8 Books Set in Hawai’i

by Sara Ackerman

|

8 books

Hawai’i is a land steeped in history and rich in culture, much of it not well known to outsiders. From kickass Hawaiian cowboys to mysterious volcanoes to top secret women in WWII women, these books are not to be missed!

Read more... Read less...

Aloha Rodeo

Three Hawaiian Cowboys, the World's Greatest Rodeo, and a Hidden History of the American West

David Wolman, Julian Smith, 2019

I am a sucker for a good underdog story, and this book delivers. It’s well researched, well written and is about hometown heroes from my own hometown.

Sharks in the Time of Saviours

Kawai Strong Washburn, 2020

This book made a big splash when it first came out, and with good reason–it’s a literary feast. Both lyrical and eye opening, the book paints a vivid picture of the many sides of Hawaii, not just the shiny facade put on for visitors. I appreciate the risks the author took with this story and the inclusion of magical elements.

Hula

Jasmin Iolani Hakes, 2023

Raw, real and richly layered, Hula is a love letter to Hawai’i, most especially Keaukaha. The words in this novel hit like a hurricane––powerful and intense and imbued with every nuance of island life, from hanabata days to the final paddle out. Brilliantly written and expertly structured, the story of the Naupaka women, and the bitter struggles of the native Hawaiian people, will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. I could not put this book down.

Paddling My Own Canoe

A Solo Adventure Along the Coast of Molokai

Audrey Sutherland, 2018

This book is as inspiring as it is beautiful. And as a canoe paddler myself here in Hawai’i, who knows how treacherous our seas and coasts can be, I am so impressed at her courage to set out alone into the wilds. Audrey is a true legend, and an early pioneer of the adventure story.

Moloka'i

Alan Brennert, 2010

Moloka’i is a classic that exposes a dark part of Hawai’i’s history and the “leper colony” at Kalaupapa, and yet somehow manages to be uplifting. It’s tough to read, but well worth it. Because as Mark Twain once said, “History doesn’t repeat itself but it does rhyme.” This is one part of history that we do not want to rhyme with.

The Descendants

Kaui Hart Hemmings, 2007

Many people have seen the movie, starring George Clooney, but in my opinion the book is better. Kaui has a quick wit and insight that the movie doesn’t quite capture. This is not your typical Hawai’i story, and I think that’s what appealed to me about it. It feels raw and real.

The Last Volcano

John Dvorak, 2015

A local favorite of mine, The Last Volcano (though nonfiction) reads like a page-turner and is full of fascinating Hawaiʻi Island history and anecdotes. Yes, it’s about the legendary volcanologist Thomas Jaggar, founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory at Kīlauea, but it also takes a deep dive into the enchanting and dangerous world of volcanoes. Through his masterful storytelling, Dvorak weaves adventure, science, love and nature into one spellbinding tale. Reminiscent of The Wild Trees, this book will both inform and entertain. A big takeaway is the profound influence that one passionate person can have in this world, and how though we think we may be shaping nature, it is really nature that shapes us.

The Codebreaker's Secret

Sara Ackerman, 2022

I would be remiss not to include one of my own novels, my first dual timeline (1943/1965), that features two intrepid women ahead of their time. Even after writing five WWII Hawaii novels, I’m always surprised how many untold stories we have yet to uncover.