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Cargando... Backbone of the King: The Story of Paka'a and His Son Ku (1966)por Marcia Brown
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Marcia Brown’s powerful retelling of the story of Paka’a and his son Ku-a-Paka’a conveys the beauty and pomp of ancient Hawaii and recreates a life and culture of days now past. IIN this legend a brave young boy endeavors to restore his exiled father to his position as royal guardian and personal attendant to the king. How the boy’s remarkable courage and ingenuity help his father regain his rightful place as “backbone of the king” is an eloquent, exciting narrative. Through the skillful meshing of authentic chants and taut prose, Marcia Brown gives the reader a memorable glimpse into a little-known folklore that can hold its own with the great legends of the world. Backbone of the King is inspired by “The Story of Paka’a and his son Ku-a-Paka’a,” a Hawaiian legend that came to Marcia Brown’s attention in the autumn of 1962, when she was visiting the islands. An inveterate traveler and storyteller, it was almost inevitable that she receive as a gift a collection of Hawaiian legends. When she returned to the islands the following year, she spent some twelve months painting and studying Hawaiiana. She also inquired into the background of the Paka’a story. No se han encontrado descripciones de biblioteca. |
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When Ku-a-Nu'uanu arrives at Kapa'a, on the island of Kaua'i, the people there assume that he is a "nothing," - "a wanderer without rank" - and are greatly offended when he marries La'amaomao, daughter of priests. When he departs the island, returning (unbeknownst to the people there) to his duties as kahu iwikuamo‘o to the king, on the island of Hawai'i, they turn their back on La'amaomao, and her son, Paka'a. But the young boy, discovering his true parentage, manages to join the inter-island voyage of Pai'ea, chief of Kaua'i, eventually finding his way to Hawai'i, where he makes himself known to his father, and takes his rightful place at his side. Years later, when jealous rivals supplant Paka'a in the affections of the king, spreading untrue rumors about him, he retreats to the island of Molokaʻi, where he too has a son, Ku-a-Paka'a. Now it is Ku who must fight to regain his (and his father's) rightful place in the world.
Backbone of the King was an engaging tale, full of adventure and magic! Not being familiar with Hawaiian, I found it rather difficult to keep some of the names and terms straight, but luckily there was an extensive glossary at the rear. I was struck, in the course of my reading, by the fact that although the culture depicted seems very male-centered - all the main characters are boys and men, and all the great deeds are performed by males - Paka'a and Ku are able to triumph, not simply through their own cunning, bravery, and honest love (or aloha) for their king, but through the agency of the magical wind gourd that comes to them through their female ancestor. I was also struck by how stratified Hawaiian society was, with lineage being so important in determining worth, and people divided into commoners (even slaves) and chiefs.
I'd like, at some point, to read the original - Moses K. Nakuina's Moolelo Hawaii o Pakaa a me Ku-a-Pakaa, na Kahu Iwikuamoo o Keawenuiaumi, ke Alii o Hawaii, a o na Moopuna hoi a Laamaomao ("The Hawaiian Story of Pakaa and Ku-a-Pakaa, the Personal Attendants of Keawenuiaumi, the Chief of Hawaii, and the Descendants of Laamaomao") - which is available today as The Wind Gourd of La'amaomao: The Hawaiian Story of Paka'a and Kuapaka'a. ( )