The sayings, proverbs, and riddles within this book tell stories about the lives and lived experiences of the Hawaiian people and the world around them. Through the use of metaphorical and descriptive lan-guage they relay historical stories, cultural touchstones, and a deep knowledge of place and the natural world. They provide a window into Hawaiian society as it existed shortly after the turn of the 20th century.
First published in 1930, this col-lection represents years of study and scholarship by Henry Pratt Judd, a clergyman, scholar, and professor who contributed to many important historical texts on the Hawaiian language. In addition, excerpts from writings by folklor-ist and scholar Martha Beckwith are included within the foreword, offering additional insight into the contest of riddling. This is one of the few places where Hawaiian riddles have been collected and recorded, making it a valuable re-source for anyone studying Hawai-ian language or culture.
Henry Pratt Judd was born in 1880 to Agnes and Albert Francis Judd. A grandson of prominent early missionary Dr. Gerrit P. Judd, he worked with the Hawaiian Board of Missions from 1908 to 1935, following education at Puna-hou School, Yale, and the Auburn Theological Seminary. Following his return to Hawai‘i he became a well-known clergyman, preach-ing his sermons in Hawaiian to the congregations of several churches he served, and he taught Hawaiian language courses for ten years at the University of Hawai‘i. He passed away in 1955 at the age of 75.
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