Free PDF A Shark Going Inland Is My Chief: The Island Civilization of Ancient Hawai'i, by Patrick Vinton Kirch
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A Shark Going Inland Is My Chief: The Island Civilization of Ancient Hawai'i, by Patrick Vinton Kirch
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Tracing the origins of the Hawaiians and other Polynesians back to the shores of the South China Sea, archaeologist Patrick Vinton Kirch follows their voyages of discovery across the Pacific in this fascinating history of Hawaiian culture from about one thousand years ago. Combining more than four decades of his own research with Native Hawaiian oral traditions and the evidence of archaeology, Kirch puts a human face on the gradual rise to power of the Hawaiian god-kings, who by the late eighteenth century were locked in a series of wars for ultimate control of the entire archipelago.
This lively, accessible chronicle works back from Captain James Cook’s encounter with the pristine kingdom in 1778, when the British explorers encountered an island civilization governed by rulers who could not be gazed upon by common people. Interweaving anecdotes from his own widespread travel and extensive archaeological investigations into the broader historical narrative, Kirch shows how the early Polynesian settlers of Hawai'i adapted to this new island landscape and created highly productive agricultural systems.
- Sales Rank: #701587 in Books
- Published on: 2012-08-06
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.00" h x 1.10" w x 6.00" l, 1.40 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 368 pages
Review
"A tale told for everyone. . . . Engaging and accessible. . . . It is a fascinating narrative, impossible to put down."--R. Scaglion"Choice" (04/19/2013)
A tale told for everyone. . . . Engaging and accessible. . . . It is a fascinating narrative, impossible to put down. --R. Scaglion"Choice" (04/19/2013)"
"The writing, like the book's title, is engaging; it inspires reflection."--Emalani Case"Journal of Pacific History" (12/03/2013)"
From the Inside Flap
“Patrick Kirch's new book takes the reader to many distant islands and pivotal moments of discovery that have helped shape our understanding of the human past. He recognizes the important social experiments that Oceanic societies created through their epic voyages to explore and settle the most distant portions of the planet." –Peter R. Mills, Professor of Anthropology, University of Hawai’i at Hilo
"A Shark Going Inland is My Chief combines captivating history with Kirch's own personal story. The result is an extremely powerful piece of scholarship and a tremendous read." –David Igler, Associate Professor of History, University of California, Irvine
About the Author
Patrick Vinton Kirch is Class of 1954 Professor of Anthropology and Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences and author of On the Road of the Winds and How Chiefs Became Kings (UC Press), among other books.
Most helpful customer reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful.
A spell-binding voyage of discovery of Ancient Hawaiian Civilization
By Roger V. Meeker
Many readers might well assume that a study about an ancient civilization written by an archaeologist would tend to be a rather dry subject matter; or, even if the subject matter itself was interesting, the writing could well be staid and uninvolving. Nothing could be further from the truth with Dr. Kirch's sweeping presentation of ancient (pre-European contact) Hawaii. As a long-time student of Polynesian and Hawaiian prehistory, and having read numerous books on the subject over more than four decades, I can assure readers that nothing quite like this volume has ever been written.
What makes this work so unique is the way it integrates what has been learned from modern archaeological science with the ancient oral traditions preserved by the indigenous cultures. Students of Hawaii and greater Polynesia know well that these island peoples' histories -- how and when the far reaches of the huge expanse of the Pacific Ocean were discovered and settled, who the great protagonists were that led the voyaging, settlement and development of the culture, and what the motivations or conflicts were that drove these events -- were maintained and passed on orally through the generations, as there was no indigenous written language. Fortunately, a number of 19th century Native Hawaiian scholars (Kamakau, Malo and others) documented these oral traditions in great detail. Although Western scholars have often debated their reliability, Dr. Kirch demonstrates how the extensive archaeological evidence compiled largely over the past half century actually supports this rich oral history. His book offers a totally unique integration of the Polynesian and Hawaiian oral traditions with the compelling evidence provided by 20th and 21st century archaeology.
Part autobiographical, the reader joins Dr. Kirch on his own personal journey, first as a teenager working at Hawaii's renowned Bishop Museum, then later as a scientist, in the study of Hawaiian and Pacific island archaeological sites. As Dr. Kirch makes individual discoveries, so does the reader. We learn how and where Polynesians became "Polynesian", how the great Polynesian triangle was eventually discovered and settled, and finally how the Hawaiian Islands were settled and evolved as a civilization. It is fascinating to learn exactly how individual archaeological findings slowly reveal important information about issues like whether long-distance voyaging between the various Polynesian island groups was maintained after original settlement, and how Hawaiian civilization evolved from a kinship society to a divine kingship one. Throughout the storytelling, the reader also gets a revealing look into exactly how archaeologists actually go about doing their business.
Each chapter is completely unique -- some relating previous scholarly thinking, some examining recent archaeological discoveries, others examining oral histories, including the amazing competition between Hawaiian chiefs for political, economic or military superiority -- but all of it eventually merges into a complete synthesis and analysis of the forces underlying the evolution of ancient Hawaiian civilization. The concluding epilogue chapter provides a insightful summation of the significance of Hawaii's development in a greater world context. Finally, I'll leave it to the reader to discover the fascinating and very appropriate meaning behind the book title. Footnotes are not included, as the book is intended more for general readership rather than just academicians. However, for readers whose interest is piqued and seek related or more detailed information, a wealth of bibliographic reference sources are listed at the end, chapter by chapter. Also included are a list of Hawaiian historical individuals as well as a glossary of Hawaiian words.
Dr. Kirch, a professor of anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley, has for decades worked with virtually all of the preeminent authorities on Pacific & Polynesian prehistory, including Kenneth Emory, Roger Green, Marshall Sahlins, and dozens of others. He has written prolifically, authoring numerous academic papers and books, and no one is more qualified to write about Hawaiian and Pacific anthropology and archaeology. A SHARK GOING INLAND IS MY CHIEF is a true tour de force accomplishment. In my opinion, this work offers not only the current state of knowledge on Hawaiian prehistory, but easily stands as the definitive treatment on the subject. An exhilarating and brilliant read, it is much deserving of as broad an audience as possible, and earns my absolute highest praise.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
Development in isolation
By Hatbox Dragon
Kirch relates his interpretation of the development of civilisation in the Hawaiian islands, from their initial settlement by Polynesian voyagers to the arrival of the British Navy's Captain Cook in 1778. An archaeologist who has excavated in Hawaii, he describes what has been learned from the archaeological record as the approaches and scientific techniques of the discipline developed over the decades, and supplements this with material from Hawaiian oral tradition, first committed to writing in the early 19th century. The book takes a chronological approach, both through Hawaii's development and Kirch's own career, explaining key concepts in agriculture, religion and political and social organisation along the way.
As someone who knew nothing of Hawaii's Polynesian civilisation, the information in this book was a revelation. It was particularly interesting to read about the development of archaeology in a completely separate setting to that of the Near East and the debates over the similarities and differences that develop in civilisations that never came into contact with each other. This is a broad overview of the period, though, its major features and political developments, so those looking for detailed information on daily life or particular groups in society will need to look elsewhere. Pitched at a general audience and full of information, this is a good introduction to the subject that can be followed up with the suggested further reading.
I will say, though, that I have mixed feelings about this book. I didn't find it entirely to my taste, and not just because I'm someone who prefers a straight "academic" style with lots of footnotes. I found Kirch's interjections of his personal reminiscences into the historical narrative awkward at times and a little heavy on unnecessary detail; likewise the intrusion of his editorial voice into the invented tale of an early chief voyaging from Tahiti and discovering the Hawaiian islands. His writing style somehow seemed more effective in clearly conveying information in the archeological sections rather than those relating the historical narrative. Some points of detail were explained repeatedly, which became a little irritating. Also irritating was the claim in the epilogue that the social sciences are the real "hard" sciences; honestly, this book is not the place for interdisciplinary sniping. That's all a matter of taste, though, and nothing to do with quality.
More seriously, the book does not include a critical examination of the Hawaiian oral tradition and its transformation into written history, and therefore its value as a historical resource. I found the absence of this material very surprising, especially when the book draws so heavily on that tradition. Some line drawings of artefacts (all those adzes and fishhooks), a pronunciation guide and a fully comprehensive glossary of Hawaiian terms used would have been helpful, too, as a means of making a strong book even better.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
A remarkable story expertly told
By Amazon Customer
I received this new book, "A Shark Going Inland is My Chief..." as a gift for Christmas from family in Hawai'i. My uncle had read and recommended the book. Having now devoured the story that the author artfully tells over the course of a few days, the book sits on the bedside table, where I keep nosing around at favorite passages like a big fish after a satisfying meal.
Having grown up windward side of O'ahu this story of ancient Hawai'i particularly resonates for me. While I currently live on the mainland, Hawai'i will always be home and I still feel a connection to the land and the people. As an adult, I realize how little I knew about the real story of Hawai'i as a young person growing up there. Patrick Kirch describes the manner in which Captain Cook "...pierced the veil of isolation" that had shrouded the islands before his arrival. The story that he shares has helped to pierce the veil of my own ignorance about the people, history, and archaeology of the islands where I was raised and which I love. The book is already a treasured gift.
I remember as a boy the tremendous feelings of pride and awe when Hokule'a first made her voyages in 1976. I am heartened when I hear family tell me stories about over-hearing fluent Hawaiian spoken in Honolulu, and I still look forward to a day when more of the majesty and depth of the Hawaiian culture is restored to daily life of the people of Hawai'i. Telling the story of the Hawaiian people and land as the author does - with intimacy and reverence - is an integral part of the long arc of remembrance and restoration.
Patrick Kirch relates a story from history in a way that is stirring, immediate, and relevant to our lives today - whether they are lived in Hawai'i or in other far-flung places to which our various voyages have taken us. I look forward to reading his other books with a whetted appetite.
See all 24 customer reviews...
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