Book excerpt: This is the first book solely devoted to the spirituality of the Hawaiian people and how taboos, superstitions and magical practices permeated and defined every aspect of their lives. With a historical and sociological perspective, it examines in detail their beliefs: the structure of their society; the names and ways of the deities; the practice of deifying ancestral spirits; the importance of dance, colors, water, stone and plants; and the concept of Mana, the spiritual power in all things.