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Looking for books set in Hawaii
Particularly set on the Big Island, but any book will do. When I travel I love to read books that are set in the places I'm visiting. When browsing at my local book shop I picked up a new mystery paperback called The Refuge by Sue Henry that looks like a nice, light read and it's set on the BI. Suggestions don't have to be light but I do prefer them to be fiction, unless there's a really good travel memoir about Hawaii that y'all would recommend. My mom is trying to sell me on the Michener book but I think it's a little too large to lug with me.
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Two books I enjoyed:
Mark Twain's Letters from Hawaii Moloka'i by Alan Brennert |
Michener's Hawaii is awesome - worth the extra weight.
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"the wind gourd of la'amaomao" translated to english. a short read (100+ pp) about one of the ali'i (royalty) from big island. comes with glossary, maps and notes.
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I adore Michener's <i>Hawaii</i>. Old, but available on used-book sites, the Charlie Chan books give a good look at early 20th c. Hawaii.
I found the following list on Google and am delighted because I will really enjoy trying to find the books. I have read <i>Diamond Head</i> and <i>From Here to Eternity.</i> 2004- Hawaii Fiction Available at the Reedsburg Library Allen, Steve Murder in Hawaii Barker, Clive Galilee Coffman, Virginia Pacific Cavalacade Copeland, Lori Stranded in Paradise Cussler, Clive Pacific Vortex! Dixon, Franklin The Treasure at Dolphine Bay Flora, Kate Clark Death in Paradise Friedman, Kinky Steppin' on a Rainbow Gardner, Erle Stanley The Case of the Substitute Face Griffin, W.E.B. Battleground Griffin, W.E.B. Close Combat Griffin, W.E.B. Counterattack Hart, Carolyn Death in Paradise Houston, James D. The Last Paradise Jones, James From Here to Eternity Kennett, Shirley Burning Rose Knief, Charles Diamond Head Lindsey, Johanna Paradise Wild Lodge, David Paradise News: A Novel MacDonald, John D. The Turquoise Lament Webb, Jean Somewhere Within This House Whitney, Phyllis Silversword Wick, Lori Bamboo and Lace Morgan, Raye Sorry, the bride has escaped Roberts, Nora Island of Flowers O'Brien, Meg Take my Breath Away Sinclair, Tracy For Love of her Child Lowell, Elizabeth Eden Burning Levine, Paul Slashback: A Jake Lassiter novel Ross, Dana Fuller Hawaii Heritage Michaels, Fern Seasons of Her Life Michener, James A. Hawaii Rizzuto, Rahna Why She Left Us Robbins, Tom Still Life with Woodpecker Saul, John The Presence |
I read Hawaii by Michner before we went, didn't bring with me. It is so worth reading. I didn't think I would make it through, but I did. It was great!
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Instead of fiction, how about learning more about the fascinating history of the islands?
http://www.iolanipalace.org/history/index.html Read more in the paperback, "Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen" by Queen Lili`uokalani: http://www.iolanipalace.org/shop/books.html |
Fantastic suggestions, folks. Thanks so much!
AuntieMaria, I will check those links and see if I can find the reading material before I go--getting an idea of the history and culture is what I like to do before I go. I find that it gives me a larger picture of any place I visit for a big trip like this. But it's the fiction I love to read once I'm there for an extra level of escapism. |
Fever by Nicole Dean.
Left Coast lawyers relocate to Hana to run a papaya plantation ... There's also lots of paperbacks by Mutual Publishing of Honolulu, Amazon.com has many and they're also available in the islands' book stores of course. |
I like "Shark Dialogues" by Kiana Davenport, who lives in North Kohala.
http://www.amazon.com/Shark-Dialogue.../dp/0452274583 |
This one's a contemporary memoir about a woman growing up with her Mom on Oahu. It's gritty and egdy, but an excellent book: "West of Then" by Tara Bray Smith.
Never could slog thru Mitchener's "Hawaii" myself. |
The Hawaii (Sandwich Islands) chapters in Mark Twain's book "Roughing It," might also be of interest. Interesting travel writing by a good writer.
This article gives a taste of what's in those "Roughing It" chapters.... http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/05/14....html?emc=eta1 |
The Colony, by John Tayman. The story of the exiles of Molokai.
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Kirby Wright has 2 books out...easy enjoyable reads with a local perspective on growing up here:
Punahou Blues & Molokai Nui Ahina. |
School for Hawaiian Girls by Georgia Ka'apuni McMillen is a good read. I don't remember if the entire book or just parts of it are set on the Big Island. I've read The Refuge & enjoyed it - the same author has another book called Right From the Gecko. Enjoy!
Dianne |
topping
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When I was a child, I read a book (probably considered a young adult book, certainly not a children's book), that was about the leper colony on Molokai -- it was wonderful, but I do not recall the name -- anyone?
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dmlove - I believe it's called "Moloka'i"
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the Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings is very contemporary, sad but funny.
Lois-Ann Yamanaka has written several books about growing up in Hawai'i; I think all are set on the Big Island. they are about a family who don't have much materially. Graham Salisbury writes for young readers, but I have enjoyed reading some of his books, like Blue Skin of the Sea. |
I just finished two by Deborah Atkinson, <i>The Green Room</i> set on Oahu and <i>Fire Prayer</i> set on Molokai. Her first one in the series is called <i>Primitive Secrets</i>. They are mysteries.
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Hawaii Pono by Lawrence Fuchs is my favorite.
This is a very readable social history of the immigrants that shaped modern Hawaii. Gives great accounts of plantation worker experience and the former republican control of the state (pretty shocking stuff to anyone who grew up on the mainland under federal labor laws). Also a very uplifting account of how people made their way through the many obstacles placed in front of them. Anyone else on here know a good companion book to Hawaii Pono? Would like to find something else similar. Similar in terms of how readable it is even though its a historical account. |
Another vote for Michener's Hawaii. It does get off to a slow start, but continuously improves from there. I kind of skimmed the beginning with the endless details of how the islands were formed. Molokai was good too.
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ttt
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I have heard firsthand that the residents are very unhappy about "The Colony"
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Michener's Hawaii has always been one of my favorites.
And I love the Shark Dialogues. One that hasn't been mentioned is Born in Paradise by Armine von Tempski. It may be out of print but I think yo can still find it. It is the memoir of a girl growing up at the beginning of the 20th century on a ranch on Haleakala, Maui. If you are interested in personal take on history, this is a good one. |
I loved Moloka'i by Alan Brennert... a pleasant historical fiction. Made my heart weep. Never wanted to finish it... ;;)
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One we have is " The Betrayal of Lili uokalani " here's another link.
http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/books/index.htm |
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