Ka Poe Kahiko: The People of Old

In Ka Poe Kahiko, Kamakau documents fundamental principles underlying the daily activities of Hawaiian life. He focuses on the spiritual and religious aspects of Hawaiian society, including a description of its class structure. The closing chapters discuss traditional medical practices, and briefly explore magic and sorcery. A devout Christian, Kamakau approaches old beliefs with a complex mixture of traditional and Christian thought.

The text is translated and edited from a series of articles Kamakau produced for the Hawaiian-langauge newspapers Ku‘oko‘a and Ke Au ‘Oko‘a between 1866 and 1871. Subsequent volumes in this series include The Works of the People of Old: Na Hana a ka Poe Kahiko and Tales and Traditions of the People of Old: Na Moolelo a ka Poe Kahiko also published by Bishop Museum Press.