Exalted Sits the Chief

by Ross Cordy

Exalted Sits the Chief is one of the most important books ever published in the fields of Hawaiian archeology and history. It is the first book-length effort to combine the rich traditional history and ethnography of the Big Island with the vast amount of archeological data accumulated over the last 50 years.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to find this book. It pulls together all of the oldest chronicles written by Hawaiians educated by missionaries and the newest archeological findings of modern scientists into one cohesive, comprehensive whole. As a student of Hawaiian history, I have run into many contradictions in accounts of incidents many of which are based upon oral traditions. This thoroughly researched, well organized, easy to understand compilation of records old and new made me feel that I had finally arrived upon the truth of the Hawaiian culture.Cordy is a professional archeologist-historian with over 30 years of experience in Hawai’i. I am grateful to him for his extensive research. I just wished I had discovered this book while writing my novel Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawai’i. It would have saved me countless hours of research. Photos and diagrams throughout the text help to locate historical sites on Hawai’i that are easily accessed by visitors today.
www.lindaballouauthor.com

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am currently over halfway through the book and quite enjoying it. However, I feel that if I hadn't grown up in the islands and already had a solid foundation in Hawaiian culture and history, the book would be over my head. There is a glossary, but it is extremely brief and not once referenced in the text. There are many, many terms not included. Additionally, a map of the Big Island and it's ahupua'a would be nice to have at the beginning of the book. I grew up on the Big Island and it is still difficult for me to picture the island in as much detail as needed for this book. My husband is the one that bought this book and, although he has a masters in archaeology, I told him not to bother reading it, because he doesn't have a solid background in Hawaiian culture and probably would have an issue following it.