This is Martha Beckwith"s monumental study of Hawaiian mythology. Beckwith utilized numerous texts which are today rare or hard to obtain to construct this study. She gives all available variants of each myth or legend, including versions from other Pacific islands including Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa and others. This is primarily a critical edition of the key Hawaiian myths, and Beckwith largely does not attempt to interpret the texts, rather to examine both variant narratives and core folklore motifs. The book covers every significant theme in Hawaiian mythology, from the origin myths of the Hawaiian gods and goddesses, to more recent legends of star-crossed lovers. She also covers such topics as Kahunas (sorcerors) and Menehunes (fairies). (Quote from sacred-texts.com)About the AuthorMartha Warren Beckwith (1871 - 1959)Martha Warren Beckwith was a student of the anthropologist Franz Boas, whose work on the Native cultures of British Columbia had an enormous influence on modern ethnography (you may have heard of the great African-American writer, Zora Neale Hurston; she also studied with Boas). (Quote from mythfolklore.net)About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.http://www.forgottenbooks.org