Good fiction and nonfiction set in Hawaii? (Honolulu, Ewa Beach: hotel, college)

[HonuMan]

After years of raising kids, finishing college degrees, and so on, my wife and I finally have time again to read for pleasure (or at least listen to audiobooks during our morning carpool commute). We've recently read some good literary fiction and nonfiction set in different places and cultures that really capture the feeling of where they're set, and I'm wondering if people on this forum have read any good books that do the same for Hawaii. Years ago, I read the obvious book, James Michener's Hawaii, and I enjoyed it. I tried to read Paul Thoreaux's short-story collection Hotel Honolulu. Although he's a good writer,he's famously pessimistic and focuses on the worst elements of Hawaiian society, presenting them as the norm-- i.e., all the Hawaiian men in his stories are lazy, uneducated, and childlike, and all the Hawaiian women are empty-headed former prostitutes. I exaggerate a little, but not much. I couldn't finish the book.

So... any suggestions? Historical fiction, contemporary fiction, memoirs, social commentary, etc.?

[whynot?]

I enjoyed "Moloka'i," a novel by Alan Brennert. It's set at the turn of the century, and starts in Honolulu then moves to Moloka'i. If you've spent much time either place, it has lots of familiar locations and evokes a pretty good sense of a growing, but quieter Honolulu. The Kalaupapa experience is richly detailed and covers several decades as it tracks the main character's story.

This is not to be confused with the more recent book, "The Colony: The Harrowing True Story of the Exiles on Moloka'i," by John Tayman. This book got a lot of national press and won some awards, but stirred up a big controversy on the islands. I have not read this one, so I cannot comment on it except to say that it is available as an audiobook.

I recently listened to Mark Twain's "Following the Equator," which he published from his journals of his two-year lecture tour around the world. Early in the book he sails to Honolulu (but never gets off the boat because of an outbreak of cholera). That didn't stop him from setting down his rather pithy observations about Hawai'i and his earlier travels here. [Warning: this book was written in 1895, and published in 1897. There is no notion of politically correct language, and he "makes free" to share all manner of gross generalizations about almost every race, ethnicity, and religion all the way around the world. At times, the racism is breathtaking, even though he was considered quite "progressive" in his day.] There is also an audio version of his "Letters from Hawai'i," about a trip to the Kona coast, but I have not listened to it.

Another book that has an enlightening chapter or two about Hawai'i (but was riveting throughout) was "Sea of Glory," Nathaniel Philbrick's history of the U.S. Exploring Expedition (1838-1842). This was the sea-faring equivalent to Lewis and Clark's expedition, and the book includes fascintating chapters on Tahiti, Australia, and a treacherous Antarctic wandering. I read it in print (it has maps, I believe), but it's also available in audio format.

Enjoy!

[leilaniguy]

There is a book entitled "Life in Hawaii" by Rev. Titus Coan written in 1882 That has details of his life here and vivid desciptions of the volcano, plagues, God's wrath against heathens, etc. Michener based one of his characters on the Rev.

[mogon]

Originally Posted by whynot?

..."The Colony: The Harrowing True Story of the Exiles on Moloka'i," by John Tayman.

An outstanding book. It's eerie to see the name of an ancestor in it.

Isabella Bird's letters from her six months in Hawai`i in the 1870s are utterly fascinating

[London Girl]

Originally Posted by mogon

An outstanding book. It's eerie to see the name of an ancestor in it.

Isabella Bird's letters from her six months in Hawai`i in the 1870s are utterly fascinating

I'll have to read this I read the book of her letters from her travels in the Rocky Mountains and they were very enjoyable and strangely contemporary in many ways!

I'd also suggest "The Cruise Of The Snark" by Jack London - also fascinating - particularly his descriptions of seeing people surfing for the first time and his experiences with the leper colony on Molokai.

A good history of Ni'ihau is: "Ni'ihau - The Last Hawaiian Island" by Ruth M Tabrah.

If you are interested in surfing, try "Walking On Water" by Andy Martin or "Soul Surfer" by Bethany Hamilton

Last time I was in Kauai I picked up some book that was about a detective based in Oahu but to be honest it was really crap and I wouldn't recommend it even if I could remember the title or the author's name.

[cynmkolohe]

Thanks for starting this thread, HonuMan. I recently finished Pat Conroy's South of Broad, set in my native SC, and it's time for some closer-to-home Hawaii reading! This is a great list.

I also recommend an anthology called Growing Up Local-you can order it on Amazon for about $15.00. It has a variety of stories about growing up in Hawaii, from many different perspectives. I first read it when I first moved to Ewa Beach as a teacher and appreciated the insights.

[PalmSpringsDan]

according to my wife's grandma, "Jurassic Park" is a nonfiction book that is set in Hawai'i.... lol.

[mogon]

Lee Cataluna's The People You Meet at Longs is funny and poignant.

Her columns in the Advertiser are always worth reading too.

[lauleahere&there]

I will mention Lois-Ann Yamakana. I just read Blu's Hanging, which is set in Moloka`i. Her writing is considered controversial because many characters speak pidgin and there is a lot of illustration of the tension amongst ethnic subcultures. As an exploration of poverty and loss in the islands, it is worth reading. The main character alone is a reason to read the book. But it is sad and grim and disturbing. Just saying.

[HonuMan]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! Our local newspaper has reviewed a couple of novels set in Hawaii, and I clipped the reviews, but of course they're in one (or more) of those stacks of papers that could be anywhere in the house. :-)