Sir Peter H. Buck—Arts and Crafts of Hawaii is back in print!
Cover Image: Masthead of Ka Hoku o Hawaii published on November 30, 1938.
Arts and Crafts of Hawaii by Te Rangi Hiroa is available once again after five years! What makes it even more special are the more than 350 newly digitized illustrations! For more information, see the Bishop Museum Press homepage here.
Image: Buck, Peter H. (Te Rangi Hiroa). Arts and Crafts of Hawaii. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press, 2024. Image from dust jacket. (Bernice P. Bishop Museum Special Publication, 45) Reprint of 1957.
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
Image: “Ikeia he poe holo moana na poe Polenisia.” Ka Hoku o Hawaii, November 30, 1938, p. 3
It is evident that the Polynesians were seafaring people.
Doctor Buck reported that the Polynesians of long ago were famous for sailing the ocean.
HONOLULU, Nov. 29—Dr. Peter Buck, the Director of the Bishop Museum, reported last night that the old Polynesians were of great renown for sailing around the world.
Being that Dr. Buck is leaving soon for Yale University to lecture on questions about religion, that is why he spoke before 200 people who arrived at a banquet held for him. He was introduced before them by Frank Atherton [Palani Akekona].
He spoke as if proving that the Polynesians of old reached the shores of America. He traced the similarity of some vocabulary, like for potato and sweet potato, and so too with the bringing of ʻuala to the South Seas from the American continent.
“The only people who could have brought sweet potato [ʻuala] from America were American Indians and Polynesians,” according to him. “There is little evidence that the Indians were skilled at sailing the ocean and were able to reach Polynesia.”
Dr. Buck also reported that Polynesians were very knowledgable, and that they were skilled at reading the stars and they understood heavenly signs, as well as other knowledge.
Image: Dr. Peter H. Buck, director of Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. ca. 1940. Bishop Museum Archives, SP 213430
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
This post is part of He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers, a partnership between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu with assistance from Kamehameha Schools. Mahalo nui loa to Hawaii Tourism Authority for their support. Learn more about this project here.
