Ka Mo'olelo Hawaii

This is a famous historical work documenting Hawaiian oral traditions, originally written by Davida Malo in the 19th century. Malo's “Hawaiian catechism” not only documents indigenous Hawaiian myths and genealogy, but also describes cultural norms and taboos, rituals considered essential to well-being, and native Hawaiians' deep connections with their islands through names. While Ka mo'olelo Hawaii has been in print on-and-off for more than 150 years, this edition benefits significantly from the efforts of translator and editor Malcolm Nāea Chun. Chun was the first indigenous translator of this epic work, and his keen introduction and contextual information bring new vibrancy to a classic.