The Kumulipo (1897) is a traditional chant translated by
Lili'uokalani. Published in 1897, the translation was written in the
aftermath of Lili'uokalani's attempt to appeal on behalf of her people
to President Grover Cleveland, a personal friend. Although she inspired
Cleveland to demand her reinstatement, the United States Congress
published the Morgan Report in 1894, which denied U.S. involvement in
the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The Kumulipo, written during
the Queen's imprisonment in Iolani Palace, is a genealogical and
historical epic that describes the creation of the cosmos and the
emergence of humans, plants, and animals from "the slime which
established the earth." "At the time that turned the heat of the earth,
/ At the time when the heavens turned and changed, / At the time when
the light of the sun was subdued / To cause light to break forth, / At
the time of the night of Makalii (winter) / Then began the slime which
established the earth, / The source of deepest darkness." Traditionally
recited during the makahiki season to celebrate the god Lono, the chant
was passed down through Hawaiian oral tradition and contains the history
of their people and the emergence of life from chaos. A testament to
Lili'uokalani's intellect and skill as a poet and songwriter, her
translation of The Kumulipo is also an artifact of colonization,
produced while the Queen was living in captivity in her own palace.
Although her attempt to advocate for Hawaiian sovereignty and the
restoration of the monarchy was unsuccessful, Lili'uokalani, Hawaii's
first and only queen, has been recognized as a beloved monarch who never
stopped fighting for the rights of her people. With a beautifully
designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of
Lili'uokalani's The Kumulipo is a classic of Hawaiian literature
reimagined for modern readers.
