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

In Short

This volume acts as both a historical preservation and a literary testament to the cultural heartbeat of the Hawaiian Islands. Compiled by the last king of Hawaii, it blends detailed ethnographic introduction with a series of epic tales—ranging from the volcanic wrath of the goddess Pele to the rise of the "peasant prince" Umi. By documenting these fables, the text serves to anchor Hawaiian identity in a rapidly modernizing era, balancing the weight of ancient tradition against the encroaching influence of Western constitutional governance. The book remains a significant artifact, not only for its storytelling of gods and chiefs but for its candid look at the political and spiritual tensions that defined the transition of the islands into the late nineteenth century.

The Story

The narrative arc begins with an extensive historical retrospect, establishing the islands' evolution from an ancient, isolated society governed by rigid tabu systems to a constitutional monarchy. We are introduced to the gods, including the fierce Pele and her volatile kin, whose influence over the volcanic landscape is treated with the gravity of historical record. The legends that follow move through distinct epochs, beginning with the migration of Paao and the establishment of a new dynasty under Pili, setting the stage for centuries of internal conflict, alliance, and divine intervention.

Central to these accounts is the struggle for sovereignty. We witness the rise of Umi, the illegitimate son of a king who endures rejection and solitude before proving his worth through feats of strength and wisdom, eventually claiming his birthright. His story is one of meritocracy and divine favor, contrasting sharply with the tragic and cautionary tales of monarchs like Hua, whose hubris leads to the destruction of his people and the total erasure of his house. The legends do not shy away from the darker aspects of ancient rule, where priestcraft, sorcery, and the whims of the gods dictate the fate of entire districts.

As the narrative progresses, the focus shifts toward the romantic and the supernatural. We follow the journeys of navigators like Kila, who sails to Raiatea to honor his foster-father, and the ill-fated love of Lohiau, who dies of grief after falling for the goddess Pele. These stories illustrate the profound connection between the Hawaiian people and their environment, where a mountain path or a sudden lava flow is a direct manifestation of a deity’s mood.

The collection concludes with the dismantling of the old order. We see the final, desperate defense of the traditional temples against the sweeping changes brought by King Liholiho, whose public violation of the tabu marks the end of an era. The final portraits depict figures like Kaahumanu, the powerful queen whose life embodies the transition into the modern world. The book does not offer a neat resolution; instead, it presents a landscape in flux, where ancient legends are slowly being rewritten by the arrival of new laws, new religions, and a new political reality. By the final pages, the reader is left with the sense of a culture that has survived the fire of the volcano only to face the silent, irreversible shift of historical time.

How It Unfolds

The historical foundation The text opens with a comprehensive overview of the social and political structure of ancient Hawaii, detailing the roles of the gods and the transition to modern governance. This section establishes the author’s perspective as a monarch mediating between his people's ancestral roots and their contemporary constitutional state.

The migration and the gods Legends of the early migrations introduce the reader to the sacred pantheon, defining the elemental powers of Kane, Ku, Lono, and the volcanic goddess Pele. These early chapters establish the supernatural framework within which all subsequent human political drama must exist.

The epic of the commoner-prince The narrative shifts to the life of Umi, illustrating the archetypal hero’s journey from a life of obscurity to the throne of Hawaii. His ascent serves as a moral anchor, emphasizing the importance of courage and humility in a leader.

The cycle of conflict and betrayal Several chapters focus on the internecine wars between the islands of Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii. These accounts depict the complex loyalties of chiefs and the brutal consequences of broken alliances, often punctuated by divine omens and the intervention of the supernatural.

The dissolution of the ancient ways The final portion of the book focuses on the end of the tabu system and the destruction of the traditional temples. It chronicles the psychological and societal impact of these changes, reflecting the deep personal and political struggle of a nation turning away from its gods.

The People

The figures who populate these legends are defined by their relationship to power and the divine. Umi, the peasant prince, stands as the book’s most compelling figure. His journey from an ignored youth to a just sovereign highlights the theme that greatness is innate, not merely inherited, and he remains the model of a leader who listens to the gods and his people alike. Conversely, Hakau, his brother and antagonist, represents the failure of leadership; his arrogance, cruelty, and misuse of the sacred war-trumpet, the Kiha-pu, seal his doom and emphasize the peril of those who believe themselves above divine law.

Pele, the goddess of the volcanoes, serves as the most dynamic force in the narrative. She is not a static deity but an active participant in human affairs—fickle, passionate, and devastating. Whether she is testing the loyalty of a lover like Lohiau or punishing the vanity of a chief like Kahavari, her presence ensures that the human characters are constantly tested by the forces of nature. Her influence underscores the fragility of human achievement against the backdrop of an active, living landscape.

Kaahumanu represents the transition into the modern era. As the wife of Kamehameha, she inherits the restlessness of her ancestors while navigating the complex political landscape of the late eighteenth century. Her character is marked by an independence that allows her to transcend traditional roles, making her a bridge between the mythological past and the historical present. Finally, the priests, such as Nunu and the venerable Hewahewa, act as the guardians of memory. They are the ones who interpret the gods' will, yet they also grapple with the disillusionment of a society that eventually discards the very temples they serve. Each character is bound by their destiny, leaving them either as symbols of a lost order or as the architects of a new, uncertain future.

In Its Own Voice

"And now let it be remarked with emphasis that the value of missionary labors in the Hawaiian group should not be measured by the small number of natives who to-day may be called Christians, but rather by the counsel and assistance of these thrifty religious teachers in securing and maintaining the independence of the islands."

This remark, found in the general retrospect, highlights the author’s complex perspective on the political influence of Westerners in Hawaii.

"Instead of a note of alarm swelling over the hills in wild and warlike cadence, they gave forth a dreadful discord of torture-wrung screams and groans, horrifying all within the walls, but scarcely audible beyond them."

This passage describes the terrifying moment when the sacred war-trumpet fails the tyrant King Hakau during the final rebellion.

"Such was the Hawaiian of the past; such is the Hawaiian of to-day. His joys and griefs are centred in the present, and he broods but little over the past, and borrows no trouble from the future."

The author concludes his observation of a group of surf-riders with this reflection on the resilient, present-focused nature of his people.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an inquiry into the legitimacy of power. The legends are not merely stories; they are arguments for what constitutes a "rightful" ruler. Whether through the divine favor granted to Umi or the disastrous downfall of the hubristic Hua, the narrative suggests that sovereignty is contingent upon a harmony between the leader, the people, and the spiritual forces of the land.

Furthermore, it addresses the trauma of cultural displacement. The book captures the moment when a nation's "strange" and ancient history is being transcribed into a foreign written language. The underlying question is one of survival: How does a people maintain its identity when its temples are destroyed and its gods are silenced? By anchoring the history of the Hawaiian islands in these myths, the author attempts to create a permanent record of a worldview that was rapidly receding. It is a work of mourning and preservation, questioning how much of a culture can be kept alive through its stories once its daily practices have been permanently altered.

Why Read It Today

Reading this book today is an exercise in both historical empathy and cultural discovery. For the reader interested in Pacific history, it offers a rare, primary-source perspective from a Hawaiian King, providing a voice that is often absent in colonial accounts. You will find it feels less like a modern textbook and more like a collection of oral traditions transcribed with the formal, Victorian sensibilities of the late 1880s. This creates a unique texture: the prose is rhythmic and at times quite grand, carrying the weight of the myths themselves, even when filtered through a 19th-century lens.

Readers who enjoy classical epics or folklore will find much to admire in the dramatic arcs of the heroes and the vivid, elemental nature of the gods. The book does not shy away from the harsh realities of ancient life—the blood feuds, the absolute authority of the tabu, and the frequent violence—which prevents it from feeling like a sanitized fairy tale.

However, a modern reader should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes of the author. The preface and introduction reflect the complex, often difficult relationship between the native monarchy and the foreign influence of the time. There is a distinct tension throughout the text between the author’s pride in his ancient culture and his pragmatic defense of the constitutional changes that ultimately led to the decline of that very culture. It is not an easy or light read; the length and the density of the genealogies and names can be challenging. Yet, for those who are willing to navigate these complexities, the reward is a profound and intimate look at the soul of a kingdom. It stays with you, particularly the image of a people standing at the crossroads of their own history, forced to choose between the echoes of their gods and the demands of a new world.