Anthropologist and folklorist Katharine Luomala's (1907-1992) "The Menehune of Polynesia ..." was published as a bulletin of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum in 1951. This paper examined the stories and myths of little people in Hawaii and other island cultures throughout Oceania. She discusses potential origins for these tales and notes shared characteristics between the folk stories of different people groups. Students of folklore will find much of interest, as will anthropological mystery enthusiasts.
" . . . Dundes has produced a work which will be useful to both students and teachers who wish to broaden their understanding of modern folklore." —Center for Southern Folklore Magazine "It is impossible ever to remain unimpressed with [Dundes'] excursuses, however much one may be in disagreement (or not) with his conclusions." —Forum for Modern Language Studies Often controversial, Alan Dundes's scholarship is always provocative, perceptive, and intelligent. His concern here is to assess the material folklorists have so painstakingly amassed and classified, to interpret folklore, and to use folklore to increase our understanding of human nature and culture.
A comprehensive guide to cryptozoology—the quest to identify animals that have not been officially catalogued by science and to place these unknown animals into their proper zoological categories. In this fascinating two-volume encyclopedia, author George M. Eberhart provides a comprehensive catalog of nearly 1,000 cryptids—unknown animals usually reported through eyewitness accounts and not yet described by science. Cryptids are the stuff of folklore, hoaxes, and genuine scientific breakthroughs. There are 400 now-classified cryptids once considered either extinct or pure fantasy. The cryptozoologist's job is to strip away the myth, misidentification, and mystery—and separate fact from fiction. Mysterious Creatures covers everything from dinosaurs and the emala-ntouka, an elephant-killing dinosaur-like animal of central Africa, to searches for the Loch Ness monster, Bigfoot, and other cryptozoological hoaxes. Entries about specific animals include the derivation or meaning of each cryptid's name, its scientific name, variant names, a physical description, behavior, description of tracks, habitat, significant sightings, present status, and possible explanations. Illustrations and photographs accompany many entries. The book also includes resources and references for further information.
Cultures of the Pacific offers a selection of 28 readings representing anthropological research interests & cultural variation in the Pacific. The selections emphasize anthropological significance and relevance rather than substantive and geographical coverage. The articles are divided into 6 topical areas of major importance: Culture History Technology & Economics Social Life Politics & Social Control Religion Culture Change Among the selections included are "The Kon-Tiki Myth" by Robert C. Suggs, "The Primitive Economics of the Trobriand Islanders" by Bronislaw Malinowski, and "The Rights of Primitive Peoples" by Margaret Mead. Many of the selections, including 4 previously unpublished papers, have not been readily available to the reader. Editors' introductions to each section indicate the place of the individual contributions in Pacific studies in particular and in anthropology in general. Illustrations & tables complement the text. Cultures of the Pacific is designed primarily for undergraduate & graduate courses in the anthropology of Pacific peoples & cultures. It will also find application in courses dealing with the cultural geography & history of the Pacific, as well as those concerned with the political science & economic development of the area.
The stories of Kauai's ruling chiefs were passed from generation to generation in songs and narratives recited by trained storytellers either formally at the high chief's court or informally at family gatherings. Their chronology was ordered by a ruler's genealogy, which, in the case of the pua alii (flower of royalty), was illustrious and far reaching and could be traced to one of the four great gods of Polynesia--Käne, Kü, Lono, and Kanaloa. In these legends, Hawaiians of old sought answers to the questions "Who are we?" "Who are our ancestors and where do they come from?" "What lessons can be learned from their conduct?" Nä Pua Alii o Kauai presents the stories of the men and women who ruled the island of Kauai from its first settlement to the final rebellion against Kamehameha I's forces in 1824. Only fragments remain of the nearly two-thousand-year history of the people who inhabited Kauai before the coming of James Cook in 1778. Now scattered in public and private archives and libraries, these pieces of Hawaii's precontact past were recorded in the nineteenth century by such determined individuals as David Malo, Samuel Kamakau, and Abraham Fornander. All known genealogical references to the Kauai alii nui (paramount chiefs) have been gathered here and placed in chronological order and are interspersed with legends of great voyages, bitter wars, courageous heroes, and passionate romances that together form a rich and invaluable resource.
This volume, edited by Tobie Openshaw and Dean Karalekas, will guide you on a multidisciplinary journey through Indigenous peoples’ centuries-old lore of “little people” in Taiwan and the Pacific. Learn about the Taiwan SaiSiyat people’s paSta’ay ritual, still held to this day to commemorate the koko ta’ay. Follow the distribution of the legends, interspersed with original stories by modern Indigenous authors. Explore the archaeological find of small-statured negrito remains in Taiwan, and delve into the most current research on the topic by linguists, anthropologists, folklorists, and other specialists to unravel the mystery of what—or who—inspired these ancient legends.
Hawaii's growth and its outlook for the future are viewed in light of recent demographic data and current events and trends in the completely revised and updated edition of The Peopling of Hawaii. With simplicity and candor, author Eleanor Nordyke describes how Hawaii was settled--first by Polynesians and later by successive waves of new arrivals from nations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. Nordyke presents a concise analysis of current demographic data, accompanied by discussions of each major ethnic group. Well illustrated with photos and graphics, along with a complete appendix of statistical tables, the second edition of The Peopling of Hawaii presents the fascinating history of an island state's population, and underlines Hawaii's greatest challenge--how to share the finite resources of a fragile island environment. Foreword by Robert C. Schmitt
“An imaginative and thought-provoking study of clowning in Rotuma, especially of ritual clowning in contexts of marriage ceremonies and the weaving of fine mats.... Completely fascinating.” —Canberra Anthropology “A challenge to readers both in its form and content.... This book conveys the lively, complex and often hilarious elements, both of daily life and celebratory rituals, as they are expressed in contemporary culture.” —Journal of Intercultural Studies
