Hawaii Books

This book grabs your attention right from the start and is a joy and pleasure to read. I couldn't put it down till finished. I highly commend the authors on their good taste and wonderful imagination. I personally can't wait for the next book to come out.

Great job!

Valeri's Kingship and Sacrifice is a well researched and thoroughly documented study of the ritual practices and beliefs of the state religion of Hawai'i prior to Christianization and subsequent colonization (you make the connection). This classic is an essential for those interested in the indigenous religious practices of Kanaka Maoli (the Native Hawaiian), specifically those of the ruling class or ali'i and consequently the participation required by the maka'ainana (watcher of the land). He relies extensively on oral histories recorded and/or translated by Native speakers, as well as other documents authored by Native Hawaiians primarily in the 1800's. These written sources are unique because Kanaka Maoli are rare among indigenious peoples as they were able to record their history in their mother tongue and English. In fact prior to the American backed coup that toppled the legitimate government of Hawaii in 1893, Native Hawaiians were the most literate nation in the world. Today Kanaka Maoli Nation is considered the most illiterate ethnic group in the American colony known as the State of Hawai'i. Politics aside, to Valeri's credit he consistantly avoids judgement of what might appear to be questionable cultural practices/values to some Western eyes (although let that reader first take the log out his own). On a metaphysical plane, Kingship and Sacrifice is a study of an alternative and (in its a time) viable reality. We are reminded that reality is not arbitrary construct or an absolute, but rather a mutable creation of the human mind and as such any reality functions because as an individuals within a society we give our conscious or unconscious consent. We are also given opportunity to reflect upon how Spirit was made manifest or channeled within a particuliar society, and noteworthy is the belief that mystery of Spirit imbued every aspect of life. The influence of this ancient way of being is still felt within contemporary Hawaiian culture.

A great deal of care was putting into writing the first edition for the centennial in 1935 and the information presenbted is almost always reliable. It was written by an engineer who was precise about details. So, if that is what you want, it's a five-star book, although stuffy in style.

The brief addenda written by Grove Farm and McBryde for the sesquintenntial add almost nothing over the next 50 years. Those were dramatic years and if you want a complete and balanced story up to the present, this omission drops the 1985 revised edition to two stars or less.

An excellent alternate choice has just been published by Mutual titled "The Story of Kola" that brings the story up-to-date and also includes Poipu. Much more readable and just as accurate.

A prospective school teacher finally finds a position privately teaching a young girl in Hawaii who's recently been injured in a car accident. She naturally takes the all expense paid trip and finds her environment and the young pupil greatly to her liking. She also happens to take notice of her employer's nephew who is in and out of the house. :o)

This happens to be one of my all time favorite romance novels--and I've lost my taste for most. It's because of this book I want to go to Hawaii--preferably for my honeymoon. ;o) There's no sex if, by chance, you don't care for its over abundance in romances, which I can easily understand--but there is kissing and some groping. Just enough, in fact. I think it's well written and that the sexual tension keeps the main character's relationship a juicy read. The tidbits about Hawaii are fascinating. The plot is purely romance--no mystery thriller involved here.

I first read this when I was very young, but now that I've matured, I realize that some of the characters probably could use a little more development. I realize that the main characters' "relationship" could use more development as well, but you have to go with the flow. If you do, I think you might enjoy it. Try it!

The wait for a succinct yet comprehensive history of modern Korea is over. This volume, deftly written by Michael Robinson (Indiana University), comes as a welcome alternative to histories of Korea too long or complex for the typical undergraduate. His book is divided into an introduction, eight chapters (none longer than twenty-five pages), and an epilogue, each of which may be profitably read or assigned on its own. The first chapter surveys traditional Korea, and argues that the seeds of Korean modernity were present even in the Choson dynasty. In Chapters Two through Four, Robinson -- a specialist in Korea's colonial period -- surveys the brutal decades of Japanese rule, elucidating the unique features of Japan's colonizing efforts from the 1910s to the 1940s. He also draws attention to the ideological divisions within Korean society during this period that led to the eventual bifurcation of the peninsula into two confrontational nation-states after WWII. The remaining chapters examine Korea's postwar split, devoting space to developments in both North and South Korea, while a thought-provoking epilogue explores the peninsula's role in East Asian geopolitics in the twenty-first century. Striking photographs throughout confirm this volume's status as the new standard in the field.

Chinul has been called the "Dogen of Korea", and Robert Buswell's masterpiece makes it clear why. All of the surviving Korean schools of Zen trace their lineage through this uniquely gifted Zen master.

Born in 1158, Chinul almost single-handedly reformed and re-vitalized Zen in Korea by the time of his death in 1210 (when Dogen was 10 years old). An intellectual prodigy, and deeply compassionate man, Chinul's huge effect on Buddhism in Korea parallels that of the greatest masters of all time.

Buswell's massive effort offers us much more than the usual examination of a Zen master. After providing us with a thorough account of the history of Buddhism in Korea, The Korean Approach to Zen: The Collected Works of Chinul, presents an extensive account of Chinul's remarkable life, including detailed examinations of all his three of major awakenings that shaped the future course of Chinul's teachings.

Buswell then walks us through a meticulous examination of the Chinul's thought and teaching. From Chinul's exposition and integration of Huayen Buddhism, especially as presented by Tsung-mi, to his understanding of original enlightenment and gradual cultivation, and his view on koan practice, and more.

Perhaps the greatest treasure is Buswell's inclusion of translations from all of Chinul's major works including Secrets on Cultivating the Mind, Straight Talk on the True Mind, The Complete and Sudden Attainment of Buddhahood, Excerpts from the Dharma Collection and Special Practice Record, and more...

All the extras of a great scholarly work, including an extensive glossary and a detailed, easy to use index. This massive text will be a source of Zen wisdom for decades to come. Highly recommended!!

This book provides a wonderful foundation for anyone who wants to understand ancient and present-day Hawaiian culture, traditions and spirituality. Dr. Kanahele covers Religion, Mythology, and Ritual; Space, Time, and Place; Science and Technology; Economics; Leadership and Politics; and Dynamics of Aloha. Not only does he address these in terms of past and current Hawai'i, but he offers cross-cultural insights from throughout Polynesia and the world. A Native Hawaiian who graduated from Kamehameha Schools, then went on to earn his Ph.D. from Cornell, he was described by The New Yorker as the "spiritual father" of the Hawaiian renaissance. As the author of a book from the Bishop Museum on Hawaiian traditions Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi: The Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing, I cherish this book and re-read it regularly for the new insights it provides.

Cooper and Daws thoroughly document the shifts in land and power of the last century. For anyone living here (especially on Oahu) wondering how our islands became this way developmentally, this book is a must read. Personally, living in Salt Lake and a good portion of my life in Makakilo, this book gave excellent information as to who the players were (many estates still with tremendous clout to this day) and how they played the game. There's even an interesting chapter on organized crime that names the names of figures who are still kicking. Anyone considering moving to Hawaii will find this a helpful resource to get a feel for much of the politics and how many groups of cultural backgrounds have related to each other. The reader should also gain understanding as to the high cost of living in paradise.

What a wonderful book....with every turning of the pages brings you closer to the wonders of this beautiful Island. I have visited the Big Island over twenty times and each time I find something new. This book is a must for all who love the splendor of the Big Island.

Includes Melpa Land Tenure - Rules & Processes, Land Tenure in the Woleai; on Kapingamarangi; Landholding on Namu Atoll, Marshall Islands; in the Ellice Islands; Tamana Island, Gilbert Islands; Case of Plamerson Atoll; Pacific Land Tenure in a Nutshell