Introduction to Lāʻieikawai by S. N. Haleʻole
From the Foreword by S.N. Haleʻole, 1863:
The editor announces with great joy the printing of this book, the first child of an undertaking to enrich the Hawaiian people with a book of great interest. Previously we have acquired school books on many subjects; many, many books have been provided to instruct us in right and wrong; but this is the first book printed for the people of Hawaiʻi in the delightfully educational form of the Kaʻao, concerning ancient matters of this native nation, in order to prevent the loss of its fascinating traditions. Let us show in fine language the words and deeds of a certain beautiful and greatly loved daughter of Hawaiʻi, so that the aloha of the people of Hawaiʻi for their ancestors and their homeland may live on forever.
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Lāʻieikawai, written by S.N. Haleʻole, was first serialized in Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, a Hawaiian-language newspaper, from September 4, 1862 to October 23, 1863. It was published as a book in 1863. Martha Warren Beckwith translated the moʻolelo into English in 1919. Described as a "Hawaiian romance," Lāʻieikawai tells the story the beloved Lāʻieikawai and her journey to deification. As the first moʻolelo written by a Native Hawaiian to ever be published, Lāʻieikawai holds a significance place in the rich literary heritage of the Hawaiian people. As Haleʻole mentions in his Foreword, the moʻolelo was published so that his people would not forget their "fascinating traditions." Although he later calls the publication a "book for times of leisure," the moʻolelo's educational and cultural value is vast.
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The Hawaiian version of Lāʻieikawai is available at http://ulukau.org/cgi-bin/library?c=hk2&l=en.
The editor announces with great joy the printing of this book, the first child of an undertaking to enrich the Hawaiian people with a book of great interest. Previously we have acquired school books on many subjects; many, many books have been provided to instruct us in right and wrong; but this is the first book printed for the people of Hawaiʻi in the delightfully educational form of the Kaʻao, concerning ancient matters of this native nation, in order to prevent the loss of its fascinating traditions. Let us show in fine language the words and deeds of a certain beautiful and greatly loved daughter of Hawaiʻi, so that the aloha of the people of Hawaiʻi for their ancestors and their homeland may live on forever.
***
Lāʻieikawai, written by S.N. Haleʻole, was first serialized in Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, a Hawaiian-language newspaper, from September 4, 1862 to October 23, 1863. It was published as a book in 1863. Martha Warren Beckwith translated the moʻolelo into English in 1919. Described as a "Hawaiian romance," Lāʻieikawai tells the story the beloved Lāʻieikawai and her journey to deification. As the first moʻolelo written by a Native Hawaiian to ever be published, Lāʻieikawai holds a significance place in the rich literary heritage of the Hawaiian people. As Haleʻole mentions in his Foreword, the moʻolelo was published so that his people would not forget their "fascinating traditions." Although he later calls the publication a "book for times of leisure," the moʻolelo's educational and cultural value is vast.
***
The Hawaiian version of Lāʻieikawai is available at http://ulukau.org/cgi-bin/library?c=hk2&l=en.