Hawaiian Legends of Ghosts and Ghost-Gods (1915) is a collection of
Hawaiian folktales and myths by W. D. Westervelt. Connecting the origin
story of Hawaii to the traditions of other Polynesian cultures,
Westervelt provides an invaluable resource for understanding the
historical and geographical scope of Hawaiian culture. Drawing on the
work of David Malo, Samuel Kamakau, and Abraham Fornander, Westervelt,
originally from Ohio, became a leading authority on the Hawaiian
Islands, publishing extensively on their legends, religious beliefs, and
folk tales. "The legends of the Hawaiian Islands are as diverse as those
of any country in the world. They are also entirely distinct in form and
thought from the fairy-tales which excite the interest and wonder of the
English and German children. The mythology of Hawaii follows the laws
upon which all myths are constructed." Part ethnography, part geological
description, Westervelt's work is a powerful celebration of the cultural
traditions of the Hawaiian Islands. In these legends, ghosts and gods
interact with the environment and the daily lives of islanders, shaping
human society and the land itself. Highlights include the story of the
Wauhaula heiau, or temple, the legend of the enraged Hau-pu and the Rock
of Kauai, and the tale of Nanaue, the shark-man of Waipio Valley. With a
beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this
edition of W. D. Westervelt's Hawaiian Legends of Ghosts and
Ghost-Gods is a classic of Hawaiian literature reimagined for modern
readers.
