Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 12, 1 December 1985 — Book Review [ARTICLE]

Book Review

By Maleolm Naea Chun Cuitural Specialist Healing Practices in the South Pacific edited by Claire D. F. Parsons Published by The lnstitute for Polynesian Studies Brigham Young University - Hawaii Campus Price: $22.50 This is a long overdue book for Pacific Studies in the area of traditional healing practices. Previously most information could be found in medical, anthropologicaI journa!s or tucked away in other subjects. Researchers, students and those interested in traditional healing practices of the Pacific had to examine materials spread far and wide. Healing Practices in the South Pacific is indeed the first attempt to provide a collection of works examining healing practices, beliefs and the pharamacopoeia of Pacific islanders. The chapters cover the areas of Melanesia (Solomons and Vanuatu) and mueh of Central Polynesia (Tuvalu, Wallis & Futuna, Tonga, Western Samoa, Cook Islands and Tahiti) and New Zealand. These chapters have been written by prominent scholars, mostly from an anthropological review and background. Their discussion generally includes a description and analysis of sickness, the causes of sickness, some of the possible cures, the "reasoning" or diagnosis for those cures and an analysis of how sickness/healing relates to the island society. Mueh of the material presented is from both printed sources as well as field research. And although none of the writers are natives of the respective places they have studied, there is an overall sensitivity in their approach as seen in their eonstant use of the native terms over another. Parsons' preface should be read firstly and carefully as she outlines the possible shortcomings of this book, so any reader, especially natives do understand the nature of how this book was published. It is rather sad that no native islanders were able to eontribute. Also glaringly missing from the entire book is a ehapter on Hawaii. This is disappointing knowing the wealth of information concerning Hawaiian traditional practices both in print and in the field. There are many qualified persons here who may have been able to contribute at least an overall to be included. However, this should not preclude the purchasing of this book, as readers will find many of the other Pacific island practices to be quite similar to Hawaiian practices and beliefs. This point of comparative learnirig is probably Healing Practices in the South Pacific contribution to Pacific Studies. It was extremely interesting to read the chapter on "Tahitian Healing" by Antony Hooper and to note the vast similarities of practices between Tahitians and traditional Hawaiian since his chapter is based upon contemporary practices and beliefs. It ean be only hoped that The Institute for Polynesian Studies will plan in the future to publish another book in continuation of the subject, but from the viewpoint of native islanders.