Ka Baibala Hemolele - How the Hawaiian Bible Was Made

The Most Demanding Literary Project in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i

Ka Baibala Hemolele, the Hawaiian Bible stands as the largest single volume ever printed in the Hawaiian language. Its first complete translation in the 1830s filled over 2,300 pages.

More than nine regular contributors including the most skilled foreign biblical language scholars of their generation and the most respected Hawaiian chiefs, historians, and orators labored over the text for more than a decade.

Why Translate the Bible into Hawaiian?

The Protestant missionaries who arrived in Hawai‘i carried with them the conviction of Sola Scriptura, a Latin phrase meaning  “By the Scriptures alone”. For these Christians the Bible was the ultimate authority and the inspired word of God.

The missionaries believed without a complete Bible in the native language of the people any biblical teachings they gave would quickly change or fade away.

The Challenge of the Century

Traditional Hawaiian life (sexuality, social structures, religious expectations, etc.) were more similar to Greek & Roman society than biblical Judaism or modern Christianity. Words and concepts taken for granted in English or the biblical languages did not exist in Hawaiian. Biblical terms "grace, covenant, salvation" had no direct equivalents in Hawaiian.

Every passage, verse and word had to be carefully weighed. Was this the most fitting Hawaiian expression? Would a reader hear the same weight of meaning as in Hebrew or Greek? Translators could not settle for near-equivalents; the wording had to carry the full intent of the original text and sound natural to a Hawaiian ear.

With over 30,000 verses in the Bible, the task to translate the entire Bible was a monumental undertaking.

The Scholars Behind the Words

Among the Hawaiian contributors were some of the most learned figures of the time:

• David Malo – Historian, expert in hula and mele, ordained minister.

• Ulumeheihei Hoapili – Governor of Maui, chief advisor, master of cultural protocol.

• Ioane Papa ʻĪʻī – Royal attendant, historian, expert in oli and religious traditions.

• John Adams Kuakini – Governor of Hawai‘i Island, authority on heiau practices.

• Kēlou Kamakau – High ranking chief, master of ceremonial rites.

These men were not assistants. They were the authorities on language and Hawaiian culture. The missionary scholars, trained in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, brought the original texts. The Hawaiian scholars shaped them into literature that spoke in the language of their own people.

Where the Work Happened

Teams worked across districts (Honolulu, Lahaina, Kona). Each laboring over assigned books or passages. Drafts were exchanged, annotated, and refined in a process that might take months for a single chapter.

90% of the translation work was done by Bingham, Richards, Thurston, and Bishop. Other foreign translators included Lorrin Andrews, Sheldon Dibble, Ephraim Clark, Jonathan Green, and James Ely. Other native scholars likely helped, but we don’t have their names listed in any historical evidence.

An Unmatched Translation

The Baibala Hemolele was translated directly from Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic into Hawaiian. While Greek was a common study for Biblical scholars, knowledge of Hebrew was a new field of study in the early 1800s. Richards, Thurston, and Bingham were trained in this pioneering field of study at Andover Seminary. While missionaries ensured fidelity to the source, the final word on grammar, vocabulary, and style rested with Hawaiian scholars. The result was a text of remarkable beauty. One that reads like native Hawaiian oratory, yet matches the precision of the original biblical languages.

Why Should You Read the Baibala?

When the Hawaiian language was endangered, reading the Baibala and worshipping at Hawaiian language churches helped preserve and protect the language.

Native Hawaiian speakers and elders still swear by the translation, and use it as a reference in understanding various language concepts.

The language in the Baibala was recommended by the highest ranking chiefs and advisors of the early 1800s. To read the Baibala Hemolele is to step into the minds of some of the most knowledgeable Hawaiians of the 19th century.

When you read the Baibala you are reading ‘ike kūpuna. You have the opportunity to understand the minds of the most knowledgeable native Hawaiians of the past. So...

E heluhelu i kāu Baibala. Read your Bible.

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Mahalo for Mo‘olelo Kū‘i‘o for helping in the production of this blog post.
For a more in depth look into this subject see Jeffrey "Kapali" Lyonʻs article.

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