Where did it come from?

[Dave M]

Well Glen your story must be true, I snopes'd it and found nothing to contradict it.[8)] Thus it must be true. [:0] So now that you're a historian what next[?]

quote:

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Originally posted by Glen

Getting back to the original question, the phrase "going to hell in a handbasket" actually has a Hawaiian origin. Here's how it came about, according to oral traditions.

Hawaiians did not orginally have a concept of "Hell" as we understand it. Nor did they have European pigs. But Captain Cook and the missionaries brought both, and both figure into the origins of this unusual phrase.

Back at this time, imus were very, very popular, and the European pigs (which were bigger than the pigs brought by the polynesians), grew fat on the land and so were enormous. The art of the imu was very highly developed and a particular practitioner, whose name is lost to history, was particularly adept at creating charming baskets out of food, including ham. Her most popular basket was one that she carefully wove together using strips of ham. She would fill these foodbaskets with delicious fruit and they, and she, were very popular.

One day, there was a great celebration in Waipi'o. At the edge of Waipi'o, near the beach is an area that the Hawaiians believed was a portal to the underworld. The Europeans likened this to hell, although for the Hawaiians, it was just a portal to another world.

The famous basket weaver had carefully laid out an enormous basket, made out of ham and filled with fruit on a lauhala mat near the edge of the surf. A European walked over, tasted the basket, and became completely entranced. About that time, a big wave came up and took the basket out to sea. The European vainly attempted to retrieve the basket, so smitten was he with the mixture of artistry and taste. He was last seen heading out to sea virtually atop the basket, where a shark gobbled him up.

When his wife asked what became of him, they said "He went to hell in a ham basket". Of course, the phrase has been corrupted over the years. Now you have heard my story. Repeat the refrain! Haina mai ka puana!

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Blessings,
dave

"It doesn't mean that much to me.. to mean that much to you." Neil Young