Product Description

"As in many other traditional cultures, Hawaiian art, dance, music and poetry were highly integrated into every aspect of life, to a degree far beyond that of industrial society. The poetry at the core of the Hula is extremely sophisticated. Typically a Hula song has several dimensions: mythological aspects, cultural implications, an ecological setting, and in many cases, (although Emerson is reluctant to acknowledge this) frank erotic imagery. The extensive footnotes and background information allow us an unprecedented look into these deeper layers. While Emerson's translations are not great poetry, they do serve as a literal English guide to the amazing Hawaiian lyrics." (Quote from sacred-texts.com)

About the Author

"Nathaniel Bright Emerson (born July 1, 1839 Waialua, Oahu, died July 16, 1915, at sea) was a medical physician and author of Hawaiian mythology.

He attended Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts and served in the First Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, during which he was wounded three times. After graduating from Williams in 1865, he studied at Harvard and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, from which he graduated in 1869. This was followed by work at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. In New York Dr. Emerson was associated with Dr. Willard Parker, the eminent surgeon, as student and assistant. For several years he was also clinical assistant to Dr. Seguin, professor of nervous diseases at the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He served as a doctor in New York until 1878, after which he relocated to Hawaii.

Dr. Emerson was an able historian and writer of Hawaiian mythology. One of his notable efforts was the translation into English of David Malo's great work on Hawaiian lore and customs. In 1909, the Bureau of American Ethnology pub

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #339110 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 386 pages

Customer Reviews

Hula Essential
This is an amazing history written as it was about to be lost forever, (Due to the shortsightedness of the missionaries to recognise the chants as the essence of the Hawai'ian people), at the turn of the century. Thanks to the insight of this son of a missionary in chronicling what he was able to find himself privy to, this vital information will live on. For anyone who is now or in the future involved in hula, this is an incredible resource of knowledge of the Hawai'ian chants, legend, and the essence of the beautiful Hawai'ian people. Another valuable resource is: Myths and Legends of Hawaii also written around the turn of the century and is also a first hand account of history.