"[A] mammoth epic of the islands, [a] vast panorama, wonderful."
THE BALTIMORE SUN
America's preeminent storyteller, James Michener, introduced an entire generation of readers to a lush, exotic world in the Pacific with this classic novel. But it is also a novel about people, people of strength and character; the Polynesians; the fragile missionaries; the Chinese, Japanese, and Filipinos who intermarried into a beautiful race called Hawaiians. Here is the story of their relationships, toils, and successes, their strong aristocratic kings and queens and struggling farmers, all of it enchanting and very real in this almost mythical place.
“One novel you must not miss! A tremendous work from every point of view—thrilling, exciting, lusty, vivid, stupendous.” —Chicago Tribune
“A memorable novel, a superb biography of a people.”—Houston Chronicle
Millions upon millions of years ago, when the continents were already formed and the principal features of the earth had been decided, there existed, then as now, one aspect of the world that dwarfed all others. It was a mighty ocean, resting uneasily to the east of the largest continent, a restless ever-changing, gigantic body of water that would later be described as pacific.
Over its brooding surface immense winds swept back and forth, whipping the waters into towering waves that crashed down upon the world’s seacoasts, tearing away rocks and eroding the land. In its dark bosom, strange life was beginning to form, minute at first, then gradually of a structure now lost even to memory. Upon its farthest reaches birds with enormous wings came to rest, and then flew on.
Agitated by a moon stronger then than now, immense tides ripped across this tremendous ocean, keeping it in a state of torment. Since no great amounts of sand had yet been built, the waters where they reached shore were universally dark, black as nigh and fearful.
Scores of millions of years before man had risen from the shores of the ocean to perceive its grandeur and to venture forth upon its turbulent waves, this eternal sea existed, larger than any other of the earth’s features, vaster than the sister oceans combined, wild, terrifying in its immensity and imperative in its universal role.
How utterly vast it was! How its surges modified the very balance of the earth! How completely lonely it was, hidden in the dark ness of night or burning in the dazzling power of a younger sun than ours.
At recurring intervals the ocean grew cold. Ice piled up along its extremities, and so pulled vast amounts of water from the sea, so that the wandering shoreline of the continents sometimes jutted miles farther out than before. Then, for a hundred thousand years, the ceaseless ocean would tear at the exposed shelf of the continents, grinding rocks into sand and incubating new life.
Later, the fantastic accumulations of ice would melt, setting cold waters free to join the heaving ocean, and the coasts of the continents would lie submerged. Now the restless energy of the sea deposited upon the ocean bed layers of silt and skeletons and salt. For a million years the ocean would build soil, and then the ice would return; the waters would draw away; and the land would lie exposed. Winds from the north and south would howl across the empty seas and last stupendous waves upon the shattering shore. Thus the ocean continued is alternate building and tearing down.
Master of life, guardian of the shorelines, regulator of temperatures and heaving sculptor of mountains, the great ocean existed.
Anonymous
Posted May 3, 2006
This, as far I'm concerned, is the ultimate 'family saga' novel. Some call it Michener's master work, and I wholeheartedly agree with that assessment. HAWAII follows an organizational pattern familiar to readers of Michener's other huge historical novels. First he tells the geological and prehistoric story of the region that provides the book's setting. Next, he introduces characters from early in that region's history - characters whose descendants people the book's subsequent sections, joined by a new group of immigrants as each of the tale's installments unfolds. The Polynesians - the New England missionaries, whalers, and merchants - the Chinese - and finally, the Japanese, arrive in different eras and under different circumstances. Each of these groups finds its own place, or rather creates its own place, in a society that's both challenged and enriched by Hawaii's ever-increasing racial and cultural diversity. Genealogy ties this vast story's threads together, yet each of its major characters exists as a memorable individual in his or her own right. The author never allows his book's colorful setting, or the exciting backdrop of world events against which local happenings play out, to upstage those characters - nor does he let them blur into each other, which could easily happen with this many for both author and reader to keep straight. But what reader could possibly forget the great Alii Nui Malama, no matter how many descendants of the original Malama wind up sharing her name? Who could forget missionary wife Jerusha Bromley Hale, or the Chinese concubine whose true name her hundreds of descendants never know? HAWAII heads the short list of books that I can read over and over, and always find fresh. A master work, indeed!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 26, 2005
This book is fabulous. It is the history of the Hawaiian Islands in a novel form; the narrative parallels 'real' history so closely that sometimes the only differences are the names Mr. Michener substitutes for real-life characters. I've read 'straight' histories such as Hawaii Pono, which turned out to be the same information in a much less enjoyable style. Unless you need all the historical nitty-gritty, read this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 31, 2002
I live in Hawaii, and reading this book has given me a new prospective from which to view these beautiful islands. I have found myself wanting to know more about the people, the real people who built these islands. This book has piqued my historical curiosity!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 5, 2013
I bought for my father-in-law he loves Michener's books.
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Posted January 21, 2011
I too read the book many years earlier than again a few years back. I am ready again but would love to be able to have it on my Nook. If anyone else out there would like to have it for their Nook, please send notice to publisher through B&N. Thanks
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I read this about three years ago, and I still enjoy reading it again whenever the urge strikes me. The book fairly accurately tells the story of Hawaii. The more you read the more you can learn about the people, history, and religion of these wonderful islands. The book does not portray Hawaii as a sunny vacation spot for rich americans, it's shown in it's true beautiful form. It starts when the Polynesians came to Hawaii, next other settlers came to Hawaii, and on to almost the present day.
It's just a great historical novel. Highly recommend.
Anonymous
Posted May 11, 2010
This novel is one of the best I have ever read. I didn't think it would appeal to me, but the wonder of the islands described beautifully got me hooked to the story. Michener sets us with the making of the islands, followed by the narration of the early Polynesian islanders. Then fast forward to the 1800's, and he introduces the religious history and the missionaries. He blends in cultures of Chinese, Japanese, Caucasian, and Hawaiian very well, and gives us a well developed character for each ethnicity to follow. I look forward to reading Michener's other novels!
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Posted February 15, 2008
Michener proves again that he is one of the greatest story tellers of all time. Fascinating book. I love feeling as though I am smarter for having read anything he has written.
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Posted January 28, 2005
Never has a novel had more of an impact on my life. I've read Hawaii 3 times. Once, when I was a child and could barely understand it. The second time I was a highschool senior and at a crossroad in my life. Finally, I read it for the third time after I just gave in and moved to Maui. Every chapter to me is fasinating! Unlike most people, I loved the first chapter. I loved the long and painful geological development of these islands. It took millions of years for the Hawaii we know and love to look and feel the way it does today. Michener captures this struggle beautifully. I think this chapter sets the stage perfectly for the rest of this epic tale. I believe this is a must read for anybody who wants to know Hawaii. I especially recommend it for anybody who might be considering a move to the islands. This is historical story telling at its finest!
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Posted November 12, 2001
This is a wonderful novel. Although the first chapter felt like it dragged on and on, the next 1000 pages flew by. While the novel is supposed to be ficticious, Michener has obviously done a lot of research. Many of the stories parallel with Hawaii's actual history. This novel is so good that you will find yourself reading into all hours of the night.
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Posted November 15, 2000
This is my all time favorite book. I first read it in high school and have re-read it two more times. I'll read it again in another ten years. After reading the book, you really have a feel for the beautiful history of Hawaii. Someday perhaps I will actually visit Hawaii, but before I do, I'll read this book to fully appreciate the islands.
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Overview
"[A] mammoth epic of the islands, [a] vast panorama, wonderful."
THE BALTIMORE SUN
America's preeminent storyteller, James Michener, introduced an entire generation of readers to a lush, exotic world in the Pacific with this classic novel. But it is also a novel about people, people of strength and character; the Polynesians; the fragile missionaries; the Chinese, Japanese, and Filipinos who intermarried into a beautiful race called Hawaiians. Here is the story of their ...