The Water of Kane and Other Legends of the Hawaiian Islands (Revised Edition)

Kamehameha Schools considers the legends of old Hawai‘i part of the heritage of these islands. For this reason, and because they are good stories, enjoyable to us and to our visitors, we have published these books of legends.

The first, Hawai‘i Legends: Pele, Pikoi, and Others, contains the legends of the island of Hawai’i. This book, the second, and Tales of the Menehune, the third, contain legends of the various islands. We feel sure that through reading these stories, children and adults will grow in understanding and appreciation of the civilization here before European explorers reached our shores.

Mary Kawena Pukui is a preeminent Hawaiian author, translator, chanter, kumu hula, and songwriter. Born in Ka‘u, Hawai‘i, in 1895, Pukui spent her childhood with her Hawaiian grandmother, absorbing the language, lore, lifestyle of her people. Pukui coauthored the Hawaiian Dictionary and more than twenty other publications. She is the sole author of ‘Olelo No‘eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings.

Caroline Curtis is a noted storyteller and author of many children’s books on Hawaiian subjects. Born in Adrian, Michigan, Curtis studied under folklorist Martha Warren Beckwith and later taught Hawaiian culture at Hanahau‘oli School and Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu.