Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii

"Beginning with the traditional history of the great chief 'Umi and ending with the death of Kamehameha III in 1854, this volume covers the rediscovery of the Hawaiian Islands by Captain James Cook, the consolidation of the Hawaiian Kingdom by Kamehameha I, the coming of the missionaries and the changes affecting the kingdom during the first half of the 19th century. However, if offers more than a mere recording of past events. It presents a scholarly interpretation of those events by a Hawaiian historian living at a time still close enough to the old life that he had access to first-hand information about the ancient culture. Yet it is far enough away that he needed to explain the disappearing customs to the Hawaiian audience he was addressing. Originally, this history was written by Kamakau in Hawaiian as a series of newspaper articles. They are presented here in English Translation."

About the Author: "Samuel Manaiakalani Kamakau was a Hawaiian scholar born in 1815 on the island of Oahu. His schooling and subsequent teaching at Lahainaluna Seminary on Maui inculcated in him a lifelong interest in Hawaiian culture and history. Possessed of a strong intellectual curiosity, a remarkable memory and skill for turning a phrase, he wrote for Hawaiians about their ancient culture and disappearing customs. Throughout his career, he was active in politics and served numerous terms in the legislature, representing various districts on Maui and later on Oahu. Kamakau died in Honolulu in 1876."

CLICK THE "MORE IMAGES" LINK ABOVE TO SEE MORE OF THIS TITLE