Ancient Hawaii

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Creator: Herb Kawainui Kane
Publisher: Kawainui Press
Category: Book

List Price: ~~$14.95~~
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Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

9 reviews
Sales Rank: 43377

Media: Paperback
Edition: 0
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 112
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.9 x 0.3

ISBN: 0943357020
Dewey Decimal Number: 996.902
EAN: 9780943357027
ASIN: 0943357020

Publication Date: August 8, 1998
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Also Available In:

•	Hardcover - Ancient Hawaii

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
How ancient Polynesian explorers found the Hawaiian Islands, the most remote in Earth's largest sea; how they navigated, how they viewed themselves and their universe, and the arts, crafts, and values by which they survived and prospered without metals or the fuels and inventions believed necessary for life today.

Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

A nice summary of the life and customs of ancient Hawaiians July 18, 2008
Herb Kawainui Kane (pronounced KAH-ney) is a master artist, voyaging canoe designer, and Hokule`a captain. He is also author of Ancient Hawaii, a visual extravaganza of his vision, based on research and his artistic interpretation, of the life and times of pre- and post-contact Hawaiians.

Kane writes: "Without writing, kahuna were the living libraries of the old culture, preserving knowledge in trained memories. Some feats of memory seem incredible today. The story of Kamapua1a required sixteen hours of word-perfect recitation. Some temple invocations, we are told, in which any mistake would break the power of the words, required two days to deliver. Early Christian missionaries were astonished to find among their converts some who could recite entire books from the Bible soon after learning to read. Knowledge kept in living memories and shared only among a select few is extremely fragile, which helps explain why so much has been lost. One epidemic of an introduced disease could wipe out the masters of a guild, and with them knowledge accumulated over millennia. Disenfranchised in 1819 and subsequently condemned by Christian missionaries as sorcerers and witch doctors, their veil of secrecy became their shroud" (p. 40).

Given the reduction of the Hawaiian population from a high of over 800,000 to only 40,000 in a hundred years, Kane's hypothesis explains a great deal.

"Much that we would like to know about them has been lost by the impact of Western ways as well as their own customs of secrecy. Much of what remains is tantalizingly indistinct, blurred through the lens of our modern vision, distorted by the fantasies and embellishments all peoples invent about their pasts" (p. 7). I think Kane would admit that his personal fantasies affect him as well, with his depictions of ancient life in his paintings, noble and proud. Regardless, his paintings are magnificent, and they are well integrated into his text.

Ancient Hawaii is a nice addition to the secondary literature on Hawaii's history. For the price, it is probably the best bargain around.

4 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Book May 4, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Liked the story. LOVED the artwork. If you're only going to have one book on Hawaii's history, then make it this one.

5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful Expression of Kanaka-Maoli History and Lifestyle March 12, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This compendium of beauty and history will be enjoyed and cherished by all ages. Children will revel in the wonderfully intricate paintings of Kane. He is able to express the baeauty and unique culture of his people. His descriptions and historical information truly shows his love for the islands and of all things kanaka. I reccomemend this to anyone interested in a loving people.

5 out of 5 stars

The prints sell it February 12, 2005
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I bought this book to be able to describe ancient Polynesian life. The photos are treasure troves of information. The text is almost secondary, even if it is right on track. Well worth the cost if only for the beauty of the prints. Did I say the pictures were pretty?

5 out of 5 stars

Trip to the Past July 6, 2004
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Before the grand hotels and resorts, before crowded beaches, before paved roads and cars... there was sacred Hawai'i of old.

Herb Kawainui Kane allows you through his words and mostly through his artwork to revisited old Hawai'i in its truest and purist form. It's a visual journey that details even the smallest things. Herb Kane does an excellent job at retelling a story almost forgotten... a spiritual and emotional journey experienced by all but so often unexplained until now.

Hawai'i was and is still a magical place and Herb Kane's work shows that better than most any other artist I've seen in Hawai'i. Herb's work allows you to take a differant kind of trip to paradise... the one that existed and flourished for a thousand years before discovery by Captain Cook.