Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

I highly recommend this book, it's a great tale about living on Oahu in the 1850's.
All I can say is I didn't put the book down until it was finished.