The stories of Kauai's ruling chiefs were passed from generation to generation in songs and narratives recited by trained storytellers either formally at the high chief's court or informally at family gatherings. Their chronology was ordered by a ruler's genealogy, which, in the case of the pua alii (flower of royalty), was illustrious and far reaching and could be traced to one of the four great gods of Polynesia--Käne, Kü, Lono, and Kanaloa. In these legends, Hawaiians of old sought answers to the questions "Who are we?" "Who are our ancestors and where do they come from?" "What lessons can be learned from their conduct?" Nä Pua Alii o Kauai presents the stories of the men and women who ruled the island of Kauai from its first settlement to the final rebellion against Kamehameha I's forces in 1824. Only fragments remain of the nearly two-thousand-year history of the people who inhabited Kauai before the coming of James Cook in 1778. Now scattered in public and private archives and libraries, these pieces of Hawaii's precontact past were recorded in the nineteenth century by such determined individuals as David Malo, Samuel Kamakau, and Abraham Fornander. All known genealogical references to the Kauai alii nui (paramount chiefs) have been gathered here and placed in chronological order and are interspersed with legends of great voyages, bitter wars, courageous heroes, and passionate romances that together form a rich and invaluable resource.

Additional Editors Are Samuel P. Bayard, Richard M. Dorson, Evon Z. Vogt.

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.

This is Queen Liliuokalani's translation of the Hawaiian Creation chant, the Kumulipo. She translated this while under house arrest at Iolani Palace, and it was subsequently published in 1897. This is an extremely rare book which was republished (in a very scarce edition) by Pueo Press in 1978. The Kumulipo's composition is attributed to one of Liliuokalani's eighteenth century ancestors, Keaulumoku, just prior to European contact. It is a sophisticated epic which describes the origin of species in terms that Darwin would appreciate. The Kumulipo moves from the emergence of sea creatures, to insects, land plants, animals, and eventually human beings. It describes a complicated web of interrelationships between various plants and animals. The most massive part of the chant is a genealogy which enumerates thousands of ancestors of the Hawaiian royal family. The Kumulipo is also available at this site in the 1951 translation of Martha Warren Beckwith, with comprehensive analysis and the complete Hawaiian text. However Liliuokalani's version is of some historical significance. The last Queen of Hawaii, Liliuokalani was extremely literate, and steeped in Hawaiian tradition. She was the author of the well-known Hawaiian anthem, Aloha 'Oe as well as a Hawaiian history book, Hawai'i's Story by Hawai'i's Queen.

Legends of Gods and Ghosts is a book by William Drake Westervelt. It focuses on Polynesian mythology, taking a close look at Hawaiian folktales, mythology, and the history of the polytheistic practices still in place to this day.

A moving account of Hawaii’s most culturally significant stories, presented by King David Kalākaua. The Legends and Myths of Hawaii introduces readers to the social, historical, and religious customs of native Hawaiians, revealing the history of a culture that, for many years, functioned without outside influence. Chapters on leaders such as “Hina, the Helen of Hawaii,” “Hua, King of Hana,” and “Kelea, the Surf-Rider of Maui” illustrate Hawaii’s most important tales and traditions. Originally published in 1888, King David Kalākaua’s book remains a compelling and enduring collection of the archipelago's most memorable tales. With an eye-catching new cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Legends and Myths of Hawaii is specially designed for modern readers. Add this beautiful edition to your bookshelf, or enjoy the digital edition on any e-book device.

Hawaiian Mythology is a collection of books by William Drake Westervelt, one of Hawaii's foremost authorities on island folklore. It contains five books Westervelt wrote about Hawaiian legends, folklore and mythology. "Legends of Maui" includes numerous myths of Māui, Polynesian demi god of Polynesia and Hina who is sometimes in myths his mother, and sometimes his wife. These myths and legends originate from various island groups around the Pacific and they are pesented in a clear and thorough manner. "Legends of Old Honolulu" is collection of ancient Hawaiian folktales which also includes some information about where the Hawaiians came from and the sacred places in Honolulu. As might be expected in stories originating on a small island, many of them feature the sea, boats, sea creatures or water. "Legends of Gods and Ghost-Gods" focuses on Polynesian mythology, taking a close look at Hawaiian folktales, mythology, and the history of the polytheistic practices still in place to this day. "Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes" – The first part of this book focuses on the legends of Hawaii and its volcanoes. The second part considers the geology of the region and discusses the crack in the floor of the Pacific, Hawaiian volcanoes, volcanic activity and the changes in the Kilauea crater. It also looks at the foundation of the observatory.