Unwritten Literature of Hawaii

Unwritten Literature of Hawai'i: Sacred Songs of the Hula by Nathaniel B. Emerson remains one of the most important written sources available for an understanding of the culture and mythology of hula, the ancient Hawaiian dance. First published in 1909, Emerson's absorbing study of hula draws upon the extensive oral sources which were still available at the end of the nineteenth century. As a consequence, Emerson was able to chronicle stories, songs, chants, and movements which although altered by decades of western contact by 1900, still reflected the earlier ancient traditions which shaped the evolution of Hawaiian dance. Most importantly, he helped to introduce the unwritten, rhythmic poetry at the spiritual core of Hawaiian civilization to an international audience unfamiliar with the power of the oral literature of a Polynesian indigenous people.

The student of Hawaiian hula, history, or mythology will find Emerson's Unwritten Literature of Hawai'i an indispensable resource. For those who simply enjoy outstanding literature and compelling storytelling, Unwritten Literature of Hawai'i will forever be a reminder that oral traditions of native peoples passed through the generations contain powerful poetic messages that touch the universal human experience.