Link to the Show / Show NotesThe Bones of Kahekili by Jack London
Part 1 - Hardman Pool
This short story was part of a collection published after London's
death in 1916. The story is set in Hawaii in the year 1880. I've broken
it into two parts. In the first we are introduced to Hardman Pool
portrayed as a haole chief lording it over his retainers who are both
natives and relatives. Knowing London's sense of humor I sense some of
this was a parody of stories written by others. In part two we hear
Kumuhana's harrowing tale of being selected as a moe pu'u to be
sacrificed to serve a dead chief in the hereafter.
Early in the story a Hawaiian is described as being like a faun. The word doesn't mean Bambi (fawn). It means a satyr.
I've
wanted to narrate this story for several years but it was only with the
aid of a high school classmate who lives in Hawaii that I was able to
tackle the many Hawaiian words.
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