These interesting legends, some of which are very old, furnish almost a history of the Hawaiian thought.—Int. Review of Missions, Edinburgh, 1915.
Those who are interested in the distant possessions of the U.S. will welcome this volume of “Legends of Old Honolulu” by W. D. Westervelt. They depict the typical native life of Hawaii. Other volumes are in press.—So. Atlantic Quarterly, Durham, N.C., Jan., 1916. [[214]]
The Hawaiian Legends have a quality of their own. The book is pleasing in design with many illustrations.—Dial, Chicago, Dec. 1, 1915.
Thanks to Mr. Westervelt the reading public has learned more of the natives of Hawaii and their folk-lore. The book is handsomely designed and illustrated.—Pittsburgh Chronicle, 1915.
The stories tell of the struggles, triumphs and wanderings of the people and while they are full of interest as merely stories, they have a special value to all who are concerned with the study of comparative folk-lore.—Bookseller, London, Aug. 10, 1915.
All the legends are fresh and charming and help to give glimpses into the workings of the thought and imagination of the simple dwellers in the Isles of the South Seas. Mr. Westervelt is to be congratulated on his new contribution to our better knowledge of the fast-dwindling people whom he knows and loves so well.—Herald, Glasgow, Sept. 23, 1915.
An entertaining dip into Hawaiian mythology is reserved for readers of “Legends of Gods and Ghosts,” whose author is W. D. Westervelt. The tales are collected from native tongues and put into English with no apparent sacrifice of their interest and charm. The Hawaiians have developed some beautiful nature-myths, which are well worth preservation as companion pieces with the better known fairy stories that come to us from Europe and Asia. Tales of fisher folks, of mountain habitants, of magic fishhooks and of creatures who could take on the form of man or of sea monster at will—such are the legends handed down from generation to generation among these mid-Pacific people. They are worth reading.—Boston: The George H. Ellis Co. Press.—Cleveland Plain Dealer, Mar. 25, 1916.
Gods and Goddesses tower in the place allotted to fairies in Europe and to genii in Asia and the book is of the greatest interest to the student of stories.—Bookseller, London, Aug. 10, 1915.
Just as their music is weirdly sweet so the legends of the Hawaiians have a fascinating beauty about them. Not only to the anthropologist but to the general reader all the myths have their appeal.—Springfield Republican, 1916.
Mr. Westervelt includes among his legends “Ghosts and Ghost-gods” something about homeless and desolate ghosts, ancestor ghosts, and dragon ghost-gods. He has illustrated [[215]]with twelve pictures of Hawaiian scenery and fish plates in color.… So out of this rich material Mr. Westervelt makes an interesting book. Most persons never outgrow fairy tales and these have a novelty and glamour that we associate with far-off tropical Polynesia.—Transcript, Boston, 1916.