Tales from the Night Rainbow

by Koko Willis, Pali Jae Lee

Mo'olelo o na Po Makole, The Story of a Woman, a People, and an Island. An oral history as told by Kaili'ohe Kame'ekua of Kamalo, Moloka'i, 1816-1931.

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Heather]

So Who are the people of Hawai'i? Where did they come from? They are the family of man. They came from everywhere. They are everyone. They are the people who learned you could live with ALOHA, that man could live in peace, and they proved it by doing it.

[Athena]

I thought it was very insightful. it help me understand more about the culture that is dying. A culture that I want to be apart of. This book helped me open my eyes, and my heart a little more the possibilities now a days. I got kind of angry with what the missionaries were teaching the children in the schools. But I agreed with the author. That Jesus taught about Love, and about how to do onto others as you would have them do on to you. The whole shabang. Because the Hawaiian Gods did so as well. I have had my heart opened to the possibility of becoming a Seer. Something I want to try to do. Something that...might help me with what I have going on it life. But at the same time, I'm kinda scared of what might come at me if i do so.

I hope anyone even mildly interested in the Hawaiian culture will read this book. And take in it's content with an open heart. And a bowl full of light.

[Hannah Jackson]

This is a quick read and such a good book. It is such a great reminder of how to live life. I want to read it again once my husband finishes it.

[Jon]

Good insightful book about the older Hawaiian culture. My favorite part.....

The Hawaiian people have always believed on many lives; in a continuing river of life. A life that flowed in and out of the earth plane, learning something new each time, always moving forward. Never being put back for mistakes, but given a time to think things through and then continuing on, correcting errors and making new beginnings. There was no word for "sin". We had to invent one after we were told we were "sinful."

There was a great difference between the Hawaiian beliefs and the beliefs of the foreign people who came to teach the bible. They believed there was no river, no flow of life. It was a once or never life. They meant well. They tried hard. They spoke love, they taught love, but they didn't know love. They taught "thou shall not" - and we're angry with us all the time for having fun and for the laughter and joy in our lives. They were not allowed joy. Salvation came to them only through misery. The Hawaiian gods were far more kind, for they loved happiness and joy as much as they loved sun and rain. They loved the bodies the way they were made, glistening with sweat or with water from the ocean. They saw what we were, and it was good. The foreign god wanted every man, woman, and child covered up and hid from themselves and each other. He was ashamed of his children. This is what the missionaries believed. I am not sure they were always right.