May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. It is a time to celebrate and honor the voices and stories of AAPI communities. Among these vibrant cultures are the Native Hawaiians. Their literature captures the rich history, mythology, and legacy of the islands.
We found 10 works that include royal memoirs, traditional chants, and legends passed down through generations. These works offer profound insight into Hawaiian identity, resilience, and storytelling traditions.
In celebration of AAPI Month, explore these classic books by Hawaiian authors and historians. These classic Hawaiian books preserve the cultural memory of Hawaii. We invite you to read and experience the islands beyond the postcard imagery.
Hawaiian Antiquities: Moolelo Hawaii
by David Malo
One of the earliest written accounts of Hawaiian culture and traditions, Hawaiian Antiquities is a cornerstone of Hawaiian literature. David Malo, a Native Hawaiian scholar and Christian convert, compiled this ethnography in the mid-1800s. Drawing from oral traditions and ancient practices, Malo documents the genealogies, gods, rituals, and social structure of pre-contact Hawaii. His work remains a critical resource for anyone seeking to understand the roots of Hawaiian civilization.
Hawaiian Legends of Ghosts and Ghost-Gods
by W D Westervelt
Hawaiian Legends of Ghosts and Ghost-Gods was written in 1915. It is a collection of Hawaiian folktales and myths that connects the origin story of Hawaii to the traditions of other Polynesian cultures. Westervelt provides an invaluable resource for understanding the historical and geographical scope of Hawaiian culture.
Drawing on the work of David Malo and others, Westervelt became a leading authority on the Hawaiian Islands. He published extensively on their legends, religious beliefs, and folk tales. Part ethnography, part geological description, Westervelt's work is a powerful celebration of the cultural traditions of the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes
by W D Westervelt
Beginning with the origin story of Pele, the goddess of volcanoes, Westervelt introduces his groundbreaking collection of legends on the volcanic nature of the Hawaiian Islands. When the goddess Pele comes to the island of Hawaii seeking a permanent home, she finds Ai-laau, another god of fire, already in possession of the territory.
Despite his fearsome power over creation and destruction, Ai-laau disappeared the moment he became aware of Pele's presence. People already knew her name far and wide, along with her reputation for strength, anger, and envy. Pele quickly took control of the gods, ghost-gods, and the people living on the islands. She established herself in the Kilauea crater.
These legends show Hawaii’s stunning natural beauty and its spiritual beliefs. In this worldview, gods control nature and influence human lives. Pele is important in Hawaiian history and religion. She is still honored in Hawaii and throughout the Pacific today.
Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen
by Lili'uokalani Lili'uokalani
Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen is a moving personal autobiography of a girl who grew up to become Hawaii's first and only queen. Queen Lili'uokalani was a beloved monarch who fought for the rights of her people.
Queen Liliʻuokalani’s powerful autobiography offers a first-person account of Hawaii's political upheaval and cultural colonization. As the last reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Liliʻuokalani shares her upbringing, her musical gifts—including composing “Aloha ʻOe”—and her painful efforts to resist the annexation of Hawaii by the United States. This book is essential reading for understanding the complex legacy of Hawaiian sovereignty and resistance.
History of Keoua Kalanikupuapa-I-Kalani-Nui: Father of Hawaiian Kings
by Pratt Elizabeth Kekaʻaniau La'anui Pratt Elizabeth Kekaʻaniau La'anui
History of Keoua Kalanikupuapa-i-kalani-nui, Father of Hawaiian Kings is a genealogical history by Elizabeth Kekaʻaniau La'anui Pratt. Written towards the end of Pratt's life, the book was intended as a tribute to her family's history and influence in Hawaii.
Raised as a member of the House of Keōua Nui, she was closely related to the first rulers of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Engaging with traditions and stories from before the arrival of Protestant missionaries in the islands, Pratt provides a link to the past, before Christianity and written language usurped the oral tradition of her people.
Detailed and enriched with Elizabeth's personal relation to the figures she describes, the History of Keoua Kalanikupuapa-i-kalani-nui, Father of Hawaiian Kings is an essential study of one of Hawaii's most important leaders. This book bridges oral tradition with historical memory, preserving a critical piece of Hawaiian lineage.
The Kumulipo
by Lili'uokalani Lili'uokalani
The Kumulipo (1897) is a traditional chant translated by Lili'uokalani. It was written during the Queen's imprisonment in Iolani Palace, is a genealogical and historical epic that describes the creation of the cosmos and the emergence of humans, plants, and animals from "the slime which established the earth."
Traditionally recited during the makahiki season to celebrate the god Lono, the chant was passed down through Hawaiian oral tradition and contains the history of their people and the emergence of life from chaos. A testament to Lili'uokalani's intellect and skill as a poet and songwriter, her translation of The Kumulipo is also an artifact of colonization, produced while the Queen was living in captivity in her own palace. Although her attempt to advocate for Hawaiian sovereignty and the restoration of the monarchy was unsuccessful, Lili'uokalani, Hawaii's first and only queen, has been recognized as a beloved monarch who never stopped fighting for the rights of her people.
The Legends and Myths of Hawaii
by David Kalakaua
Known as the "Merrie Monarch," King David Kalākaua was committed to reviving Hawaiian culture during his reign. In this celebrated collection, he shares folktales and historical myths that highlight the depth and complexity of ancient Hawaiian society. These stories include tales of fierce warriors, revered chiefs, and legendary surfers, all of which showcase the storytelling tradition he worked so hard to preserve.
The Legends and Myths of Hawaii shows readers the social, historical, and religious customs of native Hawaiians. It reveals the history of a culture that thrived for many years without outside influence. Originally published in 1888, King David Kalākaua's book remains a compelling and enduring collection of the archipelago's most memorable tales.
Legends of Maui
by W D Westervelt
Westervelt’s Legends of Maui explores the feats of one of Polynesia’s most famous demigods. Maui, credited with slowing the sun and lifting the sky, is central to Hawaiian mythology. These tales, collected and retold with cultural sensitivity. They link Hawaiian lore to the broader Pacific Islander mythos, affirming Hawaii’s place within a vast and interconnected oceanic heritage.
Pele and Hiiaka: A Myth from Hawaii
by Nathaniel B Emerson
A vibrant depiction of Hawaii's beloved creation tale, the legend of Pele and Hiiaka.
This poetic retelling of the relationship between Pele, goddess of volcanoes, and her sister Hiiaka is filled with emotional depth and epic adventure. Nathaniel Emerson’s work brings to life the themes of love, jealousy, loyalty, and power that define this mythological saga. These sisters’ journey across Hawaii is more than myth—it’s a spiritual roadmap of the islands themselves.
Unwritten Literature of Hawaii: The Sacred Songs of the Hula
by Nathaniel B Emerson
Unwritten Literature of Hawaii: The Sacred Songs of the Hula is a collection from 1909 of hulas and essays. Translating previously unwritten songs, interviewing native Hawaiians, and consulting the works of indigenous historians, Emerson provides an entertaining look at one of Hawaii's most cherished traditions.
Far from mere entertainment, hula is a vehicle for history, genealogy, and spiritual expression. Through firsthand interviews and textual analysis, this work preserves a form of cultural memory nearly lost to colonization.
Why These Books Matter
These classic books about Hawaii by authors and early scholars are more than historical artifacts. They are powerful testaments to the resilience and richness of Hawaiian culture. Reading them during AAPI Heritage Month is a meaningful way to honor Hawaii's native voices, acknowledge the complexities of its past, and celebrate its literary heritage and culture.
Whether you're drawn to history, mythology, or memoir, these titles offer something profound. They speak not only of gods and kings but of a people’s enduring spirit.