Pamela Frierson

I read this for research. I hoped for heavier emphasis on the mythological aspect, especially on Pele, but even so I found it to be a very intelligent, enlightening read. Frierson is not a native Hawaiian but was raised on the islands. She approaches the material with immense respect for native Hawaiians and a blunt assessment of the biases and damage done by missionaries and western encroachment. Her chapters on more modern issues are just as frank as she discusses modern developments near volcanoes that have erupted in the recent past and how the religion of Hawaiians is being ignored. I agreed with much of what she said, but even so, by the end it felt preachy.

I was also left torn. Her vivid descriptions left me with an intense desire to visit Hawaii for myself--but I want to see the real Hawaii, not the tacky version most tourists see. I don't want to be part of the problem.

Even though the book was skewed in a different way than I expected, I still made a dozen notations, and this is a book I will definitely keep for mythological reference.… (mais)