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"Legends of Gods and Ghosts (Hawaiian Mythology)" by W. D. Westervelt is a collection of traditional Hawaiian folklore, likely written in the early 20th century. This work delves into the rich tapestry of Hawaiian mythology, featuring gods, supernatural beings, and tales that explain natural phenomena through imaginative narratives. Through its captivating stories, this anthology seeks to preserve the distinctive cultural heritage and legends of the Hawaiian Islands. At the start of the collection, the introduction lays the groundwork for understanding the uniqueness of Hawaiian mythology, contrasting it with Western fairy tales and emphasizing the deep connection between the myths and the natural world. It presents key figures such as Maui, a heroic demi-god known for his exploits, as well as the Rainbow Maiden, who personifies the enchanting beauty of the rainbows that grace the landscapes. The first legend introduces the Ghost of Wahaula Temple, detailing the tragic story of a youn

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Hawaiian temples were never works of art. Broken lava was always near
the site upon which a temple was to be built. Rough unhewn stones were
easily piled into massive walls and laid in terraces for altar and
floors. Water-worn pebbles were carried from the nearest beach and
strewn over the uneven floor, making a comparatively smooth place over
which the naked feet of the temple dwellers passed without the injuries
which would otherwise frequently come from the sharp-edged lava. Rude
grass huts built on terraces were the abodes of the priests and of the
high chiefs who sometimes visited the places of sacrifice. Elevated,
flat-topped piles of stones were usually built at one end of the temple
for the chief idols and the sacrifices placed before them. Simplicity of
detail marked every step of temple erection.

No hewn pillars or arched gateways of even the most primitive designs
can be found in any of the temples whether of recent date or belonging
to remote antiquity. There was no attempt at ornamentation even in the
images of the great gods which they worshipped. Crude, uncouth, and
hideous were the images before which they offered sacrifice and prayer.

In themselves the heiaus, or temples, of the Hawaiian Islands have but
little attraction. To-day they seem more like massive walled cattle-pens
than places which had ever been used for sacred worship.

On the southeast coast of the island of Hawaii near Kalapana is one of
the largest, oldest, and best preserved heiaus, or temples, in the
Hawaiian Islands. It is no exception to the architectural rule for
Hawaiian temples, and is worthy the name of temple only as it is
intimately associated with the religious customs of the Hawaiians. Its
walls are several feet thick and in places ten to twelve feet high. It
is divided int

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