Customer Reviews

No Footprints in the Sand - A Memoir of Kalaupapa

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The author Sally Jo Bowman captures Henry's voice beautifully. This is a book that once started, is difficult to put down. There is something remarkable about the story-telling here: despite the tragic circumstances, there isn't a sense of pity or victimhood in Nalielua's voice, or in Bowman's writing. This is some of the best writing about native Hawaiians, by native Hawaiians, that I've read in a while. Hats off to Watermark for publishing this wonderful book -- and to Henry for telling his story, and to Sally Jo for finding the perfect words

In his powerful first book, "Uncle Henry" Nalaielua tells a story that has rarely been told, of a dark moment of Hawai'i's history; not from the distant viewpoint of the historian, but from the first-person testimony of its survivor.

With honesty, humor and vivid detail, Henry's courageous tale touched my soul, so profoundly, that I kept wanting to know more. I couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting, wishing that it wouldn't end. It stirred emotions in the same way as Paulo Coelho's, "The Alchemist," in its message of following one's dream, despite all obstacles. (Except, this is no fable; it is a real life piece.)

Along with his brilliant co-author, Sally-Jo Bowman, he weaves an intimate story of strength and perserverence, which will surely be known for decades to come as one of the islands' finest mo`olelo.

This is a must read for everyone and makes for a wonderful gift. It will touch you in surprising ways, and make you want to meet this incredible man and the spiritual place that he would finally call, "home."

Just finished NO FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND.

The look, the packaging and the presentation of the book are all first class, from the beautiful cover photos and reproductions of Henry's artwork, to the testimonials from some of the most respected members of the Hawaiian community.

A lot of time and great care went into publishing of this book -- beyond just writing the story.

And the story...wow.

What a study in acceptance of what life throws at you!

Whatever part the two authors played in the co-writing was artfully and sensitively handled; the 'voice' was seamless throughout the book.

Mahalo Henry Nalaielua for taking the time to share your life and a significant part of Hawai'i's history with us.

And mahalo Sally Jo Bowman for helping Henry tell his story and, through it, the story of Kalaupapa.

Mahalo to you both for your artistry and aloha.

I've now given away so many copies of No Footprints that I should have bought a dozen or twenty at wholesale. Henry's is an amazing story of a kolohe kanaka - naughty Hawaiian - who had the misfortune to contract a dreaded disease in 1936. Sally-Jo Bowman's input makes it a fascinating read. Sounds just like Henry sat down and wrote it all by himself, but we know it doesn't work that way. I chuckled at Henry's can-do attitude. Man after my own heart. I'm glad the book includes all his Casanova events. What a guy, a real renaissance kanaka kane - Hawaiian man. Great title!

Henry's authentic Hawaiian sensibility and voice walked all the way through his memoir into my heart. This book is the footprint denied him by Hansen's disease and the sands of Kalaupapa. The history was previously unknown to me, so I was shocked at times and outraged on his behalf, but I always trusted his courage, humor, and rebellious resourcefulness. I couldn't wait to see which way Henry would spin in order to stick the next landing. He's a man I'm proud to have met, if only in print. A bit of Henry goes with me now to see how many ways I, too, can accept or face down obstacles.

(--posted on behalf of P.J. Hyatt)

I was moved to tears several times in this book and especially after the epilogue. Henry is a storytelling genius, as well as a very courageous and persistent person against such odds.

This poignant story HAD to be told, as it echoes, sadly, so many others like it in this country, although I'm not sure Henry would say "sadly" about his own story.

For anyone who has ever watched the classic movie Ben Hur, there is this gut-wrenching moment in the film where Ben Hur goes to this rocky canyon to visit his mother and sister, who have been afflicted with leprosy. They have been cast out by society, with only basket deliveries of food being let down into their valley. This scene has stuck with me for a very long time, and I've always thought in the back of my mind, "How did they get sick, and do people get sick like that today?"

The answer to this question is a definite yes, as people continue to be diagnosed with Hansen's disease, or leprosy, as it has been known for centuries. As Henry mentions in his autobiography, leprosy is an inflammatory term that continues to be confusing and frightening to most people. In fact, reading the autobiography caused me to do a bit of a search into the ways one would get "leprosy," and I have to say that even the World Health Organization doesn't seem to be exactly clear on how you actually get the disease. They do seem to know that it's a virus, caught through a bacteria, but not the exact ways in which you actually would pick it up, so you can avoid them. It seems then that the not knowing is the scariest part of the disease, since it can not only shorten one's life with painful disorders, but also marginalize them in any community. The good news today is that there are medications that can dramatically improve the lives of those with Hansen's disease.

Henry Nalaielua's autobiography was a captivating read, and one that I could hardly put down at night. In the partial pidgin voice of Henry, himself, the story develops in a straight-forward sort of way that showed his bright personality, and positive outlook. You couldn't help but love Henry right away. As a young boy on the Big Island, Henry contracted Hansen's disease and was sent away from his family to Honolulu to the hospital, and later to the leper colony at Kalaupapa on Molokai. This famous colony was established by the famous Catholic Father Damien, who also fell to the disease there. Throughout his life, Henry seemed to not let his disease keep him from having a life of his own. He held multiple jobs, married twice, had two daughters, and traveled to many places in the United States and around the world as he worked to improve his own health, and to forward the education of others on the disease that affected so many.

This autobiography is full of heart, culture, and spirit. The life that Henry led is amazing, and I found everything about him intriguing. There is a good amount of Hawaiian culture and spirit in the entire story, and Henry really captured the spirit of the people in the islands. His drive and endeavor to live his life and take it for what it was, without too much self-indulgent pity was inspiring to me. From his early experience as a young boy paraded in front of doctors to show the stage of his disease, to his later life traveling to Father Damien's later beatification as a representative of Kalaupapa, all made for a most amazing and interesting life story.

This autobiography is short, less than 200 pages, but full of heart and substance. The bulk of the text bounces from standard English to pidgin, reflecting Henry's voice and that of his writer. Although casual and informal in its presentation, I found No Footprints in the Sand to be a captivating read that has me searching out additional books about Kalaupapa, Hansen's disease, and the amazing Hawaiian culture.

Aloha kakou,

Outstanding collaborative effort by two very important Native Hawaiian voices. This wonderful portrait details a man`s life spent well--dealing with the challenges and trials of surviving Hansen`s disease in Kalaupapa, Moloka`i. Not an in depth about Hansen`s or Kalaupapa, this is Henry`s story, his life, loves, talents and legacy. Henry tells his story, through Sally-Jo`s sensitive handling, with the self effacing, off hand manner of a true local Bruddah. Typical of Hawaiians of his generation, he can do a handful of difficult things really well. This celebration of a life lived with purpose also shows what can result from a life lived purposefully with Aloha. I strongly recommend this book.

This is a little gem of a book written with love and without self pity or blame. It is a person who lives his aloha and shares the events of his life simply. You can feel his loving spirit triumph in situations that could be made into deep despair. I left wishing I had met this man and thankful to have been able to at least meet him through his story.

This is the real thing in a "self help" book.

we loved this story I didn't not realize there was a history on these

people. and it was done so well I would recommend you read Malaki first

then this book after. good read