
The Iron Knife: The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi
The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $6.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Kekoa Lake
About this listen
Five centuries before Kamehameha the Great, Kalaunui was the first person to attempt uniting all the islands under one rule. He led an army of 12,000 warriors in conquest, capturing the kings of Maui, Molokaʻi and Oʻahu. This war campaign became a rescue operation when the army of Kauaʻi defeated the invaders and took King Kalaunui hostage. Queen Kaheka ordered a second invasion to free her husband, but the prophetess Waahia suggested another option.
They would try to convince the king of Kauaʻi to trade Kalaunui for a rare and fearsome weapon forged in a faraway land that had been delivered to Maui by divine providence: the Sword of Kaluiki.
©1887 His Hawaiian Majesty Kalākaua (P)2022 John M.K. LakeListeners also enjoyed...
-
The Apotheosis of Pele: The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi
- The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People
- By: His Hawaiian Majesty Kalākaua
- Narrated by: Kekoa Lake
- Length: 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
King David Kalākaua introduces us to the people upon whom the legend of the Pele family is based. They departed Samoa as war refugees in the 12th century, settling in the foothills of Mauna Loa. As earthquakes and eruptions occurred during their interactions with the Hawaiians, this family of kahuna were accorded what the king described as “unique sanctity and power”. Pele was as mighty as she was beautiful. The tales of the volcano goddess earned the attention of Kamapuaa, the outcast son of the chief of Oahu who terrorized the island with his band of renegades.
-
-
Hawaiian History not “Myth”
- By Kamahana on 11-27-22
-
Hua, King of Hana
- The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi – The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People
- By: His Hawaiian Majesty Kalākaua
- Narrated by: Kekoa Lake
- Length: 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For the last nine centuries, Hawaiian tradition has used the wickedness of the Maui king Hua to depict the consequences of sacrificing righteousness for superficial political gains. His reign was known for its pointless warfare, waste of resources, and corruption. Condemning his dutiful high priest to death under false pretenses, Hua and his subjects finally earn the wrath of the gods. Drought and famine decimate Maui. The lush countryside of Hana becomes a wasteland. As they flee, the curse follows. Atonement resides with the sons of the murdered priest. If they can be found.
-
Hawaiian Legends: Introduction
- The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi: The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People
- By: King David Kalākaua
- Narrated by: Kekoa Lake
- Length: 2 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Spanning several centuries of history in the Pacific, The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi: Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People is a collection of Hawaiian stories that were preserved through the ages by oral tradition and documented for posterity by King David Kalākaua in 1887. This massive tome recalls the tales of chiefs and kings, explorers and pirates, prophets, sorceresses, and renegades. This is the first in a series of 22 parts.
-
-
Great, despite the performer.
- By Khassy on 01-28-23
-
The Triple Marriage of Laa-Mai-Kahiki
- The Legends and Myths of Hawai'i – The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People
- By: King David Kalākaua
- Narrated by: Kekoa Lake
- Length: 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
High Chief Nanaula discovered Hawai'i in the sixth century. As King Kalākaua recounts it, the chief's expedition brought the first settlers to the island chain from either the Samoan or Society Islands. Five hundred years later, Hawaiian chiefs Moikeha, Olopana, and Laa-Mai-Kahiki—deep sea voyagers from the House of Nanaula—would renew ties with Tahiti and Samoa amidst a second migration from the south. Equipped with little more than barges and canoes, the Polynesians of yesteryear carved out their place in history on the planet's largest ocean.
-
Hina, the Helen of Hawai'i
- The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi. The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People by His Hawaiian Majesty Kalākaua
- By: King David Kalākaua
- Narrated by: Kekoa Lake
- Length: 1 hr and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Spanning several centuries of history in the Pacific, The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi: Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People is a collection of Hawaiian stories that were preserved through the ages by oral tradition and documented for posterity by King David Kalākaua in 1887. This massive tome recalls the tales of chiefs and kings, explorers and pirates, prophets, sorceresses, and renegades. This is the second in a series of 22 parts.
-
-
HINA
- By K. Mahoe on 01-06-23
-
The Royal Hunchback
- The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi - The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People
- By: King David Kalākaua
- Narrated by: Kekoa Lake
- Length: 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A chief from a southern province seeks an audience in the palace of Kanipahu, the king of the island of Hawaiʻi. Wronged by one of the kingʻs military advisors, Chief Kamaiole kills the man once he is in the presence of the sovereign. He escapes and begins a campaign of revenge that eventually ousts Kanipahu from the throne. The king is exiled to Molokaʻi and replaced by his challenger. But the cruel reign of Kamaiole extracts a toll from the Hawaiian people.
-
The Apotheosis of Pele: The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi
- The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People
- By: His Hawaiian Majesty Kalākaua
- Narrated by: Kekoa Lake
- Length: 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
King David Kalākaua introduces us to the people upon whom the legend of the Pele family is based. They departed Samoa as war refugees in the 12th century, settling in the foothills of Mauna Loa. As earthquakes and eruptions occurred during their interactions with the Hawaiians, this family of kahuna were accorded what the king described as “unique sanctity and power”. Pele was as mighty as she was beautiful. The tales of the volcano goddess earned the attention of Kamapuaa, the outcast son of the chief of Oahu who terrorized the island with his band of renegades.
-
-
Hawaiian History not “Myth”
- By Kamahana on 11-27-22
-
Hua, King of Hana
- The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi – The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People
- By: His Hawaiian Majesty Kalākaua
- Narrated by: Kekoa Lake
- Length: 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For the last nine centuries, Hawaiian tradition has used the wickedness of the Maui king Hua to depict the consequences of sacrificing righteousness for superficial political gains. His reign was known for its pointless warfare, waste of resources, and corruption. Condemning his dutiful high priest to death under false pretenses, Hua and his subjects finally earn the wrath of the gods. Drought and famine decimate Maui. The lush countryside of Hana becomes a wasteland. As they flee, the curse follows. Atonement resides with the sons of the murdered priest. If they can be found.
-
Hawaiian Legends: Introduction
- The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi: The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People
- By: King David Kalākaua
- Narrated by: Kekoa Lake
- Length: 2 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Spanning several centuries of history in the Pacific, The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi: Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People is a collection of Hawaiian stories that were preserved through the ages by oral tradition and documented for posterity by King David Kalākaua in 1887. This massive tome recalls the tales of chiefs and kings, explorers and pirates, prophets, sorceresses, and renegades. This is the first in a series of 22 parts.
-
-
Great, despite the performer.
- By Khassy on 01-28-23
-
The Triple Marriage of Laa-Mai-Kahiki
- The Legends and Myths of Hawai'i – The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People
- By: King David Kalākaua
- Narrated by: Kekoa Lake
- Length: 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
High Chief Nanaula discovered Hawai'i in the sixth century. As King Kalākaua recounts it, the chief's expedition brought the first settlers to the island chain from either the Samoan or Society Islands. Five hundred years later, Hawaiian chiefs Moikeha, Olopana, and Laa-Mai-Kahiki—deep sea voyagers from the House of Nanaula—would renew ties with Tahiti and Samoa amidst a second migration from the south. Equipped with little more than barges and canoes, the Polynesians of yesteryear carved out their place in history on the planet's largest ocean.
-
Hina, the Helen of Hawai'i
- The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi. The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People by His Hawaiian Majesty Kalākaua
- By: King David Kalākaua
- Narrated by: Kekoa Lake
- Length: 1 hr and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Spanning several centuries of history in the Pacific, The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi: Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People is a collection of Hawaiian stories that were preserved through the ages by oral tradition and documented for posterity by King David Kalākaua in 1887. This massive tome recalls the tales of chiefs and kings, explorers and pirates, prophets, sorceresses, and renegades. This is the second in a series of 22 parts.
-
-
HINA
- By K. Mahoe on 01-06-23
-
The Royal Hunchback
- The Legends and Myths of Hawaiʻi - The Fables and Folk-Lore of a Strange People
- By: King David Kalākaua
- Narrated by: Kekoa Lake
- Length: 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A chief from a southern province seeks an audience in the palace of Kanipahu, the king of the island of Hawaiʻi. Wronged by one of the kingʻs military advisors, Chief Kamaiole kills the man once he is in the presence of the sovereign. He escapes and begins a campaign of revenge that eventually ousts Kanipahu from the throne. The king is exiled to Molokaʻi and replaced by his challenger. But the cruel reign of Kamaiole extracts a toll from the Hawaiian people.
-
Princess of the Waves
- Kelea, the Surf-Rider of Maui
- By: Hawaiian Majesty Kalakaua
- Narrated by: Roxanne Fox
- Length: 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is the legendary story of Princess Kelea, the magnificent surfer of Maui, and the royal intrigue and competition that surrounded her life. As retold by His Hawaiian Majesty Kalakaua.
-
-
A Delight to Listen To
- By Tom Worthen on 05-06-21
-
Aloha Betrayed
- Native Hawaiian Resistance to American Colonialism
- By: Noenoe K. Silva
- Narrated by: Kaipo Schwab
- Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1897, as a White oligarchy made plans to allow the United States to annex Hawai'i, native Hawaiians organized a massive petition drive to protest. Ninety-five percent of the native population signed the petition, causing the annexation treaty to fail in the US Senate. This event was unknown to many contemporary Hawaiians until Noenoe K. Silva rediscovered the petition in the process of researching this book. With few exceptions, histories of Hawai'i have been based exclusively on English-language sources.
-
-
Same story again and again
- By Buretto on 01-28-22
By: Noenoe K. Silva
-
Hawaiian Myths and Legends of Volcanoes
- By: W.D. Westervelt
- Narrated by: Veronica Ambrose
- Length: 1 hr and 3 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Of all the noteworthy groups of islands of fire rock in the Pacific Ocean, the Hawaiian islands are usually considered to be the most stupendous. The early Hawaiians incorporated in their legends various theories to explain these great phenomena of nature, many of which are included in this volume, especially those legends which cluster around Pele, the great goddess of fire.
-
-
worth every penny and well read.
- By Katie Olivares on 11-30-22
By: W.D. Westervelt
-
Ancient Hawaii
- A Captivating Guide to Hawaiian Human History, Starting from the Polynesian Arrival Through the Growth of a Civilization to Kamehameha the Great
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jason Saffir
- Length: 3 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Are you interested in the history of one of the most isolated kingdoms on Earth? Then this audiobook is for you! When most people hear the phrase “ancient Hawaii”, it brings up a certain air of mystery and intrigue. Some might think of tattooed tribesmen sailing across the vast emptiness of the Pacific Ocean under the moonlight, dancing around campfires to connect with their gods, or living on the sides of volcanos. But is this an accurate depiction? Or is there more to the early people of Hawaii?
-
-
Excellent
- By Walter W. Chu on 04-23-25
-
Shoal of Time
- A History of the Hawaiian Islands
- By: Gavan Daws
- Narrated by: Kaipo Schwab
- Length: 20 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Hawaiian kingdom was tiny, and the big world was huge. The 19th century was the high water mark of Western imperialism, worldwide, and the great powers were planting their flags across the Pacific. Hawai'i was in their sights. By late in the century, two strong American currents were running: one east from the islands, one west from the continent. Sugar plantations had become Hawai'i's biggest moneymaker. And many of the biggest names in the business were of American blood - the sons of missionaries, devout capitalists.
-
-
Truly wonderful history and storytelling.
- By Sharman on 06-12-22
By: Gavan Daws
-
Alexander the Great
- By: Philip Freeman
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Alexander was born into the royal family of Macedonia, the kingdom that would soon rule over Greece. Tutored as a boy by Aristotle, Alexander had an inquisitive mind that would serve him well when he faced formidable obstacles during his military campaigns. Shortly after taking command of the army, he launched an invasion of the Persian Empire, and continued his conquests as far south as the deserts of Egypt and as far east as the mountains of present-day Pakistan and the plains of India.
-
-
Great book!
- By BadGuidance on 06-18-17
By: Philip Freeman
-
Histories
- By: Herodotus
- Narrated by: David Timson
- Length: 27 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this, the first prose history in European civilization, Herodotus describes the growth of the Persian Empire with force, authority, and style. Perhaps most famously, the book tells the heroic tale of the Greeks' resistance to the vast invading force assembled by Xerxes, king of Persia. Here are not only the great battles - Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis - but also penetrating human insight and a powerful sense of epic destiny at work.
-
-
Best of Audible's "The Histories" by Herodotus
- By Emily on 07-19-16
By: Herodotus
-
The Birth of Britain
- A History of the English Speaking Peoples, Volume I
- By: Sir Winston Churchill
- Narrated by: Christian Rodska
- Length: 17 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The English-speaking peoples comprise perhaps the greatest number of human beings sharing a common language in the world today. These people also share a common heritage. For his four-volume work, Sir Winston Churchill took as his subject these great elements in world history. Volume 1 commences in 55BC, when Julius Caesar famously "turned his gaze upon Britain" and concludes with the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.
-
-
Birth of Britain
- By Terryl Pettengill on 02-11-07
-
Greek Mythology
- Fascinating Myths and Legends of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monster from the Ancient Greek Mythology
- By: Simon Lopez
- Narrated by: Neil Hamilton
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Do you know that the Olympians weren’t the original immortals? Or that the Goddess Hera restored her virginity each year? The ancient Greeks wove one of the richest and best-preserved collections of stories of all the early civilizations, from the dawn of creation to the bloody siege at Troy.
-
-
Fabulous! Highly recommended
- By Elizabeth Arndt on 01-31-20
By: Simon Lopez
-
Mythology
- Greek Mythology, Gods, Goddesses, and Legends
- By: Kelly Mass
- Narrated by: Miriam Webster
- Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is the ultimate guide to all the Greek (and Roman) heroes, gods and goddesses! You’ll learn about all the best-known ones, like Zeus, Aphrodite, and Heracles, but also about the lesser-known ones, like Hephaestus, Cadmus, and Ion. All the most important stories and backgrounds are in here: The complicated relationships, the drama, the vengeance, the quests, and lots, lots more! Get ready for a treat!
-
-
Excellent guide to Greek mythology
- By Harry on 01-23-20
By: Kelly Mass
-
Mythology: Greek Drama, Gods, Myths, and Legends
- By: Ron Carver
- Narrated by: John Griffith
- Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this fascinating book, you’ll become familiar with all the aspects, characters, and most important, events the Greek and Romans made up. Since Roman mythology coincides a lot with the ancient Greek one, the similarities and differences will be explained.
-
-
Whoa
- By Paula on 12-24-19
By: Ron Carver
-
The Rise of Athens
- The Story of the World's Greatest Civilization
- By: Anthony Everitt
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 16 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Filled with tales of adventure and astounding reversals of fortune, The Rise of Athens celebrates the city-state that transformed the world - from the democratic revolution that marked its beginning through the city's political and cultural golden age to its decline into the ancient equivalent of a modern-day university town. Anthony Everitt constructs his history with unforgettable portraits of the talented, tricky, ambitious, and unscrupulous Athenians who fueled the city's rise.
-
-
Good but not great. With some disturbing opinions.
- By Anthony on 06-25-19
By: Anthony Everitt