"Kiana: A Tradition of Hawaii" by James Jackson Jarves is a captivating novel that immerses readers in the rich tapestry of Hawaiian culture and tradition. Through vivid storytelling, Jarves brings to life the indigenous heritage of Hawaii, weaving together tales of ancient legends and mythology from the Pacific and Polynesia. Set against the backdrop of Hawaii's breathtaking landscapes, the novel explores the depth of Hawaiian culture, delving into the intricacies of its folklore and the enduring power of its traditions. Jarves' narrative transports readers on a journey through time, where they encounter a diverse array of characters and experience the magic of Hawaiian storytelling. With its blend of fiction and historical insight, "Kiana: A Tradition of Hawaii" offers a mesmerizing glimpse into the soul of the Hawaiian people, celebrating their unique identity and preserving the legacy of their ancestral wisdom for generations to come.
James Jackson Jarves, an American newspaper editor and art critic, is well known as the first American art collector to purchase Italian primitives and Old Masters. Jarves was the editor of The Polynesian, an early weekly newspaper in the Hawaiian Islands (1840-1848). Jarves moved to Florence, Italy, in the 1850s to serve as the vice-consul of the United States and to acquire art. After other American institutions declined to purchase Jarves' collection, Yale University extended him a loan with the collection as security. Jarves married Elizabeth Russell Swain in 1838. Jarves married Isabella Kast Heyden in 1862, a year after his first wife died. She died in 1887. Jarves died of jaundice in 1888, and he was interred in Rome's English Cemetery. Jarves and his second wife are Lady Elizabeth Marian Frances Kerr's great-grandparents through their daughter Annabel. Lady Elizabeth is the wife of Richard Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch, and mother of the ducal heir. They are also the great-great-grandparents of Henry Oliver Charles FitzRoy, 12th Duke of Grafton, whose mother is Lady Clare Amabel Margaret Kerr, widow of James FitzRoy, Earl of Euston, and sister of Lady Elizabeth Marian Frances Kerr.
