. Martha Beckwith was the first scholar to chart a path through the hundreds of books, articles, and little-known manuscripts that recorded the oral narratives of the Hawaiian people. Her book has become a classic work of folklore and ethnology, and the definitive treatment of Hawaiian mythology. With an introduction by Katherine Luomala.

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by tobpen325
Apr 16, 2024
If it Made Sense, I'd Buy Two
Well made book and the contents are excellent woven together with words that create a rich history.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by witchh-63
Jun 21, 2022
Very informative
Great book for any mythology buffs.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by ne92707
Jan 26, 2025
A bit over my head but seemed well writt...
A bit over my head but seemed well written in excellent condition
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned