william d. westervelt

“…Of special value to all who are concerned with the study of comparative folklore… an entertaining dip into Hawaiian mythology…For all who enjoy or who study folklore, the republication of these books will be welcomed.”
-South China Morning Post

Hawaiian Legends of Ghost and Ghost-Gods is a series of richly entertaining Hawaiian folk tales. The legends of the Hawaiian Islands are as diverse as those of any there region in the world. At the same time, although Hawaiian mythology follows the laws upon which all myths are constructed; these legends are entirely distinct in form and thought from those of European origin. Often, of course, there historical foundation that has been dealt with fancifully and enlarged to miraculous proportions.

In addition to creating an abundance of attractive nature myths and cycle of legends recounting the exploits of the wonder-working demigod a magically entertaining series of tales about ghost and ghost-gods, and it was from this group of legends that W.D. Westervelt collected and translated the ones that make up the present volume.