Reviewed by: The Mo'olelo Hawai'i of Davida Malo: Hawaiian Text and Translation by Davida Malo Kahikina de Silva (bio) The Mo'olelo Hawai'i of Davida Malo: Hawaiian Text and Translation, Vol. 2 davida malo; translated and edited by charles langlas and jeffrey lyon, biography contributed by noelani arista University of Hawai'i Press and Bishop Museum Press, 2020 394 pp. At the very start of this volume, we are reminded that its author, Davida Malo (1795–1853), wrote in a language that differs not only from the English on which most contemporary readers rely but also from the Hawaiian commonly spoken today. As the editors note, "His Hawaiian [is] not our Hawaiian" (x). What becomes most clear through this text is that Malo's Hawai'i is a similiarly independent, unfamiliar entity. In a sense, his [End Page 1019] Hawai'i is not our Hawai'i, though its most vital tenets persist in the lives and works of its Indigenous people. In this work, Malo provides detailed descriptions of Hawaiian society and a history of its chiefs, from those who voyaged across the Pacific to the royal genealogies of Hawai'i island. Though many histories of Hawai'i have been written, Malo's is unique in its perspective, penned by an Indigenous scholar and chiefly adviser who witnessed firsthand that of which he writes. His is a simultaneously broad and deep account of not only the famed endeavors of chiefs, but also Hawaiian philosophy, ethics, political structure, and daily life. The Mo'olelo Hawai'i of Davida Malo provides a carefully edited and annotated copy of Malo's original work, with an introduction written by editors Langlas and Lyon and a thoughtful biography of the author contributed by Noelani Arista. The editors' introduction conveys the scope of their work, detailing both the translation of Malo's Hawaiian manuscript into English and the editing of the Hawaiian text to follow contemporary conventions of orthography and punctuation. The discussion of the difficulties faced in both endeavors is of particular use to students working in transcription and translation, as it raises questions relating to consistency, readability, and establishing editorial conventions. Points raised here could provide an effective springboard from which to launch further discussion of choices often made by editors and translators and how those choices affect the information available to the reader. Both the editors' introduction and Arista's biography also do the important work of contextualizing Malo's life and writings for readers of varied familiarity with Hawaiian language and history. Arista attends to the former by offering a broader understanding of Malo, going beyond academia's identification of him as historian and "native informant." She examines Malo in his more influential role as adviser, first to chiefs and later to the entire nation, and it becomes clear that Malo not only penned the story of his people but also was actively involved in its production. Similarly, the editors' notes for reading Malo's Mo'olelo and their analysis of his text as a "bridge," spanning the eras of change Malo witnessed, afford the author agency in both "mov[ing] beyond what he was taught" in the two systems of education that fostered him and in choosing how to blend those teachings in his compositional style (5). As demonstrated in the introduction, this style depends on traditional Hawaiian literary practices [End Page 1020] such as word lists and the partnering of opposites, which are prevalent throughout the Hawaiian text. Though the editors have smoothed out some of these cultural elements, favoring readability in their translation, many remain and may seem cumbersome to English-only readers. The introductory notes prepare readers for such instances and create space for discussion regarding narrative strategies. As a teaching text, this edition of Malo's Mo'olelo will have a significant impact on Hawaiian language learners. Many advanced classes employ Malo's text to help students understand connections between language and worldview. Early chapters list Hawaiian terms that name and organize space—atmospheric strata, bands of terrestrial elevation, political land division, and so on. By mapping these terms on paper or the environment, students learn to visualize these words, their meanings, and how...