Martha Warren Beckwith

The Kumulipo Martha Warren Beckwith

Beckwith examines the culture and folklore surrounding the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant which vividly narrates the creation of the world and the first humans.

The Kumulipo is rich in references to other creation lore of Hawaii, invoking its Gods and rituals, and the society and culture of the Hawaiian Islands. Before she proceeds to translate and narrate the actual text, Martha Warren Beckwith begins this book with a description of Hawaiian life. Its hierarchical culture; the customs and taboos surrounding first-born males of the chieftains; and the dynastic lineages which presided over Honolulu, with the monarchs responsible for uniting the biggest isle with those around it. The result was a relatively homogenous culture, with a unified mythology and belief system.

By the time Western visitors reached Hawaii and began to transcribe its mythos in the 18th century, it was essentially a single culture. The chant of the Kumulipo represents not only a summation of the mythologies and creation lore of the Hawaiian isles, but also the unification of its people. We explore notions of how the lands, seas and first peoples were made, the mighty creatures of antiquity, and concepts like the serene stillness of nature forming the conditions for Gods and men to enter existence.