"This is Martha Beckwith's monumental study of Hawaiian mythology. Beckwith utilized numerous texts which are today rare or hard to obtain to construct this study. She gives all available variants of each myth or legend, including versions from other Pacific islands including Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa and others. This is primarily a critical edition of the key Hawaiian myths, and Beckwith largely does not attempt to interpret the texts, rather to examine both variant narratives and core folklore motifs. The book covers every significant theme in Hawaiian mythology, from the origin myths of the Hawaiian gods and goddesses, to more recent legends of star-crossed lovers. She also covers such topics as Kahunas (sorcerors) and Menehunes (fairies)." (Quote from sacred-texts.com)

About the Author

"Martha Warren Beckwith was a student of the anthropologist Franz Boas, whose work on the Native cultures of British Columbia had an enormous influence on modern ethnography (you may have heard of the great African-American writer, Zora Neale Hurston; she also studied with Boas)." (Quote from mythfolklore.net)

Table of Contents

Publisher's Preface; Preface; Part One: The Gods; Coming Of The Gods; Ku Gods; The God Lono; The Kane Worship; Kane And Kanaloa; Mythical Lands Of The Gods; Lesser Gods; Sorcery Gods; Guardian Gods; The Soul After Death; Part Two: Children Of The Gods; The Pele Myth; The Pele Sisters; Pele Legends; Kamapua'a; Hina Myths; Maui The Trickster; Aikanaka-kaha'i Cycle; Wahieloa-laka Cycle; Haumea; Part Three: The Chief; Papa And Wakea; Genealogies; Era Of Overturning; Mu And Menehune People; Runners, Man-eaters, Dog-men; The Moikeha-la'a Migration; Hawaiiloa And Paao Migrations; Ruling Chiefs; Usurping Chiefs; Part Four: Heroes And Lovers In Fiction; Kupua Stories; Tri