Deeply Personal Wisdom Passed Down Through Generations of Hawaiians ***** This book is a story of wisdom from an ancestor of the authors, a very wise woman and Hawaiian elder. The book contains much of interest about Hawaiian culture, told through the eyes of the authors in a deeply personal way. It is a memoir in a way, including genealogies and historical perspectives, but it's so personal at the same time, and filled with insights and descriptions of the Hawaiian culture from a Hawaiian perspective that is rare. This wise woman (the ancestor who the book is about, and who is the "voice" of the story) lived for well over a hundred years and had the chance to see Hawaii change profoundly, so her insights are very special.
It is the memoir of a family, but the memoir of a culture as well, which to the Hawaiians is the same thing. It's hard to explain how the book is written, because it is written in a non-linear (but not confusing) manner, and the content is told through stories. It includes a glossary for the many unfamiliar Hawaiian words.
Reading this book, like Pali Jae Lee's other book, Ho`opono, felt like a gift and a privilege to me. Again, I felt like the author's culture was being shared with me in a vulnerable and gentle way that gave me so much insight and appreciation for her, for her special husband, and for the Hawaiian people.
Highly recommended. *****
The Best Book on the True Hawaiian History This book really covers everything about the real ancient Hawaiian culture and its culture after the Tahitian takeover. Very fascinating and probably the most true publication on this subject in its field. Most of the time, people are given the "whitebread" version of Hawaiian history that has been tailored to the common American way of thought (in fact we still meet people today who visit Hawaii and think that all the locals still live in grass shacks and are living a third-world lifestyle). If you really want to know the true history, this is it, direct from the mouth of Kaili'ohe Kame'ekua (b.1816-d.1931).
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
