Primers like this one were used to teach early literacy. It starts with the Hawaiian and foreign alphabets, followed by simple words illustrated by small woodcuts to help students visualize what the word references. In this 1843 edition "he hale" is represented by a New England style saltbox house, whereas an earlier primer from 1837, O Ka Ikemua, had a woodcut of a traditional Hawaiian style architecture. The copy of Kumumua at AAS is special in that it is protected with wrappers from printed paper waste sheets from a children's periodical, Pualiinuwai - He Pepa Kamalii. It is also inscribed: "Charles A. Badger from E.B. Johnson; Sand. Islands."
English translation of title from Forbes: The First Instructor.
Publication / Creation Year
1843