Mary Kawena Pukui
Encyclopedia
Mary Abigail Kawenaulaokalaniahiiakaikapoliopelekawahineaihonuaināleilehuaapele Wiggin Pukui (1895–1986), known as Kawena, was a Hawaiian scholar, dancer, composer, and educator.
of the Island of Hawaii
, to Mary Paahana Kanakaole (a native Hawaiian woman) and Henry Wiggin (originally from Massachusetts
). In the traditional custom of hānai she was initially reared by her mother’s parents. Her grandmother, a traditional dancer in the court of Queen Emma
, taught her chants and stories, while her grandfather was a healer and kahuna
pale keiki (obstetrician) who used lomilomi
massage, laau lapaau (herbal medicine), hooponopono
(forgiveness), and pule (prayer). Her great-great-grandmother was a kahuna pule (priestess) in the Pele line. Upon the death of her grandmother she returned to live with her parents and spoke both Hawaiian and English.
She was educated in the Hawaiian Mission Academy
, and taught Hawaiiana
at Punahou School
. Pukui was fluent in the Hawaiian language
, and from the age of 15 collected and translated folk tales, proverbs and sayings
. She worked at the Bernice P. Bishop Museum from 1938–1961 as an ethnological
assistant and translator. She also taught Hawaiian to several scholars and served as informant for numerous anthropologists
. She published more than 50 scholarly works. She is the co-author of the definitive Hawaiian-English Dictionary (1957, revised 1986), Place Names of Hawaii (1974), and The Echo of Our Song (1974), a translation of old chants and songs. Her book, Ōlelo Noeau, contains nearly 3,000 examples of Hawaiian proverbs and poetical sayings, translated and annotated. The two-volume set Nānā i ke Kumu, Look to the Source, is an invaluable resource on Hawaiian customs and traditions. She was a chanter and hula expert, and wrote lyrics and music to more than 150 Hawaiian songs.
In addition to her published works, Pukui's knowledge was also preserved in her notes, oral histories, hundreds of audiotape recordings from the 1950s and 1960s, and a few film clips, all collected in the Bishop Museum.
She is often credited with making the Hawaiian Renaissance
of the 1970s possible.
She was named a "Living Treasure of Hawai'i" by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
in 1977. In 1995 she was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.
Life
She was born in the Kaū districtKau, Hawaii
thumb|right|300px|The districts of the [[Hawaii |Big Island]]. From Northernmost, clockwise; [[Kohala, Hawaii|Kohala]], [[Hamakua]], [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], Kau , [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
of the Island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
, to Mary Paahana Kanakaole (a native Hawaiian woman) and Henry Wiggin (originally from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
). In the traditional custom of hānai she was initially reared by her mother’s parents. Her grandmother, a traditional dancer in the court of Queen Emma
Queen Emma of Hawaii
Queen Consort Emma Kalanikaumakaamano Kaleleonālani Naea Rooke of Hawaii was queen consort of King Kamehameha IV from 1856 to his death in 1863. She ran for ruling monarch against King David Kalākaua but was defeated....
, taught her chants and stories, while her grandfather was a healer and kahuna
Kahuna
Kahuna is a Hawaiian word, defined in the as a "Priest, sorcerer, magician, wizard, minister, expert in any profession." Forty different types of kahuna are listed in the book, Tales from the Night Rainbow...
pale keiki (obstetrician) who used lomilomi
Lomilomi
Lomilomi may refer to:* Lomilomi massage, a Hawaiian massage* Lomi salmon or lomi-lomi salmon, a side dish in Pacific island cuisine...
massage, laau lapaau (herbal medicine), hooponopono
Ho'oponopono
Hooponopono is an ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness. Similar forgiveness practices were performed on islands throughout the South Pacific, including Samoa, Tahiti and New Zealand. Traditionally hooponopono is practiced by healing priests or kahuna lapaau among family...
(forgiveness), and pule (prayer). Her great-great-grandmother was a kahuna pule (priestess) in the Pele line. Upon the death of her grandmother she returned to live with her parents and spoke both Hawaiian and English.
She was educated in the Hawaiian Mission Academy
Hawaiian Mission Academy
-History:Educational work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Hawaiian Islands started in 1895 with a boarding school for boys, under the leadership of H. H. Brand. This school was named the Anglo-Chinese Academy in 1897 when Professor and Mrs. W. E...
, and taught Hawaiiana
Hawaiiana
Hawaiiana is a popular term of academia used in reference to history and various aspects of the culture of Hawai'i, currently a region and state of the United States. The term is used especially in reflection of the periods of antiquity and the Kingdom of Hawai'i era. Hawaiiana has become...
at Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
. Pukui was fluent in the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
, and from the age of 15 collected and translated folk tales, proverbs and sayings
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
. She worked at the Bernice P. Bishop Museum from 1938–1961 as an ethnological
Ethnology
Ethnology is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes the origins, distribution, technology, religion, language, and social structure of the ethnic, racial, and/or national divisions of humanity.-Scientific discipline:Compared to ethnography, the study of single groups through direct...
assistant and translator. She also taught Hawaiian to several scholars and served as informant for numerous anthropologists
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
. She published more than 50 scholarly works. She is the co-author of the definitive Hawaiian-English Dictionary (1957, revised 1986), Place Names of Hawaii (1974), and The Echo of Our Song (1974), a translation of old chants and songs. Her book, Ōlelo Noeau, contains nearly 3,000 examples of Hawaiian proverbs and poetical sayings, translated and annotated. The two-volume set Nānā i ke Kumu, Look to the Source, is an invaluable resource on Hawaiian customs and traditions. She was a chanter and hula expert, and wrote lyrics and music to more than 150 Hawaiian songs.
In addition to her published works, Pukui's knowledge was also preserved in her notes, oral histories, hundreds of audiotape recordings from the 1950s and 1960s, and a few film clips, all collected in the Bishop Museum.
She is often credited with making the Hawaiian Renaissance
Hawaiian Renaissance
The First and Second Hawaiian Renaissance was the Hawaiian resurgence of a distinct cultural identity that draws upon traditional kānaka maoli culture, with a significant divergence from the tourism-based "culture" which Hawaii was previously known for worldwide .-First Hawaiian...
of the 1970s possible.
She was named a "Living Treasure of Hawai'i" by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai'i
The Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii is a district of the Nishi Hongwanji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, a school of Mahayana Pure Land Buddhism.-History:...
in 1977. In 1995 she was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.
Further reading
- George S. KanaheleGeorge KanaheleGeorge Hueu Sanford Kanahele was a native Hawaiian activist, historian and author.-Life:George Hueu Sanford Kanahele was born October 17, 1930 in Kahuku on the island of Oahu of Hawaii....
(1979). Hawaiian Music and Musicians. University of Hawaii PressUniversity of Hawaii PressThe University of Hawaii Press is a university press that is part of the University of Hawaii.The University of Hawaii Press was founded in 1947, with the mission of advancing and disseminating scholarship by publishing current research in all disciplines of the humanities and natural and social...
.