Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 3, 1 March 1987 — Book Review [ARTICLE]

Book Review

Treasury of Hawaiian Words In One Hundred and One Categories By Harold Winfield Kent Uniuersity of Hawaii Press $30 The author of this rather extraordinary reference book is the former President of the Kamehameha Schools. Kent began a compilation of words and categories using long forgotten notes by Dr. Charles M. Hyde whieh were kept at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum. The categories range from plants, dyes, colors, morals, time, land and greetings, just to list several of them. Eaeh category provides an alphabetical listing of Hawaiian terms (with proper diacritical markers) and is followed with a brief explanation in English of that term. The words of the inner cover jacket should be true: "Readers will discover unanticipated uses as they explore the treasures in this book. Some people will use it to enhanee their familiarity with the language. It will be an aid to oratory and poetry, prayer and preaching, writing and teaching." Although this Treasury is no substitute for the current Pukui-Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary, it does provide us with another reference book close to the functions of an English Thesaurus. With the Pukui book, 'Olelo No'eau, the most recent Pukui-Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary, and Kent's Treasury, it is hoped that the usage of Hawaiian today will have a firm foundation for translation, song-chant composition, speeches and other usages that will eonhnue to make our language alive,— MNC.