The Moo Olelo of Joseph an Analysis of Tract [No. 8] Ka Moo Olelo No Iosepa

Abstract

The Moo Olelo of Joseph explores the thread of traditional Hawaiian beliefs which are woven into the translation of the first Hawaiian Bible story. It is an analysis of tract [No.8] Ka Moo Olelo No Iosepa or The History of Joseph, which is the portion of Genesis that extends from chapter thirty-seven to the end of the book. Although some bibliographies reference Asa Thurston and Artemas Bishop as authors, primary resources accredit James Ely for the translation. This research provides a side by side comparison of the various stages of revisions that occurred from the original tract to its final composition in the first edition of Baibala Hemolele and offers some discussion about its composition from the King James English and original Hebrew. Traditional Hawaiian concepts such as mana, manao and moe uhane are reconstructed within the components of biblical characters, but Hebrew customs that resemble Hawaiian practices are often omitted from the 1828 original abridged tract. Ka Moo Olelo No Iosepa offers insights into the use of syncretism and the intertwining of traditional moolelo within early Bible translation.