Literary Lahaina, and Beyond
A preliminary reading list to understand and sustain Hawaii’s cultures
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It’s been nearly two weeks since the devastating Lahaina fire on Maui, already named the most deadly in American history. Early reports make it clear that local people and organizations leapt into action to support people who lost their homes, family members, and livelihoods, and will continue to do so during the years—or even decades—long process of rebuilding. As natural disasters continue at a terrifying rate, especially in the West, it’s easy to be paralyzed, to wonder what to do next, to wonder how to prioritize all of the people and the communities that need assistance. NOTE: if you haven’t yet, this is your moment to choose a relief fund and donate. See the bottom of this post for suggestions.
Lahaina is a critically important community and location. It was the first capital of the united islands of Hawaii; an early site of contact with James Cook; a popular whaling destination and missionary town in the 19th century; and later, an early locale for labor resistance to plantation exploitation. In contemporary times, it is also a beloved destination for tourists, who have made an indelible impact on the culture and the island resources. In this way, Lahaina—its past, present and future—presents a case study for the unique history, economics, ecology and culture of Hawaii as a whole. What elements of these do we support Hawaiians preserving and sustaining, going forward? What do we need to know and do?
Below is a short reading list for Hawaii, past and present. By no means extensive, it provides a starting place to learn more, to think about the questions above, and to encourage you to continue to aid the local cultures as they build a new Lahaina, and Hawaii.
All I Asking for Is My Body, Milton Murayama (1975). Lahaina-born writer Milton Murayama pulls from his own experience as a second-generation Japanese-American, trapped by exploitative plantation economics and his struggles to honor his family and build a life of his own.
“What For,” Garrett Hongo (1982). You could pick any of Hongo’s poems, but this one beautifully captures the sensory detail and memories of his growing up in Volcano, Hawaii.
Blu’s Hanging, Lois-Ann Yamanaka (1998). A stunning portrayal of a Hawaii family disrupted by the legacy of Hansen’s disease, focused around Ivah, the eldest daughter, struggling to provide for and protect her younger siblings. The novel somehow manages to make room for humor and hope even as it shows the tragedies that can befall children (warning for sexual violence). Note that the novel both won the prestigious Asian American Literary Award and simultaneously ignited a firestorm of debate about inter-ethic hierarchies in Hawaii. See Cynthia Wu’s thoughtful and even-handed scholarly assessment here.)
Sharks in the Time of Saviors, Kawai Strong Washburn (2020). Set on the Big Island of Hawaii, this novel focuses on a familial belief in Hawaiian legend and signs, and the way that it shapes the identities of three children as they grow up and leave Hawaii for the mainland. This is a powerhouse of a first novel, and Washburn seamlessly integrates Hawaii’s dialects and the narrative voice.
Pau Hana: Plantation Life and Labor in Hawaii 1835–1920, Ronald Takaki (1983). Oahu-born Takaki is the rare historian who brings a storytelling craft to his extensive research. Here, he uses quantitative data as well as oral history to document the multi-ethnic histories of Native Hawaiians and immigrant laborers (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino) who drove the economic engine of sugarcane. While the plantations may have closed, the fantasy of Hawaii and sugar persisted well into the 80s — see this video of C&H sugar commercials. Takaki’s other histories, especially Strangers from a Different Shore, continually highlight Hawaii as a formative site of immigration, economics, and politics in the United States.
From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawaii, Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask (1993). Not enough can be said about the accomplishments and influence of Haunani-Kay Trask. A leader and activist of the Hawaiian Sovereignty movement, an award-winning author and philosopher of Hawaii’s colonial past and present, Trask here collected previous essays to forward what the University of Hawaii press calls a “provocative, well-reasoned attack against the rampant abuse of Native Hawaiian rights, institutional racism, and gender discrimination, has generated heated debates in Hawai’i and throughout the world.”
Starter Read: Unfamiliar Fishes, Sarah Vowell (2011). A quick and pithy introduction to Hawaiian history and American intervention and colonialism. In Unfamiliar Fishes, Vowell uses her outsider status, characteristic wit and popular historical knowledge to distill complex events and legacies in the islands. In no way is this book a substitution for the depth and sophistication of the books above, written by residents of Hawaii. But if you’re having trouble getting started, this can help you build some steam to dig into others. As novelist Kaui Hart Hemmings suggests in his NYTimes review: “let the scholar and the smart aleck work together.”
Isthere a book about Hawaii that has moved you? Share it in the comments! And if you’re looking for more, you can consult this Honolulu Magazine’s 2018 50 Essential Hawaii Books You Should Read in Your Lifetime, as determined by the Hawaii literati. And while you’re at it, please consider donating what you can to ongoing efforts in Lahaina. There are any number of worthy local agencies. You can find a list of them here, courtesy of Honolulu City Beat.
