author
Nathaniel Bright Emerson
1839–1915
A Hawaiian-born physician turned careful recorder of oral tradition, he helped preserve many stories, chants, and cultural traditions that might otherwise have been lost. His books opened a wider window onto Hawaiian mythology and the sacred poetry of hula.
2 Audiobooks
Unwritten Literature of Hawaii: The Sacred Songs of the Hula
by Nathaniel Bright Emerson
Pele and Hiiaka: A Myth From Hawaii
by Nathaniel Bright Emerson
About the author
Born in Waialua on Oahu in 1839, he was raised in the Hawaiian Islands and later studied in the continental United States. He attended Williams College, served during the Civil War, and went on to practice medicine before becoming best known as a writer and researcher of Hawaiian traditions.
His lasting importance comes from the books and papers he devoted to Hawaiian mythology, folklore, and chant. Works such as Unwritten Literature of Hawaii, Hawaiian Antiquities, and Pele and Hiiaka helped preserve material that had long been passed down orally, making him an important figure in the written record of Hawaiian culture.
He died in 1915 while at sea, but his work continues to be valued by readers, researchers, and anyone interested in the history and storytelling traditions of Hawaiʻi.