Native Hawaiian Lit in English

What is Native Hawaiian literature? How does it contribute to the foundation of literatures in Hawaiʻi? What role does is play in Pacific, Indigenous, and World literatures? What are its major periods? Who are its notable authors? What are key texts? This course explores all of these questions and more. During the semester, we will read, study and discuss major works of Native Hawaiian literature in multiple genres. Texts will be primarily written in or translated into English—while no previous knowledge of Hawaiian language is required, students with Hawaiian language skills will be able to utilize them in this course, and all students will develop a working vocabulary of important words and concepts related to Hawaiian literature. We will start with a foundation of orature in traditional times, and the transition from oral tradition to written literature in the nineteenth century, as well as examine the shift from Hawaiian to English.

We will also study major and traditional genres such as wahi pana (celebrated places), themes, such as mālama and aloha ‘āina (importance of cherishing land and nation), and forms, such as mo‘okū‘auhau and ko‘ihonua (genealogies) and mele inoa (name songs honoring individuals). In addition, we will discuss how Hawaiian literature formed, and how it has changed over time. We will begin with a historical overview from the traditional period (pre-1778) through the development of Hawai‘i as one of the most literate nations in the world at the end of the nineteenth century. We will then turn to contemporary literature and examine how Hawaiian culture, as well as social and political history has shaped and influence contemporary texts, and how they are reflected in them as well. Texts for the course include print and multimedia (CD, mp3, web, video and DVD).

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):

  • Develop an understanding of the foundation of Hawaiian literature, including periods, authors, themes and genres
  • Gain insights into Native Hawaiian perspectives and worldviews reflected in Hawaiian literature
  • Understand and correctly apply vocabulary and terms relevant to the study of Hawaiian literature

Course requirements:

  • One Hawaiian literature research project (5 pages)
  • One literary analysis essay or poetry explication (5 pages)
  • Midterm and final exam; regular quizzes on readings
  • Oral class presentation
  • Digital (blog, powerpoint) final project
  • Regular attendance

Possible texts (alphabetically by author/editor last name):

  • Altiery, Mason. The Last Village in Kona (1989); novel
  • Balaz, Joe, ed., Hoʻomānoa (1989); anthology poetry
  • Frazier, Frances, tr. The True Story of Kaluaikoʻolau (2001); memoir
  • Holt, John Dominis, Waimea Summer (1976); novel
  • hoʻomanawanui, kuʻualoha, ed., ʻōiwi, a Native Hawaiian Journal 4 (2010); anthology, mixed genre
  • Kahakauwila, Kristiana, This is Paradise: Stories (2013); short stories
  • Kaopio, Matthew, Written in the Sky (2005); novel
  • Perez Wendt, Mahealani, Uluhaimalama (2008); poetry
  • Wat, John and Meredith Desha, eds., He Leo Hou, a New Voice (2003); anthology, plays
  • Course reader (TBA)