Kumulipo offers a view of the world that is a work in progress where humans are taught to find balance between all things. In the first wā addressed in this book, balance is shown primarily through the dualism between male and female, and plant life on the land and in the sea.

Although not present in the text of the first wā of Kumulipo, human figures are depicted with examples of plant life in some illustrations to further reinforce humanity's dependence on the natural world around us. Being that some of the plant life mentioned no longer exists in our world today, the artist, Doug Po ‘oloa Tolentino, and his ‘ohana facilitated research available via their own personal genealogy to bring to life those plants that are no longer with us.

This new printing adapts the Hawaiian text from King David La‘amea Kalākaua and the Hale Nauā. To ensure that Kalākaua’s mana‘o is represented we chose to print the Hawaiian as it was written and published. Accompanying Kalākaua’s Hawaiian text is the English text written by his sister, Queen Lydia Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamaka‘eha Lili‘uokalani Dominis.