Hula Heaven: The Queen's Album [Paperback]

Mark A. S. Blackburn (Author)

Book Description

This book represents the ultimate Hawaiian experience and art form: the Hula, through photographs taken in the 1880s and 1890s. These images were gathered by the last reigning monarch of Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani (1839 -1917), who reigned from 1891 until 1893, and were presented in an album to her personal nurse as a token of her Aloha. For the most part, the photographs were previously unknown and unpublished, and represent some of the most powerful and poignant images of Hula known to exist. Several non-Hula images are among the photos, adding interest to the albums contents. A brief history of the Queens fascinating life is included. Anyone who has felt the magic of Hawaiian Hula will enjoy this unusual book.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mark Blackburn is a passionate collector of Polynesian art. He owns Mauna Kea Galleries on the big island of Hawaii and WholesaleRug.com in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Paperback: 95 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Pub Ltd (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764313339
• ISBN-13: 978-0764313332
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,952,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Does Not Do Wonderful Photos Justice, January 31, 2010

By 

Kai Ayana (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hula Heaven: The Queen's Album (Paperback)

I was very excited to receive this book, as I have been dancing for a halau for over 15 years now and was born in Hawaii and although I grew up on the mainland, the culture I have been most exposed to is Hawaiian. Anyway, it does what it says and provides pictures of hula dancers from what looks like a very old album. In between everything, there are pictures of lei, although beautiful lei.

I guess my biggest complaint is, besides the design, the writing. It's not very strong and not very compelling. It's kind of hard to explain ... I think I was expecting to be moved by Queen Lilioekalani's story (we all know it), but I closed the book feeling almost insulted ... It felt almost like the pages were spit out to quickly throw out there.

It needs more umph ... The passing of the last of Hawaiian royalty was as painful as it was symbolic for the people of Hawaii - anyone who views these photos need to feel it.

I think the book simply needed more aloha ...