Pele and Hiiaka

A colorful illustration of Hawaii's most cherished origin story, the myth of Pele and Hiiaka.

Pele and Hiiaka: A Myth From Hawaii (1915) is a collection of folktales by Nathaniel B. Emerson. Drawing from written histories, personal experience, and extensive interviews, Emerson provides a lyrical account of the myth surrounding these goddess sisters. Pele, the goddess of volcanoes and ruler of Kilauea, and her sister Hiiaka encounter adventure, tragedy, and love during their respective journeys. These stories are not only appreciated for their beauty, but also their deep religious and cultural impact.

With a professionally designed cover and manuscript, this edition of Nathaniel B. Emerson's Pele and Hiiaka: A Myth From Hawaiiis a classic of Hawaiian literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Nathaniel B. Emerson (1839-1915) was an American physician and historian. Born in Waialua, Oahu, Emerson was the son of Protestant missionaries. Wounded in action as a member of the First Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, he went on to graduate from Williams College in 1865. In 1869, he completed his studies at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and took a job at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. In 1878, he left his career as a doctor behind to return to Hawaii, where he gained a reputation as a leading historian and authority on Hawaiian mythology. In addition to his groundbreaking translation of David Malo’s historical work on the islands, Emerson published several books on Hawaii, including Unwritten Literature of Hawaii (1909) and Pele and Hiiaka: A Myth From Hawaii (1915). Despite his contribution to Hawaiian culture as a folklorist and translator, Emerson has been criticized for his role in authoring the 1887 Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, known as the Bayonet Constitution, which transferred power from the native Hawaiian monarchy to American and European imperialists and their native collaborators.

Nathaniel B. Emerson's Pele and Hiiaka: A Myth From Hawaii makes one of Hawaiian culture's foundational stories available to an English speaking audience. Emphasizing the importance of Pele, goddess of volcanoes and fire, to the relationship of the Hawaiian people to the natural world, Emerson breaks ground on an emerging subject of study for folklorists and historians alike.

A colorful illustration of Hawaii's most cherished origin story, the myth of Pele and Hiiaka. Pele and Hiiaka: A Myth From Hawaii (1915) is a collection of folktales by Nathaniel B. Emerson. Drawing from written histories, personal experience, and extensive interviews, Emerson provides a lyrical account of the myth surrounding these goddess sisters. Pele, the goddess of volcanoes and ruler of Kilauea, and her sister Hiiaka encounter adventure, tragedy, and love during their respective journeys. These stories are not only appreciated for their beauty, but also their deep religious and cultural impact. With a professionally designed cover and manuscript, this edition of Nathaniel B. Emerson's Pele and Hiiaka: A Myth From Hawaii is a classic of Hawaiian literature reimagined for modern readers.

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