The Kahuna (Paperback)

~ Likeke R. McBride (Author) "In ancient Hawai'i, kahuna were far more than the priests of a religious order..." (more)
Key Phrases: black sand beach, Captain Cook, John Webber, Stone Pounder

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Versatile Masters of Old Hawaii

In ancient Hawaii the kahuna were far more than the priests of a religious order. They were experts, trained in a variety of skills and occupations, the learned and professional men and women of their time. On them rested the responsibility of preserving and advancing knowledge within their specific discipline. They arrived at their positions only after more than two decades of training.

L. R. Mcbride collected information about the kahuna for many years through extensive research in 19th century writings and interviews with Hawaiian people. In this fascinating account he gives an accurate and unsensational account of what the kahuna really meant in the Hawaiian culture of long ago. McBride includes fascinating legends and stories concerning individual kahuna. Illusrated with reproductions of historic prints, photographs and drawings by the author and others, The Kahuna presents a readable introduction to a fasinating aspect of ancient Hawaiian culture.

About the Author

The author of The Kahuna, Versatile Masters of Old Hawaii lived in Volcano for over 30 years until his death in October 1993. A student of Hawaiian tradition and culture, McBride frequently lectured on geology, botany, history and legends of Hawaii.

Of Irish and Iroquois Indian descent, McBride was born in Reading, Pennsylvania and grew up in Ohio. In 1943 he enlisted in the Navy and after basic traing was assigned to a ship stationed at Nawiliwili Harbor, Kauai. It was there that he fell in love with the Hawaiian Islands and people and started learning the Hawaiian language and about the Hawaiian culture.

After service in World War II and the Korean conflict, McBride received a B.S. degree in geology from Ohio State University, with a minor in botany. Following work in industrial research, he joined the National Park Service and was assigned to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. With his family, he made his home in the Volcano area. In the eleven year association with the Park , McBride continued to add to his knowledge of all things Hawaiian.

Throughout much of his life McBride was a dedicated student of Hawaiian tradition and culture. He told Hawaiian stories in the old Hawaiian way for nearly thirty years and held a kauila dagger, the sign of a professional Hawaiian storyteller. A talented stoneworker and woodcarver, McBride crafted numerous museum-quality reproductions of Hawaiian tools and weapons.

The author wrote and illustrated four other original works: About Hawaii's Volcanoes; Petroglyphs of Hawaii; Pele, Volcano Goddess of Hawaii (currently out of print); and Practical Folk Medicine of Hawaii.

Product Details

• Paperback: 76 pages
• Publisher: Petroglyph Press, Limited (November 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 091218051X
• ISBN-13: 978-0912180519
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,758,605 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book lists several types of Kahunas, and tells legends, January 16, 2002

By	W. Lambdin "Two Bears" (Ellensburg, WA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This book only tells of a subset of types of kahuna, and tells a few legends.

Kahuna means keeper of the secret. There were prayer kahunas, kahuna aloha that practised love magic, kahunas that built houses, kahunas that made canoes, kahunas that were expert farmers, etc.

This 76 page book lists several types of kahunas, and relates the legends of some kahunas. However; this book is extremely shallow, and does not relate the spiritual beliefs or practises of the Hawaiian kahunas.

Either "Hawaiian Magic and Spirituality" by Scott Cuunninghan would give you a more complete list of the types of kahunas, and some of the spiritual beliefs as well.

Please E-Mail me if you have questions or comments; Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Starting point, May 28, 2003

By	Mystiker Philosoph "Wassermensch" (Westphalia, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kahuna: Versatile Mystics of Old Hawaii (Paperback)

This little book surely is not a comprehensive treatment of the Kahuna or ancient Hawaiian spirituality and knowledge systems in general, but in my eyes it provides an excellent starting point for anyone who is completely unfamiliar with the subject. The author achieves an eye opening effect, showing that native Hawaiians actually did have a sophisticated civilization and a complex scholarly tradition that did not in any way have to hide behind the Western traditions at the time of first contact, especially considering the natural conditions under which this civilization thrived and flourished in the greater Polynesian context.

The book is a treat for anyone who wants to glimpse the colors of a culture that still has much wisdom to offer for our battered times.