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.

Thanks!

Two books I enjoyed:

Mark Twain's Letters from Hawaii
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

Michener's Hawaii is awesome - worth the extra weight.

"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.

I adore Michener's Hawaii. 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 Diamond Head and From Here to Eternity.

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!

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.

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

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?

dmlove - I believe it's called "Moloka'i"

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, The Green Room set on Oahu and Fire Prayer set on Molokai. Her first one in the series is called Primitive Secrets. They are mysteries.