Customer Reviews

Baibala Hemolele/Hawaiian-Bible-FL

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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It's hard to review the Bible; after all, what can you say that hasn't been said by rabbinic commentators and other biblical scholars over the ages?

I have immense appreciation for the translators who took Greek and Hebrew texts and created the Baibala Hemolele (Holy Bible - Hawaiian translation). Reading this in Hawaiian gives you new insight both into the purity and beauty of the Hawaiian language and the difficulty of translation. In some cases, I find new insights (due to the translation) that I think enhance the meaning of the text. For example, where the names of the plagues of Egypt are translated, the translator used the word (for darkness) "po'ele'ele." Po is "night." 'ele is "black. Reduplication adds emphasis, so a translation of what we read in English as "darkness" would be "the blackest darkness of night." All in one word: po'ele'ele. Kamaha'o (amazing!)

Other passages are as moving as they can possibly be; perhaps more so in Hawaiian. A favorite passage of mine (and well translated) is 1 Corinthians 13 "Ina i olelo au i ka olelo a na kanaka a me na anela..." (If I speak in the language of men and of angels...") It is interesting in Greek, but it truly sings in Hawaiian.

If you are trying to learn Hawaiian (as I am), reading something more complex, yet familiar, like Baibala Hemolele is really helpful in improving your skills. And you will have a new appreciation for both the Bible, and the people who created the written form of Hawaiian from a beautiful, rich oral tradition - the missionaries.

E ola mau ka 'olelo Hawai'i. May the language of Hawai'i live!

This is an excellent book and I especially love the font size since I'm older and appreciate seeing what I'm reading...plus it's less strain on all of my senses not only on my eyes. When my eyes are at peace so is the rest of me. I read my Hawaiian bible aloud everday to hear myself speak our language as my grandparents read these passages out loud to us as children. Finally, I have my own Hawaiian bible that I can see clearly and read with ease because of the font. I've been waiting a long time for this one. God bless you and Mahalo.

This Bible hasn't changed and just about everyone in my chuch has this Bible. It's a no frills or thrills Bible, so it doesn't come on fancy paper with gold edges. But perhaps the reason it's still being used by everyone in my church is because it's hard cover conctruction feels very sturdy. The other reason might be, because not very many (if any) make a Bible in Hawaiian. The shipping was fast, and I enjoy my new Bible. The only thing I noticed (so far) is that some of the pages weren't cleanly cut so some pages were still connected. But, it was a quick fix and they come apart with just a little pressure. All in all, it's a great Bible, and I look forward to it's many years of use.

I haven't seen the Hawaiian Bible any cheaper than $60 for years. Not easy to find, not even from American Bible Society's website and they are the publisher. So I finally bought it from amazon. Worth the cost due to it's rarity. Cardboard bound like an old hymnal. Excellent purchase, glad I have one. Cant think of a better way to become more familiar with the Hawaiian language in written form.

Bought this to give as a gift & she loves it. Looked all over for a Hawaiian Bible and was about to give up trying to find one when I decided to look on Amazon. The quality is excellent and the shipping was fast.