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Kauai Tales
stories of Kauai gathered from many sources
172 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 4, 2023
Bought this book after reading “More Kauai tales” by the same author and wanting to read more folklore from the island (clearly I was a pretty smitten visitor!). Everything I wrote in the review for that book, including where to buy it, applies to this one as well! (Link to that review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...)
This book also has a helpful glossary (of people, places, trees, birds, things in general) that acts as a handy reference while reading. There are 18 tales in the book. Since the table of contents doesn’t have the handy English brief for the Hawaiian titles that the 3rd book had; here is my attempt at one to help the next reader(s):
1. Pohaku-o-Kane: The story of the high rock in Haena
2. Kanaka-Nunui-Moe: The story of the sleeping giant of Kapaa
3. Na Piliwale: The story of the hungry sisters of Haena
4. Niu-Lolo-Hiki: The story of the naughty coconut tree of Wailua
5. Ma-Ka-Ihu-Waa: The story of how the Hanalei Menehune invented the lighthouse
6. Waioli: The story of how Kauai got the rainbow
7. Holua-Manu: The story of the Holua racer of Waimaka (also Mean Parents - story 1)
8. Ua: The story of the rainbow girl of Koke’e
9. Kawelo o Mana: The story of the shark-man of Mana
10. Wailele-o-Ko-Maliu: The story of how Waimea turned red
11. Ka-Lau-Hee: The story of the mottled girl and the mushy stream of Wainiha (also Mean Parents - story 2)
12. Ka-Opele: The story of the sleeping man of Kawaihau
13. Kanaloa- Huluhulu: The story of the hairy giant of Koke’e
14. Lau-Haka: The story of the ‘chiefly’ birdcatcher of Wainiha
15. Na Keiki O Na-Iwi: The (sad) story of the loneliness of the Mu people
16. Ke-Ahi-Lele O Ka-Maile: The story of the leaping fire of Kamaile of Nu’alolo (also an ancient warning to stay away from drugs!)
17. Nou o Makana: The story of the Menehune friend of Nou in Makana
18. Manini-Holo: The story of the dry cave of Haena
My favorite tales: # 1,4,7,9,15,16,17
This book also has a helpful glossary (of people, places, trees, birds, things in general) that acts as a handy reference while reading. There are 18 tales in the book. Since the table of contents doesn’t have the handy English brief for the Hawaiian titles that the 3rd book had; here is my attempt at one to help the next reader(s):
1. Pohaku-o-Kane: The story of the high rock in Haena
2. Kanaka-Nunui-Moe: The story of the sleeping giant of Kapaa
3. Na Piliwale: The story of the hungry sisters of Haena
4. Niu-Lolo-Hiki: The story of the naughty coconut tree of Wailua
5. Ma-Ka-Ihu-Waa: The story of how the Hanalei Menehune invented the lighthouse
6. Waioli: The story of how Kauai got the rainbow
7. Holua-Manu: The story of the Holua racer of Waimaka (also Mean Parents - story 1)
8. Ua: The story of the rainbow girl of Koke’e
9. Kawelo o Mana: The story of the shark-man of Mana
10. Wailele-o-Ko-Maliu: The story of how Waimea turned red
11. Ka-Lau-Hee: The story of the mottled girl and the mushy stream of Wainiha (also Mean Parents - story 2)
12. Ka-Opele: The story of the sleeping man of Kawaihau
13. Kanaloa- Huluhulu: The story of the hairy giant of Koke’e
14. Lau-Haka: The story of the ‘chiefly’ birdcatcher of Wainiha
15. Na Keiki O Na-Iwi: The (sad) story of the loneliness of the Mu people
16. Ke-Ahi-Lele O Ka-Maile: The story of the leaping fire of Kamaile of Nu’alolo (also an ancient warning to stay away from drugs!)
17. Nou o Makana: The story of the Menehune friend of Nou in Makana
18. Manini-Holo: The story of the dry cave of Haena
My favorite tales: # 1,4,7,9,15,16,17
February 22, 2021
A nice collection of myths & folk lore from early in Kauai's history. The stories themselves aren't the most intriguing in the world (and there's of lot of focus on bad parents and slightly less on abuse of women), but there's great background embedded in them on Kauai culture, practices, and beliefs.
November 12, 2010
Lots of legends about how places got their names. I like the stories about Menehunes--I didn't know they turned to stone in the sun!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews