European Royalty discussion

Does anyone have any recommendations for books on Hawaii? I'm probably more interested in novels at this point, but if you know of a good non-fiction book, feel free to share it.

I have heard nothing but raves about Moloka'i, but haven't tried it myself. I did read the author's other book, Honolulu, but while good it didn't rock my world. I have read The Last Aloha and liked it a lot, but I would call it a library book, as it was a one time read only.

Hi Sara W!

Here are a few books about the Aloha State you may want to check out ---

1) Letters from Hawaii by Mark Twain (non-fiction)



Twain had spent some time in Hawaii during the mid-1860s.

2) Love Finds You in Lahaina, Hawaii by Bodie Thoene



"In 1890, Lahaina is in the midst of unrest. Kaiulani, Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Hawaii, has recently become known throughout the world for her intelligence, beauty and determination to restore her nation’s monarchy. When a Scottish missionary lands on the shores of Lahaina, he finds himself drawn into a revolt by those desirous of annexing the islands to the United States. Will he underestimate Kaiulani, the 'barbarian princess' or can they work together to restore peace to this normally tranquil paradise?"

3) Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell (non-fiction; concerns the U.S. acquisition of Hawaii in the 1890s)

4) Honolulu by Alan Brennert



"Virtually the only way for a young girl such as Jin to escape the poverty, isolation, and desperation of Korea in the early twentieth century was to advertise herself as a 'picture bride,' eagerly available for marriage to a presumably young, honorable fellow countryman who had already fled to the burgeoning island paradise of Hawaii. Possessed of an insatiable desire for education and an innocent sense of adventure, Jin accepts Noh’s offer, only to realize that she’s traded one form of oppression for another when she suffers physical attacks from an alcoholic husband and the psychological abuse of a chauvinistic society. Spanning more than four decades, Jin’s plaintive yet intrepid tale of spirited courage and staunch resolve is as audacious as that of the vibrant island nation whose own polyglot heritage becomes increasingly endangered as it transitions from U.S. territory to fiftieth state. Brennert’s lush tale of ambition, sacrifice, and survival is immense in its dramatic scope yet intimate in its emotive detail."

5) Shark Dialogues by Kiana Davenport



"This expansive and engrossing multigenerational saga details the history of Hawaii through the experiences of one family. It begins in the 19th century with the dramatic meeting of a young Yankee sailor and a beautiful Tahitian princess. Their descendants, who live in contemporary Hawaii, are four cousins named Vanya, Ming, Rachel, and Jess who have been brought up by Pono, a kahuna, or seer, who has never talked about her mysterious past to her four granddaughters. Davenport deftly includes much information in the narrative--about politics, leprosy, and the racial melting pot that is Hawaiian society--with a minimum of didacticism. She incorporates folklore, history, and myth in a vivid, lush prose style that only occasionally becomes overwrought. This first novel is much better written than James Michener's 'Hawaii' (1959) and brings Hawaiian history up to the present day."

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll definitely check some of those out.

And of course Hawaii . A monster read, but very good. I read it when I was a teenager.

I'd like to read Hawaii again if I can find the time and the library gets it on kindle. This is an older thread, but I've got a coupld of additions.

Mistress of Paradise by Marcella Thum and don't let that cover scare you off. There are strong romantic elements, but this is not a romance and there is no sex on the beach.

Here are two I picked up at FOL sales and whatnot, but haven't read them yet.

and

Misfit wrote: "I'd like to read Hawaii again if I can find the time and the library gets it on kindle. This is an older thread, but I've got a coupld of additions.

Mistress of Paradise by Marcella Thum and don'..."

I don't think it's ever too late to get more recommendations! I just wish there were more hours in the day so I could read them all, lol.