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Aloha Where You Like Go?: From Survival to Satisfaction by Honolulu Taxi
E Komo Mai! Welcome!
Throw away the guidebook. Forget about umbrella drinks, helicopter rides and resorts. Welcome to the REAL Hawaii of working people, immigrants, and the children of immigrants; a beleagured but magnificent Island society rich in lingering history. Meet June, a young woman from the East Coast, as she discovers everything she never expected about "paradise." From rural neighbor island isolation, to Honolulu nightlife by way of drugs, sexuality and motorcycles, Junes new life is anything but easy - till an unexpected encounter changes everything. This is a wise little book masquerading as a good story. Stay Come! Just leave the cocoanut bra at home.
What Readers Have "Lots of interesting inside information about Hawaii." "This is the book to read on the flight over." Fun to read, A good story. Good characters and scenes."
Throw away the guidebook. Forget about umbrella drinks, helicopter rides and resorts. Welcome to the REAL Hawaii of working people, immigrants, and the children of immigrants; a beleagured but magnificent Island society rich in lingering history. Meet June, a young woman from the East Coast, as she discovers everything she never expected about "paradise." From rural neighbor island isolation, to Honolulu nightlife by way of drugs, sexuality and motorcycles, Junes new life is anything but easy - till an unexpected encounter changes everything. This is a wise little book masquerading as a good story. Stay Come! Just leave the cocoanut bra at home.
What Readers Have "Lots of interesting inside information about Hawaii." "This is the book to read on the flight over." Fun to read, A good story. Good characters and scenes."
148 pages, Paperback
First published October 27, 2006
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 15, 2009
Escaping failed city dreams June lands on the Big Island and discovers that paradise can be cold, moldy and downright boring. She flees to Honolulu where she discovers the seamy underbelly of Hawaii not talked about in glossy brochures. We learn why some women find a seductive glamour in being a topless dancer. She makes friends with some dangerous playmates and learns how the protection of a bouncer as a calming effect on life in these wilds. From here our heroine turns to the anonymous, lonely life of a taxi cab driver as a more reliable way of making a living. While driving twelve hours a day/night she learns the history of Hawaii, the buildings, back alleys and ethnic mix of the Island. Meanwhile, she is absorbing ancient mana, becoming entrenched in Hawai’i’s primitive beauty and connected to the land. What happens next surprises her more than anyone.
Much of the story is told in pidgin, the language of the locals. Charters impressions of the Island beauty are crisp and captivating. She nails the local vibe as well as the pulse of the Islands along the way to her protagonist’s spiritual awakening. I found this story a delightful departure from the usual view of Hawaii—the cluster of islands resting beneath the star of happiness.
Linda Ballou-Author of Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawaii
Much of the story is told in pidgin, the language of the locals. Charters impressions of the Island beauty are crisp and captivating. She nails the local vibe as well as the pulse of the Islands along the way to her protagonist’s spiritual awakening. I found this story a delightful departure from the usual view of Hawaii—the cluster of islands resting beneath the star of happiness.
Linda Ballou-Author of Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawaii
September 6, 2009
Haole memoir that respectfully accounts life on the islands from a cultural and economic perspective. Includes history of Hawaii mixed within pertinent passages.
August 16, 2023
Unexpected interesting book. I didn't like the writing style but the stories are captivating. Wish there were even more details in her earlier life as a dancer and more cab stories. 3.5 stars.
September 23, 2013
The author gives us a view of Hawaii that most of us - even the locals - will never see. The story is told by June, a haole girl who tagged along to Hawaii with her boyfriend for kicks. While living in a tree house on the Big Island, June longs for some action. Before long someone talks her into commuting to Oahu for a job waiting tables in a cocktail lounge. She soon learns that more than just cocktails are being peddled at the establishment. The other women convince June to perform pole dances instead of waiting tables. This is where I expected the tale to turn sordid. To my surprise, it did not. Through June's eyes we see something of the other side of the flesh business - the pragmatic side. June learns how to doll herself up, dance provocatively, and sell a fantasy to the male customers. While observing taxis dropping customers off outside the strip club, June decides she'll try her hand at taxi driving. This part of the story brought back memories of the tales my husband told me during his ten years as a taxi driver in Honolulu. While June learns to navigate to twisted downtown streets, she learns what aloha is really all about from an elderly lady who she drives to work each morning. A delightful, heartwarming book that I'm sure everyone will enjoy.
March 26, 2016
ALOHA Where You Like Go? by Cloudia W. Charters
From Survival to Satisfaction by Honolulu Taxi
In this memoir, the author relates the story of a young adult female who moves to Hawai‘i and experiences an unusual “coming of age.” Her story begins on the Kona side of the Big Island, where she expects cheap living in paradise. But, hey, where the beach? What she gets is jungle.
She eventually moves to Honolulu, the state capital of Hawai‘i on Oah‘u, to live and work. Her careers span from nightclub dancer to cab driver. Her life lessons, and the people she meets, are a joy to experience with vicarious reading delight.
The local historical details included in Ms. Charters’ tale are excellent. This is not a travel guide rehash but a “well-researched through living” story. Each chapter includes little known facts used to enhance the narrative.
I have visited and explored many locations on six major Hawaiian Islands over the past twenty plus years. But this author took me to places in Hawai‘i I will most likely never have the opportunity to see or experience on my own. I enjoyed every page of this book.
From Survival to Satisfaction by Honolulu Taxi
In this memoir, the author relates the story of a young adult female who moves to Hawai‘i and experiences an unusual “coming of age.” Her story begins on the Kona side of the Big Island, where she expects cheap living in paradise. But, hey, where the beach? What she gets is jungle.
She eventually moves to Honolulu, the state capital of Hawai‘i on Oah‘u, to live and work. Her careers span from nightclub dancer to cab driver. Her life lessons, and the people she meets, are a joy to experience with vicarious reading delight.
The local historical details included in Ms. Charters’ tale are excellent. This is not a travel guide rehash but a “well-researched through living” story. Each chapter includes little known facts used to enhance the narrative.
I have visited and explored many locations on six major Hawaiian Islands over the past twenty plus years. But this author took me to places in Hawai‘i I will most likely never have the opportunity to see or experience on my own. I enjoyed every page of this book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews