Hawaiian Gods: Pele and Kamapua'a
Religion 390
Spring 1995
Instructor: Dr John Charlot
Department of Religion
University of Hawai’i at Manoa
2530 Dole St., Sakamaki A-307
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-6848
Email: charlot@hawaii.edu
The following schedule is tentative and depends on the final
number of students in the course. This is a writing intensive
course. Students will write five three-page essays on the topics
listed below (the first will not be graded). They will also write
a semester research paper of ten pages on an approved topic from
the Pele literature. A thirty-minute presentation of this paper
will be made to the class. Some writing will be done in class.
January 30: topic approval for semester paper.
February 13: outline and bibliography for semester paper.
April 2: semester paper due.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
January 16: Introduction to the Course
Diana Hacker: A Writer's Reference.
Charlot: The Kamapua'a Literature.
January 23: Introduction to the Kamapua'a Literature
Kamapua'a Packet.
Students will write a three-page paper on their view of Hawaiian
religion. This paper will be corrected, but not graded.
January 30: Kamapua'a Stories
Kamapua'a Packet.
Students will write a three-page essay on a short Kamapua'a
story, such as those by Po'oloa, Ashdown, and Mitchell in the
Kamapua’a packet. This will be the first essay to be graded.
Get topic approval for next week's essay.
February 6: Kamapua'a Local Complexes
Kamapua'a Packet.
Kaao no Kamapuaa, Tradition of Kamapuaa, in Samuel H.
Elbert (ed.), 1959.
Selections from Fornander's Hawaiian Antiquities and Folk-Lore.
Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, pp. 196 - Students will
obtain their own copy of this book, if they do not already own
one.
Students will write a three-page essay on some aspect of the
Fornander complex. Get topic approval one week earlier.
February 13: Kamapua'a Pan-Hawaiian Complexes and Chants
Kahiolo, G. W., 1978. He Moolelo No Kamapua'a, The Story
of Kamapua'a (Esther T. Mookini, Erin C. Neizmen and David
Tom, translators). Honolulu, Hawaiian Studies Program, University
of Hawai'i.
Students will write a three-page essay on a Kamapua’a chant
or on some aspect of the Kahiolo complex. Get topic approval one
week earlier.
February 20: Introduction to the Pele Literature
Nimmo, H. Arlo, 1990. "The Cult of Pele in Traditional
Hawai'i." Bishop Museum Occasional Papers, Volume 30,
June, pp. 41 - 87.
Nimmo, H. Arlo, 1987. "Pele's Journey to Hawai'i: An
Analysis of the Myths." Pacific Studies, Volume 11,
Number 1, pp. 1 - 42.
February 27: Pele Stories
Pele Packet. (See list of contents at end of syllabus)
Students will write a three-page paper on a short Pele story or
complex from the Pele Packet.
March 5: Versions of the Pele and Hi'iaka Complex I
Emerson, Nathaniel B., 1915. Pele and Hiiaka: A Myth from
Hawaii. Honolulu: Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
[Moke Manu] Tone-Iahuanu-Tahuria-Iarafai E: A Hawaiian Legend
of a Terrible War between Pele-of-the-Eternal Fires and
Waka-of-the-Shadowy-Waters. Ka Loea Kalaiaina, May 13, -
December 30, 1899, Translation by Mary Kawena Pukui. Bishop
Museum Archives, Hawaiian Ethnological Notes Vol. II, pp. 942 -
1008.
March 12: Versions of the Pele and Hi'iaka Complex II
March 19: Pele Chants and Hula; Pele Today
Luomala, Katharine, 1972. "Disintegration and
Regeneration, the Hawaiian Phantom Hitchhiker Legend."
Nimmo, H. Arlo, 1986. "Pele, Ancient Goddess of Contemporary
Hawaii." Pacific Studies, Volume 9, Number 2, pp. 121
- 179.
March 26: Spring Break
April 2—23: Student Presentations
Students will make thirty-minute presentations of the semester
essays.
April 30: Final Discussion
Grading:
50% for the semester paper
10% for each short, graded paper
10% for class participation
60% of each essay grade will be based on the content. 40% will
be based on writing and presentation. Criteria include
organization, grammar, spelling, and style.
honors grading for writing
B = no big mistakes (e.g., run-on or incomplete sentences,
tense disagreement, singular/plural disagreement)
A = a few small mistakes
honors grading for content
B = good points with supporting arguments
A = good points with supporting arguments; originality and
insight
One unexcused absence will result in the loss of half a grade.
According to departmental policy, incompletes will be given
only for extraordinary reasons, such as health problems.
REQUIRED READING
BOOKS
Charlot, John, 1987. The Kamapua'a Literature: The Classical
Traditions of the Hawaiian Pig God as a Body of Literature.
Diana Hacker: A Writer's Reference.
PACKETS
Packets are at the Copy Connection, Puck's Alley
I thank the publishers, Esther Mookini, and the Bishop Museum
Archives for permission to photocopy their materials.
1. Kamapua'a Packet, 23 pp., required.
2. G. W. Kahiolo: He Moolelo no Kamapuaa, 100 pp.,
required.
3. Pele Packet, 131 pp., required.
Green, Laura S, 1926. Folk-tales from Hawaii. Second
Series, Vassar College Fieldwork in Folk-Lore (ed. Martha Warren
Beckwith). Poughkeepsie: Vassar College: "The Story of
Paula" and "The Rock of Hanalei and the Rock of
Lekia."
Green, Laura S and Mary Kawena Pukui, 1936. The Legend of
Kawelo and other Hawaiian Folk Tales. Honolulu: Territory of
Hawaii: "The Breadfruit Offering."
Green, Laura S, 1923. Hawaiian Stories and Wise Sayings.
Vassar College Fieldwork in Folk-Lore (ed. Martha Warren
Beckwith). Poughkeepsie: Vassar College: "The Story of the
Sliding of Kahawali" and "The Story of Pele and
Hiiaka."
The Coming of Pele, chant.
Ellis, William, 1963. Journal of William Ellis, Narrative
of a Tour of Hawaii, or Whyhee; with Remarks on the History,
Traditions, Manners, Customs and Language of the Inhabitants of
the Sandwich Islands. Honolulu: Advertiser Publishing
Company. Extract.
Kaili: Hiiaka, Daily Pacific Commercial Advertiser.
Clinton Kanahele and Hilda Hoohila Kawelo: "Project: An
Attempt to Preserve the Hawaiian Language."
Nimmo, H. Arlo, 1990. "The Cult of Pele in Traditional
Hawai’i." Bishop Museum Occasional Papers, Volume 30,
June, pp. 41 - 87.
Nimmo, H. Arlo, 1987. "Pele’s Journey to
Hawai’i: An Analysis of the Myths." Pacific Studies,
Volume 11, Number 1, pp. 1 - 42.
Nimmo, H Arlo, 1986. "Pele, Ancient Goddess of
Contemporary Hawaii." Pacific Studies, Volume 9,
Number 2, pp. 121 - 179.
Luomala, Katharine, 1972. "Disintegration and
Regeneration, the Hawaiian Phantom Hitchhiker Legend."
4. N. B. Emerson: Pele and Hiiaka, 137 pp., required.
5. Moke Manu: A Hawaiian Legend, 68 pp., required.
RESEARCH MATERIALS, NOT REQUIRED
KAMAPUA'A
General: Purdy, Ann, 1979. "Kamapuaa: English
Translations."
HAWN GR110.H38 K35 1979.
Stories: Alameida, Roy, 1980. "O Kamapuaa: Na Wahi
Pana o Ewa."
HAWN GR110.H38 A42 1980a.
Local Cycles, Kaliuwa'a:
Lane, Melia, 1979. "Cross-Reference of Descriptions of
Kaliuwaa Valley."
HAWN GR110.H38 C76 1979a.
Jarrett, Edwin W., 1980. "Searching for the Mythological
Home of the Hawaiian Demi-God Kamapuaa."
HAWN GR385.H3 J37
Thrum, Thos. G., 1920. Tributes of Hawaiian Traditions, The
Pali and Battle of Nuuanu, Kaliuwaa Falls and Kamapuaa the
Demigod.
HAWN GR385 .T55.
Pan-Hawaiian Complexes
Anonymous, 1891. He Molelo Kaao no Kamapuaa/ He Moolelo No
Kamapuaa. Ka Leo O Ka Lahui, June 22, to September 28.
Photocopy of Hawaiian text, HAWN GRll0.H38 M655 1983a. The
following are studies and rough translations of this series .
Dorton, Lilikala, et al., 1979. "An Outline of Ka Moolelo
Kaao o Kamapuaa, 'The Legendary Tradition of Kamapuaa': as
Published in the Hawaiian Newspaper, Ka Leo o ka Lahui...."
HAWN GRll0.H38 097 1979.
Dorton, Lilikala, 1982. A Legendary Tradition of Kamapuaa,
the Hawaiian Pig-God. HAWN CB5 .H3 no. 1571.
Akana-Gooch, Collette L., 1980. "Rough Translation of He
Moolelo no Kamapuaa from Ka Leo o ka Lahui."
HAWN GRll0.H38 R68 1980a.
Raymond, Stanley H., II, 1980. "Rough Translation of the
Kauai Cycle of He Moolelo (Kaao)no Kamapuaa in "Ka Leo o ka
Lahui," August 26, 1891 to September 28, 1891. HAWN
GRll0.H38 R683 1980a.
PELE
[Ka'awa, P. W.], February 2, 1865. Ka Moolelo no Pele; Kana
Hana, Kona Mana, a me Kona Noho Ana." Ka Hoomana Kahiko,
Helu 5. Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, p. 1, col. 6; p. 2, col. 1.
Ka'awa, P. W., February 9, 1865. "Ka Hoomana Kahiko. Helu
6. Ka Moolelo no Pele; Kana Hana, Kona Mana, a me Kona Noho
Ana." Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, p. 1, cols. 5 f.
Kanahele, Pualani Kanaka'ole, and Duke Kalani Wise, 1989.
Ka Honua Ola (the living earth): an introduction to Pele
and Hiiaka.
HAWN GRll0.H38 K36 1989
"The Last Priestess of Pele, " 1851 (see library
computer) .
Kelly, Marion, 1984. Pele and Hiiaka Visit the Sites at
Kee, Haena, Island of Kauai. Bishop Museum Press.
HAWN GRllO.H38 K45 1984
Lachman, Roy, 1960? "Behavior and Beliefs During the
Recent Volcanic Eruption at Kapoho, Hawaii."
HAWN BF789.D5 L32
[Subject: Religion; Pacific/Comparative]
| 
