With all the Hawaiian novels I read before my trip, it’s a bit hard to pick favorites, but I really recommend these ones:
Honolulu, by Alan Brennart, sparked my interest in Hawaii in the first place. In this novel, Korean picture bride Jin makes her way to Honolulu, and then establishes her own life in the wild society on Oahu. This novel gives a real sense of the blend of cultures on Oahu, and makes you hungry for Hawaiian food.
Moloka’i and Daughter of Moloka’i, also by Alan Brennart, deserve a mention too. Moloka’i was the home of a leper colony, way into the last century, long past when I though leprosy was a credible disease. When Hawaiians begin showing the first signs of illness, they’re sent to Mokolai, even if that means taking young children away from their parents. Some parts of the books are a bit hard to read, because of the brutality and harsh laws of the Molokai colony, but it’s an accurate picture. There’s a lot going on in this two novels about the colonization of Hawaii and the disparity between local Hawaiians, Japanese residents, and haole. Daughter of Moloka’i tells the story of Ruth, the healthy baby Rachel has on Molokai, but is forced to give up. The connecting threads of friendship and family love make the two books ultimately uplifting.
The Islands At The End of the World and The Girl at the Center of the World, both by Austin Aslan, are survival sci-fi set in Hawaii. Like I said in my full review, I felt like I understood the novel more fully once I’d spent time on Oahu, but the stories stand alone as solid apocalyptic science fiction, with a vibrant protag. The Girl at the Center of the World focuses on how Leilani’s family and close friends survive without technology or any communication with the outside world, and the blend of scientific experiments and traditional Hawaiian culture makes an appealing, engaging story.
Juniors, by Kaui Hart Hemmings, is a coming-of-age story set in Hawaii. While the main story is about a teenage girl learning about real friends and discovering her mother as a complete person, the background relies on the disparity between native Hawaiians and wealthy newcomers.
If you know of any other great Hawaiian novels, please let me know! Boston is full of sad, gray slush today, so I’d love more stories with sunshine and flowers in the background.
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I don't think I've read any books set in Hawaii. I recently watched an episode of Adam Ruins Everything that talks about the history of Hawaii and how messed up the US was in taking it. (like pretty much everything else), so these definitely have peaked my interest.
Yeah, the history of how Hawaii became a territory and then a state is REALLY dreadful. It was a sovereign nation, for a long time, and acknowledged by other countries, and the US just encouraged a coup and grabbed it!
The tragic history of the Hawaiian Island was even more complicated by a date that will live in the pages of history. The December 7, 1941 attack on the one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Hi Meg,
Hawaii is certainly full of sunshine and flowers, and any novel should lift the reader up somewhat.
And what an idealistic place to write a novel.
Cheers Sharon...
Read James Patterson s Swimsuit back in May on Maui, which is where some real, some fictional places are set in the novel. Although Patterson co-authors about every gazillion-selling book with his moniker on em these days -- this one with Maxine Paetro -- I found the book an enjoyable read, particularly when the reading is done whilst somewhere near the shores of Maui.. ; )
Thanks for the suggestion! He does have a TON of coauthor credits, now that I think of it.
These sound like interesting reads.
I absolutely loved Moloka’i, even though so much of it was heartbreaking. Hawaii is such a beautiful place too! I can’t wait to go back and see more of it. Thanks for your post!
Yeah, there are some really sad moments in Molokai, but some beautiful ones too.
House Without A Key (Earl Derr Biggers, 1925), the first Charlie Chan mystery is well-worth reading. The mystery takes a back seat to shifting perspectives from white and non-white characters who may be visitors, Haole, or native to the Islands. The novel is also a rare contemporaneous fictional glimpse of pre-war Oahu. Because of the publication date, some stereotyping is inevitable, although even that is instructive.
Oh thanks for the suggestion! I'll add it to my library list!
It's hard reading old novels sometimes, I'm always torn between great historical detail, and that awful feeling when a character I liked makes cringy, dated comments.
Sharks in the Time of Saviors (Kawai Strong Washburn) is a mesmerizing and fantastical story that immerses the reader in the disenfranchisement experienced by
the story’s native Hawaiian protagonists. Hard to put down!
These books by the late OA Bushnell — Molokai, Kaawa, Return of Lono
Oh, "Sharks in the Time of Saviors" sounds really good, I didn't know too much about native Hawaiian history before I visited (well, I still don't know that much....) so it's interesting to see more