Hawaiian Legends of Ghosts and Ghost-Gods

Any exploration of Hawaii's supernatural traditions begins with W.D. Westervelt's classic collection of unexplainable tales entitled Hawaiian Legends of Ghosts and Ghost Gods. Based upon a variety of oral sources gathered at the end of the ninteenth century, Westervelt's anthology takes the reader on a marvelous journey through mythology and mysticism. The legends connected with heiau or temples, the birth of the first taro plant, the supernatural creatures of the mo o or lizards, shark gods and restless spirits are woven through a fabric of Hawaiian everyday life. Included in this collection are the epic tales of Maluae, the "Hawaiian Orpheus" who journeyed to the otherworld to bring back the spirit of his son, Kahalaopuna; the tragic "rainbow maiden" of Manoa who undergoes the "ghost test"; and Puna, the young chief from O ahu who was seduced by the "dragon-goddess" Kihawahine. Written in a lyrical style that captures the rhythms of the oral tradition, Hawaiian Legends of Ghosts and Ghost Gods is a testament to the spiritual values which embraced all aspects of the ancient Hawaiian worldview.

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