Finding Aid To
William Hyde Rice Drafts
‘Hawaiian Legends’
( 1917 – 1977)
Kauai’i Historical Society
Lihue, Kauai’i, Hawaii
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This Program Is Supported By A Grant From
The Hawaii State Foundation For Culture And The Arts
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William Hyde Rice Hawaiian Legends
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Abstract
This collection consists of numerous papers by William Hyde Rice that
have been in the Rice /Plews family for many years. They include 23
Hawaiian legends in various stages of development from original hand
written Hawaiian to typed translated English, for the book “Hawaiian
Legends” that was published in 1923 with the Bishop Museum (bulletin
three). The Reverend J.K.Akina, L.K. Keoowi, gave Rice their
manuscripts of “The Legend of The Menahune” and “ No Pele” to
compare with his, finding their memories of these legends in many
cases identical to his own boyhood stories. Governor Paul Kanoa and
S. M. Kamakau, the historian, well-known Hawaiian scholars, gave Mr.
Rice much help with his Hawaiian, especially teaching him the proper
use of complicated grammar, pronunciation and meaning.
The papers were passed from WH Rice to his granddaughter, Edith
Rice Josephine Kupalonnie Plews who in turn left them to her son John
R Plews.
“Mother acted as her grandfather's secretary in preparing the final
manuscript and reading proofs. She believed her grandfather had
some times written first in Hawaiian and then translated. She knew
Bishop Museum press had kept the final manuscript. She had some
proofs but the press could not find them.” - John R. Plews
Kauai Historical Society Accession Number: 2014.013.001
Processed in 2014/15 by Marianne Buley
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William Hyde Rice Hawaiian Legends
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A Brief Biography of William Hyde Rice
William Hyde Rice was born on Honolulu Hawaii, July 23, 1846. He
was the son of William Harrison Rice and Mary Sophia Hyde who were
missionary teachers at the Punahou school The family moved to Lihue
Kauai in 1854 where his father became a manager for the Lihue Sugar
Plantation. William attended a boarding school of Rev. Daniel Dole at
Koloa Kauai, then attended Punahou School and Oahu College, both in
Honolulu Hawaii. He attended Braton's college in Oakland California
from 1863 to1864.
W.H. Rice was interested in politics at an early age. He was sent to
the Hawaii House of Representatives under King Kamehameha V in
1870. At 24, Rice was the youngest man ever to serve in the House.
Growing up living in the Hawaiian culture and language, William
became fascinated with Hawaiian legend’s and was said to have
thought first in Hawaiian then English. His love for the Hawaiian
language and culture he grew up in, inspired his book “Hawaiian
Legends” published by Bishop Museum in 1923. In 1977 a new edition
of ‘Hawaiian Legends’ which was a much larger book with photographs
was published with an additional preface by Edith J.K. Rice and a
postscript by John Plews.
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William Hyde Rice Hawaiian Legends
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Scope and Content
This collection consists of 23 Legends in various stages of
development for the book Hawaiian Legends, by William Hyde Rice.
Includes bound set of pages labeled: “Hawaiian vocabulary definitions,
Proverbs, notes and sayings”. miscellaneous papers that are typed in
Hawaiian, news clippings, and letters ect. pertaining to the use of the
Hawaiian language which were saved by Edith Rice Plews.
Box 1 contains:
File 1- One final printed proof of Hawaiian legends by William
Hyde Rice with the table of contents missing.
File 2- One copy of second edition Hawaiian legends dated March
22, 1922 with some pages missing.
File 3- WHR drafts Hawaiian Legends second edition Bishop
Museum Bulletin 3 1923
File 4- Hand written notes and outlines.
File 5- Table of contents typed drafts ,one hand written
File 6- 3drafts of the preface to the book, 2 hand written
File 7- 4 drafts of the legend "The goddess Pele"
File 8- 4 drafts of the legend "The Rainbow Princess"
File 9- 3 drafts of the legend "Ulukaa- the Rolling Island"
File 10-1draft of the legend "The Stones of Kane'"
File 11-9 drafts of the legend of the "Menahunes'' with 1 set of
proof readers notes.
File 12- 4 drafts of "The Legend of the Bird Man"
File 13- 5 drafts of the legend of "The Small Wise Boy and the
Little Fool"
File 14- 6 drafts of the legend of "Kamapuaa"
File 15- 3 drafts of the legend o "Kawelo of Kaua"
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William Hyde Rice Hawaiian Legends
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File 16- 3 drafts of the legend "The Destruction of the Akuas on
Niihau'
File 17- 4drafts of the legend of "Pakaa and His Son Ku-APaakaa"
File 18- 5 drafts of the legend of "Houa-Manu"
File 19- 3 drafts of the legend of "The Girl and The Dragon"
File 20- 3 drafts of the legend of "Namaka-O-K-Opai- The
Shrimps Eyes"
File 21- 4 drafts of the legend of "No Kana'"hand written in
Hawaiian
File 22- 5 drafts of the legend of "Kaili-Lau-O-Kekoa"
File 23- 1 draft of the legend of "The Rain Helau"
File 24- 1 draft of the legend of "Manonihokahi"
File 25- 5 drafts of the legend of "Mamuwahi"
File 26- 3 drafts of the legend of "Makuakaumana"
File 27- 2 drafts of the legend "The story of Ola"
File 28- 1 draft of the legend " The Fallen Star"
File 29- 1 hand written glossary
File 30- 1 draft of the legend " HaKanikau No Ka Haku"in
Hawaiian
Box 2
William Hyde Rice Legends
Drafts
WHR Drafts pg.6
File 1- Typed set of pages labeled; ‘Hawaiian saying’s and
Proverbs’ One set ‘Mooelo Noeau,Hawaiian Proverbs’
File 2- Typed pages titled, ‘Hawaiian Proverbs, Collected and
translated by Hon.W.H.Rice’
File 3- Bishop Museum Bulletin shorts of Hawaiian Legends by William
Hyde Rice.
File 4- Hand written and typed copy of place description and other
unknown content- in Hawaiian – Needs translation
File 5- Place Name of Kauai Chants –‘He Mele Noka Nani o Ka Kuahiwi’
and ‘Haehae ke manu ke mai nei ka Wai’
File 6- Three page typed, ‘He Moolelo no Kaililauokekoa ‘ ke aliiwahine
o Kapaa ma Kauai.
File 7- Partial story translation by Edith Rice Plews
File 8- Hand written, translated stories on scrap paper in note form
File 9 - Hand written Hawaiian words, translations and definitions
File 10- Typed letters to WH Rice regarding Hawaiian language
usage.
File 11- Typed half page packet labeled ‘Glossary’ by Bertha Metzger
File 12- Notes and translated words dated 1960
File 13- News clippings , letters ect. pertaining to the use of the
Hawaiian language saved by Edith Rice Plews.