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Ranger Makalani Pahukula #1 #1
Kaua'i Storm
Returning to Kaua‘i, park ranger Makalani finds her family divided and their way of life at risk in this rich and emotional adventure by the bestselling author of the Lily Wong series.
After ten years as a national park ranger in Oregon, Makalani Pahukula is back on Kaua‘i for her grandmother’s birthday. Having been gone for so long, Makalani finds the disconnect with her people and her struggles have never been more profound. Neither has her need to reacquaint herself with everything she left behind. When she reaches the homestead, she finds a bickering family and the disconcerting news that her cousins—a failed college football player and a rebellious teenage girl—have gone missing.
Makalani hopes they just ran off, too careless to realize the worry they’ve caused. But when hunters find a dead body in the Keālia Forest Reserve, Makalani fears something ominous is at play, and the search for her cousins grows more desperate. Although her help may not be welcomed by family and locals, Makalani is determined to solve a mystery that poses a greater risk than anyone imagines.
The investigation will open her heart, reawaken her love for the land she calls home, and strengthen her bond with her family. Because no matter how long she’s been away, for Makalani, Hawai‘i is in her blood.
After ten years as a national park ranger in Oregon, Makalani Pahukula is back on Kaua‘i for her grandmother’s birthday. Having been gone for so long, Makalani finds the disconnect with her people and her struggles have never been more profound. Neither has her need to reacquaint herself with everything she left behind. When she reaches the homestead, she finds a bickering family and the disconcerting news that her cousins—a failed college football player and a rebellious teenage girl—have gone missing.
Makalani hopes they just ran off, too careless to realize the worry they’ve caused. But when hunters find a dead body in the Keālia Forest Reserve, Makalani fears something ominous is at play, and the search for her cousins grows more desperate. Although her help may not be welcomed by family and locals, Makalani is determined to solve a mystery that poses a greater risk than anyone imagines.
The investigation will open her heart, reawaken her love for the land she calls home, and strengthen her bond with her family. Because no matter how long she’s been away, for Makalani, Hawai‘i is in her blood.
445 pages, Paperback
Published May 20, 2025
522 people are currently reading
5689 people want to read
About the author
Tori Eldridge
21 books214 followersTori Eldridge is the bestselling author of the Lily Wong mystery thrillers as well as a two-time Anthony Award nominee, Lefty and Macavity Awards finalist, and winner of the 2021 Crimson Scribe Award for Best Book of the Year. She penned the standalone Dance Among the Flames and will launch her new Ranger Makalani Pahukula mystery series with Kaua‘i Storm on May 20, 2025. In addition to novels, Tori's short stories have been featured in numerous literary, crime fiction, and horror anthologies. Born and raised in Honolulu—of Hawaiian, Chinese, and Norwegian descent—she lived in New York and Los Angeles before settling in Portland, Oregon, where her grandchildren live. Before writing, Tori performed on Broadway, television, and film; and holds a 5th degree black belt in To-Shin Do ninja martial arts.
Find her online at ToriEldridge.com
Facebook @ToriEldridgeAuthor
Instagram @writer.tori
Twitter @ToriEldridge
Bookbub @ToriEldridge
Aloha and thanks for visiting!
Find her online at ToriEldridge.com
Facebook @ToriEldridgeAuthor
Instagram @writer.tori
Twitter @ToriEldridge
Bookbub @ToriEldridge
Aloha and thanks for visiting!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
March 1, 2025
The investigation will open her heart, reawaken her love for the land she calls home, and strengthen her bond with her family. Because no matter how long she’s been away, for Makalani, Hawai‘i is in her blood.
When I read that Kaua'i Storm was about a National Park Ranger from Oregon, and that it took place in Hawaii, I was all in! Sadly, the book wasn't for me. There were lots of characters to keep track of and they all had names that were unfamiliar to me. (It's to be expected that if the characters were in Hawaii, they'd have Hawaiian names. I just wasn't thinking!) I also struggled with the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi manner of speaking. There were too many times when I had no idea what they were saying. I was expecting a book about a Park Ranger solving a crime but it felt like it was more about a big, dysfunctional family.
I have a feeling people who live (and have lived) in Hawaii will keep Kaua'i Storm to read again and again.
Thank you, ThomasAndMercer, for providing this book for review consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This book is #1 in the series, and it has an expected publication date of May 20 2025.
When I read that Kaua'i Storm was about a National Park Ranger from Oregon, and that it took place in Hawaii, I was all in! Sadly, the book wasn't for me. There were lots of characters to keep track of and they all had names that were unfamiliar to me. (It's to be expected that if the characters were in Hawaii, they'd have Hawaiian names. I just wasn't thinking!) I also struggled with the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi manner of speaking. There were too many times when I had no idea what they were saying. I was expecting a book about a Park Ranger solving a crime but it felt like it was more about a big, dysfunctional family.
I have a feeling people who live (and have lived) in Hawaii will keep Kaua'i Storm to read again and again.
Thank you, ThomasAndMercer, for providing this book for review consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This book is #1 in the series, and it has an expected publication date of May 20 2025.
January 12, 2025
I really wanted to read an interesting story from a Native Hawaiian. Although the story line is overall good and the heroine is likeable, the novel is too tiresome and fastidious to read. I'm not a native speaker of English, so even the pidgin was a challenge. But I'm really not interested in the native names of Hawaiian flora and fauna or their dishes. I kept going, although there were quite some lengths describing landscape or relatives all over the place. I learned some interesting facts about Hawaii that I could have learned in plain English. It seems it's not the paradise it's made out to be.
June 18, 2025
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher for promotional purposes.
What a gorgeous Hawaiian mystery drama!
I’ve been to Hawai’i many times, but surprisingly I have never been to Kaua’i. I was very eager to get a glimpse of the island through this book and it did not disappoint.
This book may be classified as a mystery, but it is so much more than that. It explores Hawaiian life, especially the family dynamics. Family is at the heart of this novel. The portrayal of family was complex, yet real. It never felt melodramatic or forced. There are a lot of characters and it took some time to figure out who everyone was, but luckily there was a family tree for easy reference.
The story incorporates a lot of Hawaiian culture including ‘Ōlelo Hawaiian and Pidgin English. I did not mind the use of these languages. It added to the authenticity of the novel. The author included a detailed glossary which aided in comprehension. There were also a ton of descriptions of the lush nature and delicious food on the island which I enjoyed. It made it feel like I was there!
I also loved that the book explored how certain land in Hawai'i is passed through generations and the percentage of Hawaiian you have to be in order to keep it. It’s an intricate issue that the book does a fantastic job explaining.
Overall, I really appreciated how authentically Hawaiian this book was. If you want to get a feel for what it means to be Hawaiian, check this one out.
What a gorgeous Hawaiian mystery drama!
I’ve been to Hawai’i many times, but surprisingly I have never been to Kaua’i. I was very eager to get a glimpse of the island through this book and it did not disappoint.
This book may be classified as a mystery, but it is so much more than that. It explores Hawaiian life, especially the family dynamics. Family is at the heart of this novel. The portrayal of family was complex, yet real. It never felt melodramatic or forced. There are a lot of characters and it took some time to figure out who everyone was, but luckily there was a family tree for easy reference.
The story incorporates a lot of Hawaiian culture including ‘Ōlelo Hawaiian and Pidgin English. I did not mind the use of these languages. It added to the authenticity of the novel. The author included a detailed glossary which aided in comprehension. There were also a ton of descriptions of the lush nature and delicious food on the island which I enjoyed. It made it feel like I was there!
I also loved that the book explored how certain land in Hawai'i is passed through generations and the percentage of Hawaiian you have to be in order to keep it. It’s an intricate issue that the book does a fantastic job explaining.
Overall, I really appreciated how authentically Hawaiian this book was. If you want to get a feel for what it means to be Hawaiian, check this one out.
May 24, 2025
I went into Kaua’i Storm thinking this book was a mystery set on the island of Kaua’i in Hawaii. There was so much more to this story and it was overall a love story to Hawaii and to the Hawaiian people who own the land there and homestead. To me, this was very eye opening as I had no idea about most of the Hawaiian history and culture described in this book.
In Kaua’i Storm, Makalani Pahukula has moved to Oregon and became a National Park Ranger. She goes back to her home on Kaua’i to attend a huge family luau to celebrate her Tutu’s (grandmother) 85th birthday.
While there, she discovers that two of her cousins have gone missing and uses all of her ranger skills to try to find them. Along the way, Makalani reconnects with her family and her Hawaiian heritage.
There are many characters (family members) and a lot of use of Hawaiian Pidgin English, which if I’m being honest I did struggle with in the beginning. Both did get a bit easier as I got into the rhythm as I delved deeper into the book.
I love Hawaii and the descriptions of the beauty of the island were amazing. This book had me picturing and imagining the parts of Hawaii that I enjoyed so much.
*Thanks so much to Amazon Publishing and to partner MBC Books for the gifted copy of this beautiful book!
In Kaua’i Storm, Makalani Pahukula has moved to Oregon and became a National Park Ranger. She goes back to her home on Kaua’i to attend a huge family luau to celebrate her Tutu’s (grandmother) 85th birthday.
While there, she discovers that two of her cousins have gone missing and uses all of her ranger skills to try to find them. Along the way, Makalani reconnects with her family and her Hawaiian heritage.
There are many characters (family members) and a lot of use of Hawaiian Pidgin English, which if I’m being honest I did struggle with in the beginning. Both did get a bit easier as I got into the rhythm as I delved deeper into the book.
I love Hawaii and the descriptions of the beauty of the island were amazing. This book had me picturing and imagining the parts of Hawaii that I enjoyed so much.
*Thanks so much to Amazon Publishing and to partner MBC Books for the gifted copy of this beautiful book!
Read
April 19, 2025Kaua'i Storm is steeped in Hawaiian culture and Hawaiians' deep love and respect for their culture, history, and land.
I loved that the book is about family in way that felt different from all the family drama mysteries I've read before. Makalani Pahukula is the main character, a national park ranger working in Oregon who grew up on Kaua'i. When she comes home for a visit and learns that two of her young adult cousins have gone missing, she decides to look into the matter. Doing this will raise all kinds of family and local issues that reverberate throughout her entire extended Pahukula clan, who are about to gather for a big celebration.
Before you read, it might be helpful for you to understand more about Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. That link leads to an article from Hawaiian Public Radio that explains how this 1920 act impacts land ownership for those who can trace their ancestry to native Hawaiians. It's a fascinating issue and has a lot to do with the plot of Kaua'i Storm.
Some of the dialogue is a combination of Hawaiian Pidgin English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (the native language of the Hawaiian people). Don't worry! You don't need to look up every word to understand what's happening. Also, at the end of the e-book was a list of characters and a glossary.
Want help finding great books to read? Subscribe to my amazing newsletter HERE at JenRyland.com Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
I loved that the book is about family in way that felt different from all the family drama mysteries I've read before. Makalani Pahukula is the main character, a national park ranger working in Oregon who grew up on Kaua'i. When she comes home for a visit and learns that two of her young adult cousins have gone missing, she decides to look into the matter. Doing this will raise all kinds of family and local issues that reverberate throughout her entire extended Pahukula clan, who are about to gather for a big celebration.
Before you read, it might be helpful for you to understand more about Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. That link leads to an article from Hawaiian Public Radio that explains how this 1920 act impacts land ownership for those who can trace their ancestry to native Hawaiians. It's a fascinating issue and has a lot to do with the plot of Kaua'i Storm.
Some of the dialogue is a combination of Hawaiian Pidgin English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (the native language of the Hawaiian people). Don't worry! You don't need to look up every word to understand what's happening. Also, at the end of the e-book was a list of characters and a glossary.
Want help finding great books to read? Subscribe to my amazing newsletter HERE at JenRyland.com Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
May 17, 2025
#ad much love for my advance and finished copy @mbc_books 😘 #partner
& @brilliancepublishing #partner for the ALC
KAUA’I STORM
Oof! I fully enjoyed this one. And have to give much appreciation to the author for the family tree, character sheet, and glossary. These aided in my ability to completely immerse myself in this story and characters.
She also did a phenomenal job narrating her own book! I’m not sure if this was her first time doing an audiobook but she is just as fab as some of my favorites. Listened at 3x while following along.
Kaua’i Storm by Tori Eldridge is a fantastic look at Hawaii life mixed with an intriguing mystery. I loved how she mixed truth and fiction. It made this book that much more enjoyable. Seriously this is just a book you need to read.
Makalani has finally come home. Back to Hawaii to where her family is, for her grandmother’s birthday. Growing up she never felt like she fit in anywhere and couldn’t wait to leave this place after high school. But now she’s back.
The family dynamics are what really make this book. I’m sure we can all relate in one way or another. The action was top notch and once the story got going I found it hard to put down.
& @brilliancepublishing #partner for the ALC
KAUA’I STORM
Oof! I fully enjoyed this one. And have to give much appreciation to the author for the family tree, character sheet, and glossary. These aided in my ability to completely immerse myself in this story and characters.
She also did a phenomenal job narrating her own book! I’m not sure if this was her first time doing an audiobook but she is just as fab as some of my favorites. Listened at 3x while following along.
Kaua’i Storm by Tori Eldridge is a fantastic look at Hawaii life mixed with an intriguing mystery. I loved how she mixed truth and fiction. It made this book that much more enjoyable. Seriously this is just a book you need to read.
Makalani has finally come home. Back to Hawaii to where her family is, for her grandmother’s birthday. Growing up she never felt like she fit in anywhere and couldn’t wait to leave this place after high school. But now she’s back.
The family dynamics are what really make this book. I’m sure we can all relate in one way or another. The action was top notch and once the story got going I found it hard to put down.
June 11, 2025
a beautiful story of aloha, ohana, culture. traditions and kuleana. 10/10 recommend!! if you love hawaiian culture you'll love this read!! the author narrates the audiobook and it's just amazing!!
December 28, 2025
*4.5
Are you looking for a mystery novel written by a native Hawaiian author discussing Hawaiian history, culture, family dynamics, and land heritage? Then look no further than Tori Eldridge’s Kaua’i Storm!
Unapologetically, Kaua’i is my favorite island, and as soon as I heard this book was written by a Kanaka Maoli and set there, I KNEW I had to read it!! Now, I don’t normally read contemporary mystery novels (I tend to only reach for Agatha Christie for mysteries), but because this one held so much ‘Ike Hawai’i and Kaua’i place settings, I was sat the whole time. And I listened to the audiobook and was HIGHLY impressed by the author reading her own book!
Now for the review: I loved. This story is about missing cousins, yes, but more-so about ‘ohana, local culture, Hawaiian Homelands, identity crises, the lush but dangerous forests, boar hunting, shady 🍃 farms 👀 and so much more! The family dynamics (aka the family dysfunction) were the most interesting to me, though, I think because most Hawaiian families can relate. The twist at the end I did see coming, but only because something similar happened in my family history lol. I love multi-generational stories and this one really had MULTI-generations. So so grateful for traditionally published stories like these!!
And for those who reviewed this book poorly simply because the “Hawaiian terms and names were so confusing,” 1) the author put an extensive glossary guide in the back of the book, and 2) that is the joy of reading outside your comfort zone- learning and growing!
Are you looking for a mystery novel written by a native Hawaiian author discussing Hawaiian history, culture, family dynamics, and land heritage? Then look no further than Tori Eldridge’s Kaua’i Storm!
Unapologetically, Kaua’i is my favorite island, and as soon as I heard this book was written by a Kanaka Maoli and set there, I KNEW I had to read it!! Now, I don’t normally read contemporary mystery novels (I tend to only reach for Agatha Christie for mysteries), but because this one held so much ‘Ike Hawai’i and Kaua’i place settings, I was sat the whole time. And I listened to the audiobook and was HIGHLY impressed by the author reading her own book!
Now for the review: I loved. This story is about missing cousins, yes, but more-so about ‘ohana, local culture, Hawaiian Homelands, identity crises, the lush but dangerous forests, boar hunting, shady 🍃 farms 👀 and so much more! The family dynamics (aka the family dysfunction) were the most interesting to me, though, I think because most Hawaiian families can relate. The twist at the end I did see coming, but only because something similar happened in my family history lol. I love multi-generational stories and this one really had MULTI-generations. So so grateful for traditionally published stories like these!!
And for those who reviewed this book poorly simply because the “Hawaiian terms and names were so confusing,” 1) the author put an extensive glossary guide in the back of the book, and 2) that is the joy of reading outside your comfort zone- learning and growing!
May 22, 2025
Kauai’s Storm
By: Tori Eldridge
Pub Dae: May 20, 2025
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Tour: MB Communications
This story is action packed full of mystery, adventure and struggles.
Makalani is a park ranger in Oregon, but is returning back to Kaua’i for her grandmothers birthday. Coming home is not easy for her as her family is in turmoil and cousins have gone missing.
When a body is found in the local Reserve, Makalani is now determined to find out what happened to her cousins. She has been away for so long that she is not always welcomed by the locals.
This novel has all the feels tugging at your heartstrings and a family is everything. Sometimes we need to be reminded of where we came from. Not everything or everyone is perfect, but we most grow and move forward.
Thank you MB Communications and the author for this book. I look forward to more of your work.
By: Tori Eldridge
Pub Dae: May 20, 2025
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Tour: MB Communications
This story is action packed full of mystery, adventure and struggles.
Makalani is a park ranger in Oregon, but is returning back to Kaua’i for her grandmothers birthday. Coming home is not easy for her as her family is in turmoil and cousins have gone missing.
When a body is found in the local Reserve, Makalani is now determined to find out what happened to her cousins. She has been away for so long that she is not always welcomed by the locals.
This novel has all the feels tugging at your heartstrings and a family is everything. Sometimes we need to be reminded of where we came from. Not everything or everyone is perfect, but we most grow and move forward.
Thank you MB Communications and the author for this book. I look forward to more of your work.
May 6, 2025
A thrilling, educational, and unexpectedly emotional adventure.
I’d categorize it as mostly a family drama with an underlying mystery—there is definitely a “whodunnit” element alongside traditional thriller themes and pacing, but much of the book is about family and culture. It all weaves together beautifully into an interesting and illuminating read.
Readers will appreciate the included family tree, list of characters, and glossary. Please note that there is a decent amount of Hawaiian and Pidgin English. It didn’t impede my enjoyment or understanding, but if English is not your first language you may have trouble following some of the dialogue.
I’d categorize it as mostly a family drama with an underlying mystery—there is definitely a “whodunnit” element alongside traditional thriller themes and pacing, but much of the book is about family and culture. It all weaves together beautifully into an interesting and illuminating read.
Readers will appreciate the included family tree, list of characters, and glossary. Please note that there is a decent amount of Hawaiian and Pidgin English. It didn’t impede my enjoyment or understanding, but if English is not your first language you may have trouble following some of the dialogue.
May 14, 2025
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for the gifted copy. All opinions below are my own.
I love a good detective novel. I also love Hawaii. So I thought this one would be a slam dunk for me. Makalani is a park ranger in Oregon returning home to Hawaii for her grandmother's birthday. When she arrives, two of her cousins have just gone missing. She inserts herself into the investigation as she knows how these things work in Hawaii better than anyone.
I wanted to like this one more than I did. It focuses more on the realities of being a native islander and the impact of the modern world. No one is Hawaiian enough. Not just to the outside world and the blood percentages they have to have to keep their land but amongst one another. The way they fought with each other was exhausting. I have been to Hawaii at least once a year, some years multiple times over the last two decades. I understand a lot of this was and is true to what really happens there. While the dynamics are true to life, boy did it make it hard to read. The resolution felt what you'd expect it to be. It just felt like too harsh of a view for me of a culture that is beautiful.
I love a good detective novel. I also love Hawaii. So I thought this one would be a slam dunk for me. Makalani is a park ranger in Oregon returning home to Hawaii for her grandmother's birthday. When she arrives, two of her cousins have just gone missing. She inserts herself into the investigation as she knows how these things work in Hawaii better than anyone.
I wanted to like this one more than I did. It focuses more on the realities of being a native islander and the impact of the modern world. No one is Hawaiian enough. Not just to the outside world and the blood percentages they have to have to keep their land but amongst one another. The way they fought with each other was exhausting. I have been to Hawaii at least once a year, some years multiple times over the last two decades. I understand a lot of this was and is true to what really happens there. While the dynamics are true to life, boy did it make it hard to read. The resolution felt what you'd expect it to be. It just felt like too harsh of a view for me of a culture that is beautiful.
June 5, 2025
Waiting for something to happen
Lovely descriptions, of Hawaii, its people, and customs. However all that happens by the 50% mark is finding the cousin stuck in a tree. The vocabulary is very dense with Hawaiian language so I recommend the audio book.
Could not finish.
Lovely descriptions, of Hawaii, its people, and customs. However all that happens by the 50% mark is finding the cousin stuck in a tree. The vocabulary is very dense with Hawaiian language so I recommend the audio book.
Could not finish.
Want to read
March 26, 2025Kaua'i Storm releases on the 20th May, 2025!
— ★ hawaiian mystery, family drama, remote setting ★ —
thank you so much to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for a free e-ARC in exchange for my review.
— ★ hawaiian mystery, family drama, remote setting ★ —
thank you so much to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for a free e-ARC in exchange for my review.
June 12, 2025
A Thrilling Read
I really enjoyed this book and how it was set in Hawaii.
I really enjoyed how the Hawaiian language was included and the culture itself.
Looking forward to continuing with thus series soon.
I really enjoyed this book and how it was set in Hawaii.
I really enjoyed how the Hawaiian language was included and the culture itself.
Looking forward to continuing with thus series soon.
June 7, 2025
I would really rate this 3.5 stars but rounded down. When I first heard the plot of this series- Crater Lake Park Ranger Malakai Pahukula returns home for her grandmothers birthday to find her family in disarray- it reminded me of a version of Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series. I expected a mystery and a lot of Hawaiian nature.
This book delivered the Hawaiian culture discussions and nature I was looking for, however I thought the mystery/thriller side was a little weak. I think a lot of the conflicts were resolved quickly and the major part was really about the feelings between the family members. This was good but not what I originally expected.
I would still read the next book in the series. Enjoyable overall, but more of a family study novel.
This book delivered the Hawaiian culture discussions and nature I was looking for, however I thought the mystery/thriller side was a little weak. I think a lot of the conflicts were resolved quickly and the major part was really about the feelings between the family members. This was good but not what I originally expected.
I would still read the next book in the series. Enjoyable overall, but more of a family study novel.
June 3, 2025
This was not much of a thriller or mystery- more light adventure with a lot of Hawaiian culture. The story highlights more Hawaiian culture and political issues than the plot. I appreciate the education and facts, but it was pushed too hard that it felt more like a post on social media than a novel. I liked Makalani and was more irritated with her family’s lack of connection or respect for her. She desperately cared for them, but they never took her seriously, made fun of her, or said things that made her feel like an outsider in her family. She was a strong female character that worked hard and had a love for her culture and the earth. As for the plot, it was lacking. It felt like the reader was slowly being given crumbs that meant nothing. What kept me moving in the book was my love for Polyonesian culture and nature.
Thank you Netgalley, Brilliance Publishing, and Brilliance Audio for this advanced audiobook in exchange for a review.
Thank you Netgalley, Brilliance Publishing, and Brilliance Audio for this advanced audiobook in exchange for a review.
April 13, 2025
Rating: 4.5⭐️/5
As a Hawaiian that lives in Oregon, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I know there was a lot of criticism about using pidgin but honestly I think this is so refreshing. I wish Makalani would have been first person, but I understand the third person with some different POVs that happened. I think this novel brought a refreshing voice to light as Hawaiian voices are chronically underrepresented and many people don’t know much about our language or culture.
This was action packed with complex family dynamics, mystery and lessons of forgiveness and ohana.
Thank you Tori Eldridge for writing this for us. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As a Hawaiian that lives in Oregon, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I know there was a lot of criticism about using pidgin but honestly I think this is so refreshing. I wish Makalani would have been first person, but I understand the third person with some different POVs that happened. I think this novel brought a refreshing voice to light as Hawaiian voices are chronically underrepresented and many people don’t know much about our language or culture.
This was action packed with complex family dynamics, mystery and lessons of forgiveness and ohana.
Thank you Tori Eldridge for writing this for us. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC.
I really wanted to read a book from a Hawaiian author for AAPI month. I was thrilled to receive an ALC of this book. Overall there were things I really enjoyed about this novel. They connection to family, what does legacy mean, and Hawaiian story telling was a true love letter. I did struggle with the pacing however and didn’t always connect with the vibe. It would shift from mystery to adventure to family drama pretty quickly.
Overall though very happy to have read it!
I really wanted to read a book from a Hawaiian author for AAPI month. I was thrilled to receive an ALC of this book. Overall there were things I really enjoyed about this novel. They connection to family, what does legacy mean, and Hawaiian story telling was a true love letter. I did struggle with the pacing however and didn’t always connect with the vibe. It would shift from mystery to adventure to family drama pretty quickly.
Overall though very happy to have read it!
May 27, 2025
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S KAUA'I STORM ABOUT?
Makalani Pahukula, who has been serving Crater Lake in Oregon as a Park Ranger for years, comes home to Kaua‘i for the first time in even longer for the celebration of her grandmother's eightieth birthday—which is going to be a family reunion/community gathering on a pretty grand scale.
When Makalani touches down, it's not quite the joyous occasion she'd anticipated. Yes, her parents and grandmother are delighted to see her—as is an old friend (I'm going to forget to mention this later, but we needed more of her). But two of Makalani's cousins are missing—one is in high school and the other is a former college football star.
Their disappearances are being written off as some foolish lark—although it gets the family squabbling—each set of parents blaming the other and lashing out. Makalani doesn't think either explanation fits the cousins she remembers (while making allowances for people changing) and she wonders why the police haven't been involved.* After a dead body is found in the nearby forest, Makalani starts to meddle and takes it upon herself to find her cousins—over the objections of just about everyone.
* And once the police eventually do get involved, you start to understand the families' decision not to involve them, and they certainly make things worse.
A QUESTION OF GENRE
First—I'm not sure that's the best heading for this section, but it's close enough. Secondly—I really don't care about this when it comes to what I think about the book, but this kept running through the back of my mind.
This is billed as a mystery, and it kind of is one—I think more of a thriller than a mystery, but we're getting into the weeds there. And Eldridge has a reputation as a thriller writer (thrillers that I greatly appreciate, I should add).
But her thrillers also involve a good layer of something else—descriptions of a minority culture (in the U.S.), trauma, business/family culture (in other nations), and so on. She pulls that off here, too. In more than one way.
We also get a fair amount of multi-generational family drama, a little social commentary, some local history, and more.
So much so that the thriller/mystery aspect of the book takes a back-seat to everything else for significant lengths of time. It doesn't hurt the novel as a whole—in fact, it makes it richer. There are family members and friends that I can hand this to that I can't hand a lot of the mysteries/thrillers that I read (and I wonder if a couple of the thriller-junkies in my life would put up with this).
CULTURE AND LANGUAGE
Speaking of that kind of thing...
I am as haole as you can get—so much so that I can't pronounce it correctly or even consistently, despite having heard it in various formats for years. So, a lot of this book took work for me to understand—work I enjoyed and was glad to do, mind you. But there was effort.
Eldridge littered this book with ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i words and phrases and Pidgin English like crazy. All—or close enough to round up—can be understood in context with a little effort. But for those who want to be sure of their understanding, there's a great glossary in the back—including words and phrases—both Pidgin English and ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i—as well as phrases, geographical references, historical and mythological figures. I didn't consult it (foolishly?) until I was done—that's just how I roll. It confirmed a lot for me and fleshed some things out, too. I do recommend consulting it in the moment.
I knew about, and chose to ignore, the Glossary. Until I finished, I didn't realize Eldridge also gave us a handy dramatis personae, which would've been a great aid in keeping track of the relationships between this large cast. Do you need to read/consult it? No. But I certainly wouldn't discourage it.
But even beyond the supplemental material, this book is about as close as you can get to a documentary on contemporary Kaua‘i as you can get while keeping this a work of fiction. There's a lot about homesteading—and the ethnic makeups required for it (past and present), those who live off the grid in public lands, and...I'm not going to be able to provide an exhaustive list, so I'm going to just stop.
I'll summarize by saying that this is a rich and informative look at the non-touristy part of Hawai‘i (or at least one island's version of it). Added to the tiered cake of characters and missing-person plot, this icing is just great.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT KAUA'I STORM?
This is going up late—I realize that, and apologize to Eldridge and Thomas & Mercer for that—but I had a hard time resisting talking about all that this novel attempts (mostly successfully) to accomplish.
It's a very crowded book, I have to say, Eldridge puts a lot into these 445 pages. There's a storyline involving an overly-zealous student of culture that generally felt out of place, and maybe was. It couldn't be told at another time, as much as I wondered if it could've been used in a sequel instead of this book, because it seemed of tertiary importance and interest compared to everything else going on. It was also entertaining and satisfying—so I'm glad she included it.
Still, it reads like a thriller of 250-300 pages, which is a neat trick.
I didn't enjoy this as much as a Lily Wong book (it shouldn't feel like one, and doesn't), and I enjoyed it in different ways than her previous work (as I should've). Having established this world and the characters—it'd be very easy for Eldridge to lighten up on the background material in the future, and keep the focus on the plot and characters while exploring the world (and keeping up the commentary)—making it a leaner and more focused thriller/mystery. I hope that's where Eldridge takes it—but I won't complain too much if she doesn't.
How did I make it this far without talking about Makalani? This is her book more than anything. We've all read/watched versions of her story—the kid who couldn't wait to leave home who comes back discovering how much she missed it, how much she's changed—and how everyone she left behind remembers her. This version of this template is very successful. She reconnects with her past, her heritage, her family—and she sees how who she is today comes from all of that. Plus, she's a pretty kick-ass ranger. It's going to be fun to watch her at work. She's tough, resourceful, and determined—but not in your typical action-hero way, more like the kind of person you could meet in real life. Likely in the line of duty as a ranger. Her connection with the land—in Hawai‘i or Oregon—and sense of duty is going to get a lot of readers to respond positively to her.
This is a solid thriller, but it's so much more. And it'll definitely leave you hungry for a sequel. I strongly recommend it.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.
---
WHAT'S KAUA'I STORM ABOUT?
Makalani Pahukula, who has been serving Crater Lake in Oregon as a Park Ranger for years, comes home to Kaua‘i for the first time in even longer for the celebration of her grandmother's eightieth birthday—which is going to be a family reunion/community gathering on a pretty grand scale.
When Makalani touches down, it's not quite the joyous occasion she'd anticipated. Yes, her parents and grandmother are delighted to see her—as is an old friend (I'm going to forget to mention this later, but we needed more of her). But two of Makalani's cousins are missing—one is in high school and the other is a former college football star.
Their disappearances are being written off as some foolish lark—although it gets the family squabbling—each set of parents blaming the other and lashing out. Makalani doesn't think either explanation fits the cousins she remembers (while making allowances for people changing) and she wonders why the police haven't been involved.* After a dead body is found in the nearby forest, Makalani starts to meddle and takes it upon herself to find her cousins—over the objections of just about everyone.
* And once the police eventually do get involved, you start to understand the families' decision not to involve them, and they certainly make things worse.
A QUESTION OF GENRE
First—I'm not sure that's the best heading for this section, but it's close enough. Secondly—I really don't care about this when it comes to what I think about the book, but this kept running through the back of my mind.
This is billed as a mystery, and it kind of is one—I think more of a thriller than a mystery, but we're getting into the weeds there. And Eldridge has a reputation as a thriller writer (thrillers that I greatly appreciate, I should add).
But her thrillers also involve a good layer of something else—descriptions of a minority culture (in the U.S.), trauma, business/family culture (in other nations), and so on. She pulls that off here, too. In more than one way.
We also get a fair amount of multi-generational family drama, a little social commentary, some local history, and more.
So much so that the thriller/mystery aspect of the book takes a back-seat to everything else for significant lengths of time. It doesn't hurt the novel as a whole—in fact, it makes it richer. There are family members and friends that I can hand this to that I can't hand a lot of the mysteries/thrillers that I read (and I wonder if a couple of the thriller-junkies in my life would put up with this).
CULTURE AND LANGUAGE
Speaking of that kind of thing...
I am as haole as you can get—so much so that I can't pronounce it correctly or even consistently, despite having heard it in various formats for years. So, a lot of this book took work for me to understand—work I enjoyed and was glad to do, mind you. But there was effort.
Eldridge littered this book with ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i words and phrases and Pidgin English like crazy. All—or close enough to round up—can be understood in context with a little effort. But for those who want to be sure of their understanding, there's a great glossary in the back—including words and phrases—both Pidgin English and ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i—as well as phrases, geographical references, historical and mythological figures. I didn't consult it (foolishly?) until I was done—that's just how I roll. It confirmed a lot for me and fleshed some things out, too. I do recommend consulting it in the moment.
I knew about, and chose to ignore, the Glossary. Until I finished, I didn't realize Eldridge also gave us a handy dramatis personae, which would've been a great aid in keeping track of the relationships between this large cast. Do you need to read/consult it? No. But I certainly wouldn't discourage it.
But even beyond the supplemental material, this book is about as close as you can get to a documentary on contemporary Kaua‘i as you can get while keeping this a work of fiction. There's a lot about homesteading—and the ethnic makeups required for it (past and present), those who live off the grid in public lands, and...I'm not going to be able to provide an exhaustive list, so I'm going to just stop.
I'll summarize by saying that this is a rich and informative look at the non-touristy part of Hawai‘i (or at least one island's version of it). Added to the tiered cake of characters and missing-person plot, this icing is just great.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT KAUA'I STORM?
This is going up late—I realize that, and apologize to Eldridge and Thomas & Mercer for that—but I had a hard time resisting talking about all that this novel attempts (mostly successfully) to accomplish.
It's a very crowded book, I have to say, Eldridge puts a lot into these 445 pages. There's a storyline involving an overly-zealous student of culture that generally felt out of place, and maybe was. It couldn't be told at another time, as much as I wondered if it could've been used in a sequel instead of this book, because it seemed of tertiary importance and interest compared to everything else going on. It was also entertaining and satisfying—so I'm glad she included it.
Still, it reads like a thriller of 250-300 pages, which is a neat trick.
I didn't enjoy this as much as a Lily Wong book (it shouldn't feel like one, and doesn't), and I enjoyed it in different ways than her previous work (as I should've). Having established this world and the characters—it'd be very easy for Eldridge to lighten up on the background material in the future, and keep the focus on the plot and characters while exploring the world (and keeping up the commentary)—making it a leaner and more focused thriller/mystery. I hope that's where Eldridge takes it—but I won't complain too much if she doesn't.
How did I make it this far without talking about Makalani? This is her book more than anything. We've all read/watched versions of her story—the kid who couldn't wait to leave home who comes back discovering how much she missed it, how much she's changed—and how everyone she left behind remembers her. This version of this template is very successful. She reconnects with her past, her heritage, her family—and she sees how who she is today comes from all of that. Plus, she's a pretty kick-ass ranger. It's going to be fun to watch her at work. She's tough, resourceful, and determined—but not in your typical action-hero way, more like the kind of person you could meet in real life. Likely in the line of duty as a ranger. Her connection with the land—in Hawai‘i or Oregon—and sense of duty is going to get a lot of readers to respond positively to her.
This is a solid thriller, but it's so much more. And it'll definitely leave you hungry for a sequel. I strongly recommend it.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.
April 28, 2025
I appreciate this book for the introduction into the Hawaiian culture. I think this book was more heavily expressed the emotions and importance of Ohana and the disconnect the Malakani felt since she left the home. I did like the the storyline of the missing cousins but once the male cousin was found it just felt that the female character was not important. Although, there was a glossary at the beginning for those that do not speak the language very helpful and the context clues was enough to figure out the words without going to the glossary. I did like the book but just felt the history telling was more important than the story itself. I do believe this will be a good series and cant wait to see what she gets into next. Thank you for this ARC NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.
June 17, 2025
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. I tried, I really did but I had to give up. All the Hawaiian terms and names was so confusing I couldn’t understand what was happening. DNF
February 18, 2025
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.0 of 5
Makalani Pahukula is a park ranger in Oregon, but she's returned to the Hawaiian island of Kaua‘i to celebrate her grandmother's birthday. But Makalani has been gone for ten years and she's now realizing that she has a deep disconnect with her family, her home, and her 'people'.
She arrives to find a lot of in-fighting among her family, but worse is that two of her cousins are missing. The latter doesn't seem to bother anyone, until Makalani learns that a body was found by some hunters in the Keālia Forest Reserve. Her ranger training has her concerned that something nefarious might be happening in the area and finding her cousins becomes much more urgent.
Makalani must find her cousins, see to their safety, help settle family arguments, and find out what illegal activities are taking place in her beloved Hawaiian home before she heads back to Oregon. But the the island may be calling her home.
I was looking for something new - a new author to read - and I didn't want to pick up in the middle of a series, so when I saw a new series, by a seasoned author (though I've not read anything by Tori Eldridge prior to this), I figured I found a great opportunity.
I loved the concept: a park ranger, Hawaii, family dynamics, and a traditional mystery to be solved. This should have been the beginning of a really great series. But it's not.
First, I fully admit that I struggle to read a book with words (especially names) that I cannot pronounce. I can't just skim over it - I have to stop and try to pronounce it, and this really slows me down. Particularly when I'm trying to get it right.
Set in Hawaii, with native Hawaiians as our central characters, it only makes sense that personal names and place names are Hawaiian. But unless you speak Hawaiian, the pure volume of vowels and apostrophes in the words are daunting.
In addition to the Hawaiian, there are characters who speak an abbreviated, regional dialect, written rather phonetically ("It’s not ’bout da money. Dey called it da Kuleana Act because of our responsibility and sacred duty to care fo’ da land. I lease dis homestead to show mālama and kuleana fo’ dis place and all da ‘āina we lost."). Heap this lingo on top of the unique, Hawaiian words and some readers - like me - will really struggle. This is the kind of book I need to listen to, rather than try to read.
The mystery is a little simple, but it works. We do, however, have to get through a lot of description of places and people, to get to it. It seems to come at inopportune times.
We also have odd moments that appear to be important and then are swept away rather easily. I was quite interested in the exciting moment of two people caught in a major storm, phones not finding a signal, and one unable to move. It's a tense scene and I was really hooked. And then it's over without our seeing the rescue. Makalani rushes to an ER to ask if he's been brought in and the response is "He arrived two hours ago. They moved him out of ER." What was she doing for two hours?
Future books in the series will not make my 'must read' list, but I'd definitely consider listening to an audio book - let someone else work out how to pronounce everything. And the pidgin English will likely sound better than it reads.
Looking for a good book? Kaua'i Storm by Tori Eldridge is the first book in a new mystery series set in Hawaii. Be prepared to read a lot of Hawaiian words and dialect.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Makalani Pahukula is a park ranger in Oregon, but she's returned to the Hawaiian island of Kaua‘i to celebrate her grandmother's birthday. But Makalani has been gone for ten years and she's now realizing that she has a deep disconnect with her family, her home, and her 'people'.
She arrives to find a lot of in-fighting among her family, but worse is that two of her cousins are missing. The latter doesn't seem to bother anyone, until Makalani learns that a body was found by some hunters in the Keālia Forest Reserve. Her ranger training has her concerned that something nefarious might be happening in the area and finding her cousins becomes much more urgent.
Makalani must find her cousins, see to their safety, help settle family arguments, and find out what illegal activities are taking place in her beloved Hawaiian home before she heads back to Oregon. But the the island may be calling her home.
I was looking for something new - a new author to read - and I didn't want to pick up in the middle of a series, so when I saw a new series, by a seasoned author (though I've not read anything by Tori Eldridge prior to this), I figured I found a great opportunity.
I loved the concept: a park ranger, Hawaii, family dynamics, and a traditional mystery to be solved. This should have been the beginning of a really great series. But it's not.
First, I fully admit that I struggle to read a book with words (especially names) that I cannot pronounce. I can't just skim over it - I have to stop and try to pronounce it, and this really slows me down. Particularly when I'm trying to get it right.
Set in Hawaii, with native Hawaiians as our central characters, it only makes sense that personal names and place names are Hawaiian. But unless you speak Hawaiian, the pure volume of vowels and apostrophes in the words are daunting.
In addition to the Hawaiian, there are characters who speak an abbreviated, regional dialect, written rather phonetically ("It’s not ’bout da money. Dey called it da Kuleana Act because of our responsibility and sacred duty to care fo’ da land. I lease dis homestead to show mālama and kuleana fo’ dis place and all da ‘āina we lost."). Heap this lingo on top of the unique, Hawaiian words and some readers - like me - will really struggle. This is the kind of book I need to listen to, rather than try to read.
The mystery is a little simple, but it works. We do, however, have to get through a lot of description of places and people, to get to it. It seems to come at inopportune times.
We also have odd moments that appear to be important and then are swept away rather easily. I was quite interested in the exciting moment of two people caught in a major storm, phones not finding a signal, and one unable to move. It's a tense scene and I was really hooked. And then it's over without our seeing the rescue. Makalani rushes to an ER to ask if he's been brought in and the response is "He arrived two hours ago. They moved him out of ER." What was she doing for two hours?
Future books in the series will not make my 'must read' list, but I'd definitely consider listening to an audio book - let someone else work out how to pronounce everything. And the pidgin English will likely sound better than it reads.
Looking for a good book? Kaua'i Storm by Tori Eldridge is the first book in a new mystery series set in Hawaii. Be prepared to read a lot of Hawaiian words and dialect.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2025
Makalani, a young Hawaiian from Kaua'i who relocated to Oregon to become a National Park Ranger, returns home for a family reunion honoring the family matriarch's landmark birthday. But she is immediately thrust into the mystery of the disappearance of two young members of her large extended family.
With the search for the missing cousins driving the plot, Tori Eldridge (herself born and raised in Honolulu and now living in Oregon) leaves herself lots of room to explore many areas of Hawaiian life and culture, particularly as it is found on Kaua'i.
That mostly includes the extended family concept of ohana, which may already be familiar to those who have read books or seen movies about Hawai'i. And as you'd expect from any family, there is ample dysfunction to overcome, starting with Makalani's own guilt about having left Kaua'i and her ohana to work on the mainland.
A lot of the dysfunction is the result of ancestral diversity, including Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, and other white (haole) ethnicities -- if you read James Michener's Hawaii, you know how this diversity resulted from waves of immigration of labor into Hawai'i over the years. Eldridge explores many of the political, social, cultural, and economic effects of this diversity.
She also includes detailed descriptions of the flora and fauna and geology of Kaua'i, including the concept of malama, taking care of the land in a spiritual sense. The food, language(s), weather, agriculture -- the impact of tourism and haoles moving to Kaua'i (my own interest in the island and hence this book is my own longstanding dream of buying a house there).
For my own personal reasons, I thoroughly enjoyed much of the book, reveling in learning so much about Kaua'i and Hawai'i and its people (even in a fictional setting). The mystery story is best when it dovetails with the social and political issues at hand. But it often veers into extended action sequences that are just not my cup of tea (though I understand why they are necessary).
If edited down a bit in those areas, this would have been a 5-star book for me -- though I suspect many would say the opposite, wanting less social commentary and more action and suspense. I appreciated that Eldridge tackled all of the issues in the context of the story rather than head on -- until the end, when (as the result of an excellent subplot about the family tree) lots of it was just recited (another area ripe for a bit of editing).
I received a copy of the audio edition from NetGalley (thanks!), which is narrated by the author herself, her resume including professional acting. I found her narration overwrought at first but then it settled down. I most appreciated listening in audio to hear the correct ways to pronounce words in Hawaiian, and I enjoyed the Pidgin dialogue, as well as dialogue in Hawaiian.
With the search for the missing cousins driving the plot, Tori Eldridge (herself born and raised in Honolulu and now living in Oregon) leaves herself lots of room to explore many areas of Hawaiian life and culture, particularly as it is found on Kaua'i.
That mostly includes the extended family concept of ohana, which may already be familiar to those who have read books or seen movies about Hawai'i. And as you'd expect from any family, there is ample dysfunction to overcome, starting with Makalani's own guilt about having left Kaua'i and her ohana to work on the mainland.
A lot of the dysfunction is the result of ancestral diversity, including Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, and other white (haole) ethnicities -- if you read James Michener's Hawaii, you know how this diversity resulted from waves of immigration of labor into Hawai'i over the years. Eldridge explores many of the political, social, cultural, and economic effects of this diversity.
She also includes detailed descriptions of the flora and fauna and geology of Kaua'i, including the concept of malama, taking care of the land in a spiritual sense. The food, language(s), weather, agriculture -- the impact of tourism and haoles moving to Kaua'i (my own interest in the island and hence this book is my own longstanding dream of buying a house there).
For my own personal reasons, I thoroughly enjoyed much of the book, reveling in learning so much about Kaua'i and Hawai'i and its people (even in a fictional setting). The mystery story is best when it dovetails with the social and political issues at hand. But it often veers into extended action sequences that are just not my cup of tea (though I understand why they are necessary).
If edited down a bit in those areas, this would have been a 5-star book for me -- though I suspect many would say the opposite, wanting less social commentary and more action and suspense. I appreciated that Eldridge tackled all of the issues in the context of the story rather than head on -- until the end, when (as the result of an excellent subplot about the family tree) lots of it was just recited (another area ripe for a bit of editing).
I received a copy of the audio edition from NetGalley (thanks!), which is narrated by the author herself, her resume including professional acting. I found her narration overwrought at first but then it settled down. I most appreciated listening in audio to hear the correct ways to pronounce words in Hawaiian, and I enjoyed the Pidgin dialogue, as well as dialogue in Hawaiian.
January 13, 2025
Kaua’i Storm by Tori Eldridge is the first in the new Ranger Makalani Pahukula series. Although she grew up on her family’s Kaua’i homestead, Makalani has spent the past several years in Oregon, feeling like she never fit in either place. She returns home for her grandmother’s 85th birthday celebration to find various issues plaguing her family.
I really enjoyed the sense of place that Eldridge brings to the story; it’s easy to picture the lush and beautiful but potentially dangerous landscape. The strongest part though is the Hawaiian language and Hawaiian Pidgin, used throughout. It not only brings a lot of depth to the story but from the little that I remember having lived there several years ago, it is spot on, and sounds the way that locals actually speak. There is so much cultural tradition packed in, as well, from food, dance, chanting, folklore, etc., which was all completely fascinating to read about.
In addition to the mystery, I was also captivated by the historical and political issues of land rights, land management and development, housing, and poverty that were the basis of the mystery. Those are real issues that are at stake all over Hawaii. It was great to see them unfold from a local point of view while still reading an exciting thriller.
If there was anything that I missed, it was a little more depth in the characters. While Makalani was pretty well fleshed out, many of the others were pretty one note. Since there were a good number of family and friends, and this is already a good sized novel, there really wasn’t much opportunity. Hopefully though, we’ll learn more about them in future installments because I did quite like the family.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next book! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the digital ARC.
4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed the sense of place that Eldridge brings to the story; it’s easy to picture the lush and beautiful but potentially dangerous landscape. The strongest part though is the Hawaiian language and Hawaiian Pidgin, used throughout. It not only brings a lot of depth to the story but from the little that I remember having lived there several years ago, it is spot on, and sounds the way that locals actually speak. There is so much cultural tradition packed in, as well, from food, dance, chanting, folklore, etc., which was all completely fascinating to read about.
In addition to the mystery, I was also captivated by the historical and political issues of land rights, land management and development, housing, and poverty that were the basis of the mystery. Those are real issues that are at stake all over Hawaii. It was great to see them unfold from a local point of view while still reading an exciting thriller.
If there was anything that I missed, it was a little more depth in the characters. While Makalani was pretty well fleshed out, many of the others were pretty one note. Since there were a good number of family and friends, and this is already a good sized novel, there really wasn’t much opportunity. Hopefully though, we’ll learn more about them in future installments because I did quite like the family.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next book! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the digital ARC.
4.5 Stars
Read
May 30, 2025I was drawn to Kaua'i Storm based on the synopsis: "After ten years as a national park ranger in Oregon, Makalani Pahukula is back on Kaua‘i for her grandmother’s birthday... When she reaches the homestead, she finds a bickering family and the disconcerting news that her cousins—a failed college football player and a rebellious teenage girl—have gone missing."
Chapter one drops the reader right into the action in a way that did not work for me. It was just so dramatic, so quickly, and even though the next few chapters are less action adventure-y and more family-focused, there's still loads of drama. In that sense, the second half of this novel was much stronger for me than the first half - I think in large part because we'd been building to the drama by that point, it didn't feel out of nowhere but made sense to the story. This is the first novel in a new series; I'd expect better pacing in the next one.
I especially liked the use of the Hawai‘ian language throughout, and learning more about Makalani's family's culture and customs. There's one scene in particular, focused on forgiveness in Hawai‘i, that will stay with me. While there's a glossary and pronunciation guide in the back of the book, I appreciated listening to author Tori Eldrige's narration - what better than hearing the words in her voice? It's nice that the definitions are included, but I generally just used context clues so as to not have to stop my reading to look something up (and never got lost doing that/it was always clear what was going on).
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for a free e-arc of this title, as well as Brilliance Audio for a free ALC.
Chapter one drops the reader right into the action in a way that did not work for me. It was just so dramatic, so quickly, and even though the next few chapters are less action adventure-y and more family-focused, there's still loads of drama. In that sense, the second half of this novel was much stronger for me than the first half - I think in large part because we'd been building to the drama by that point, it didn't feel out of nowhere but made sense to the story. This is the first novel in a new series; I'd expect better pacing in the next one.
I especially liked the use of the Hawai‘ian language throughout, and learning more about Makalani's family's culture and customs. There's one scene in particular, focused on forgiveness in Hawai‘i, that will stay with me. While there's a glossary and pronunciation guide in the back of the book, I appreciated listening to author Tori Eldrige's narration - what better than hearing the words in her voice? It's nice that the definitions are included, but I generally just used context clues so as to not have to stop my reading to look something up (and never got lost doing that/it was always clear what was going on).
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for a free e-arc of this title, as well as Brilliance Audio for a free ALC.
July 17, 2025
If you have traveled to the Hawaiian Islands, interacted with the locals, or even attended a luau, you know how important the Hawaiian history, culture,, and especially ohana are to them. Tori Eldridge has brought this to life for us in Kaua'i Storm. I loved the descriptions of the island and envied the love, responsibility, and support of Makalani Pahukula and her family. This is something most mainland Americans do not experience. The cultural descriptions of the food, dance, and celebrations enhanced my reading experience. I did not mind the inclusion of the native language as I thought it made the story more authentic and allowed me to learn something that might help my next trip to Hawaii.
Makalani Pahukula's love of her native culture paves the way for this Ranger and defender of the natural habitat to become involved suspicious of what is happening under the island's noses by persons using the island for their illicit gains and not caring about the consequences to the land and people. Using her Ranger skills she is not only able to uncover the people behind what is happening but also to help her ohana which have fallen onto hard times.. When a cousin wants to reveal an error in the family's lineage, the reader finds about about the 1921 Hawaiian Homes Commision Act which limited the retention of native residents to keep their family lands that had been theirs for generatjons. I'm sure most of us are unaware of the injustice of this act for native Hawaiians.
I loved the book, have told others about it, and am so looking. forward to the next release in the Ranger Makalani Pahukula Mystery series!
Makalani Pahukula's love of her native culture paves the way for this Ranger and defender of the natural habitat to become involved suspicious of what is happening under the island's noses by persons using the island for their illicit gains and not caring about the consequences to the land and people. Using her Ranger skills she is not only able to uncover the people behind what is happening but also to help her ohana which have fallen onto hard times.. When a cousin wants to reveal an error in the family's lineage, the reader finds about about the 1921 Hawaiian Homes Commision Act which limited the retention of native residents to keep their family lands that had been theirs for generatjons. I'm sure most of us are unaware of the injustice of this act for native Hawaiians.
I loved the book, have told others about it, and am so looking. forward to the next release in the Ranger Makalani Pahukula Mystery series!
May 31, 2025
Kaua’i Storm is a tribute to the author‘s Hawaiian roots. It is a masterful, and thought provoking rendering of the way Hawaiian people are living today. Strict attention to detail in all of the descriptions of the traditional protocols of the Hawaiian people and the physical setting keep the story authentic. We learn how to hunt for wild boar, and cook it in a ground oven. We join in the ceremony that goes into the luau for the matriarch of the extended family, or ohana. We learn that no task is too hard if all done together. Myths and legends are woven into the story. Details of culinary delights are sprinkled though out. But, most importantly we learn the power of Ho’oponopono, the Hawaiian form of mediation. The protagonist, a, is a ranger in the National Park Service who needs to help and protect others. She is conflicted by the fact she has lived in Oregon protecting Crater Lake for ten years and yearns to reconnect with her heritage. There are surprising plot twists in what is technically a mystery story. But, essentially this is a guide for us. A way of understanding the plight of so many Hawaiians forced to live in poverty, or to be priced out of paradise. The extensive use of Hawaiian names and words, and the pidgin dialect can be confusing, but worth a bit of effort to keep up. Kudos to Tori for all her hard work to keep the story true to the culture. I was honored that she gave my novel, Wai-nani A Voice from Old Hawai’i a favorable review. I was eager to read Kaua’i Storm and pleased to say that it does not disappoint.
June 4, 2025
Hawaiian Makalani Pahukula has been working as a park ranger in Oregon for ten years but return to her home on Kaua’i to celebrate her Tutu’s (grandmother) 85th birthday. But there have been a lot of changes in the last ten years. I did find this book quite hard to get into as there are a lot of characters and a lot of Hawaiian Pidgin English, but the family tree at the beginning of the book was very helpful, as was the translations at the end of the book.
Briefly, Makalani is shocked by all the changes in her time working away, but most concerned that two of her cousins have gone missing. Then a body is found in the Keālia Forest Reserve and Makalani realised that her ranger skills can be put to good use searching for her cousins, despite the fact that some family and other local people are not happy about her investigation.
I loved how you see Makalani actually reconnecting with her family and her heritage. It really is so important that indigenous heritage around the world isn’t lost in the passage of time. A very descriptive book and as someone who has never yet been to Hawaii this has made me even more determined to travel there one day. A good mystery, but more than that, it’s a study of family, traditions and values. An interesting read.
Briefly, Makalani is shocked by all the changes in her time working away, but most concerned that two of her cousins have gone missing. Then a body is found in the Keālia Forest Reserve and Makalani realised that her ranger skills can be put to good use searching for her cousins, despite the fact that some family and other local people are not happy about her investigation.
I loved how you see Makalani actually reconnecting with her family and her heritage. It really is so important that indigenous heritage around the world isn’t lost in the passage of time. A very descriptive book and as someone who has never yet been to Hawaii this has made me even more determined to travel there one day. A good mystery, but more than that, it’s a study of family, traditions and values. An interesting read.
September 21, 2025
A story of family, action and mystery all rolled into one.
It’s been ten years of working as a national park ranger in Oregon and now Makalani Pahukula heads back to Kaua’I to celebrate her grandmother’s birthday. It’s not easy to fit back in with family when she has been gone for a decade and Makalani comes back to find her family is not so close and two of her cousins have gone missing. Makalani uses all her skills to help despite her family not as open to her helping as she would have hoped for.
This story had a bit of a slow start but ended up being one I really enjoyed. If it keeps at this pace this could be a mystery series that ends up with a very long shelf life. The scenery was breathtaking as you would expect with the tropical atmosphere and family history there. That was just one of the many things the story had working for it. The characters were well written, but I would like to see a little better development for them as the story progresses in the next addition. If you are a fan of mysteries set in a fun tropical location with great twists and turns, this will be a great addition to your home library.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
It’s been ten years of working as a national park ranger in Oregon and now Makalani Pahukula heads back to Kaua’I to celebrate her grandmother’s birthday. It’s not easy to fit back in with family when she has been gone for a decade and Makalani comes back to find her family is not so close and two of her cousins have gone missing. Makalani uses all her skills to help despite her family not as open to her helping as she would have hoped for.
This story had a bit of a slow start but ended up being one I really enjoyed. If it keeps at this pace this could be a mystery series that ends up with a very long shelf life. The scenery was breathtaking as you would expect with the tropical atmosphere and family history there. That was just one of the many things the story had working for it. The characters were well written, but I would like to see a little better development for them as the story progresses in the next addition. If you are a fan of mysteries set in a fun tropical location with great twists and turns, this will be a great addition to your home library.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
January 7, 2025
Huh! Such a different book that I thought it would be. I so love Tori’s Ninja series and I hope to see a whole lot more of Lily Wong, but this is a whole nuther animal. A few months before reading Kaui’i Storm, someone on one of my fave podcasts recommended a book called Ho’oponopono. I had no idea what they even said, but researched and found the book. I started reading with some misgivings as the harder parts to deal with in life are quite uncomfortable. When this came up in the book and the way it was presented in this intense family dynamic made me cry. While reading Kaui’i Storm, I was trying to figure out the genre and somewhere in the book, the term social-cultural anthropology was mentioned and I was “Oh, that’s what this is.” I also realized that I know absolutely nothing about Hawai’i and the social-cultural anthropology as well as the food of the islands which Tori leans on heavily in relating the family ways of life. It’s like a cookbook without the amounts and inspires a whole other way to make some foods in my future. Quite the ride! I enjoyed it so much and look forward to the next in the series.
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