Ka'a'awa: A Novel About Hawaii in the 1850s [Paperback]

O.A. Bushnell (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 520 pages
• Publisher: University of Hawaii Press (November 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824807294
• ISBN-13: 978-0824807290
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,026,230 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1st Rate Historical Fiction, October 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ka'a'awa: A Novel About Hawaii in the 1850s (Paperback)

As a native of Hawaii I found this book hard to put down. It's set in Hawaii in the 1850's, during a time when pressure from foreign powers created considerable turmoil within the Hawaiian royal house. What I like best is that the story is told in the person of a Hawaiian priest (and tutor to the Prince Liholiho). He has considerable, intricate, and savy knowledge of what goes on in Hawaii. Yet he too, like the powerful royal house he serves, is subject to political and cutural changes far beyond his control. The descriptions of the influenza and smallpox epidemics, and the manifestations of the rapidly vanishing old culture, are chilling.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling and engrossing reading, March 19, 2004

By 

Carol Porter (Kohala Coast, Big Island of Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ka'a'awa: A Novel About Hawaii in the 1850s (Paperback)

This well-crafted historical novel held me captive until I finished it. Descriptions of Oahu, native Hawaiians, haoles (foreigners), and the events of Hawaii in the 1850s seemed entirely authentic. I enjoyed the technique of two complementary stories, each told by the two primary characters (one Hawaiian, one Haole). I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Hawaii's people and history.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first OA Bushnell book I read, November 11, 2006

By 

Joseph Guillaume (Kailua, HI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kaaawa: A novel about Hawaii in the 1850s OR K'a'awa: A novel about Hawaii in the 1850s (Hardcover)

The reason this book came to my attention was I first heard of it from Windward Community College. I guess they promote a book each year. So when a friend offered me her book to read I was stoked. The book was the original hardback, that just looked so classic as it had aged gracefully. Its old but classic look kind of set the mood for the story. The first part was really interesting as they talked about traveling up Nu'uanu valley to the Pali (I pass that way several times a week). The whole story has such a nice Hawaiian feel. It describes a time that my mother lived through, so it really hits home. Anyone interested in Hawaii in anyway should read this!