Hawaii Books

Pearl Harbor Story is the fascinating and informative memoir of Major General H. D. Russell, who was a member of the U.S. Army Pearl Harbor Investigation Board, an entity that completed its work in October 1944. Major Russell dictated his recollections in early 1946, shortly after finishing six years of active duty in the Army and returning to civilian life. Major Russell's memoir is at last being published with consent of the general's heirs. His first-person account lends an urgent, up-close and unforgettable insider's view to events that shaped history. Major Russell's personal anger with the attack and with attempts to veil the essence of what was truly happening afterward shows clearly throughout. The official report's conclusion that U.S. government officials knew little or nothing about the likelihood of a Japanese attack are starkly challenged by the dissenting opinion of a knowledgeable investigator. Pearl Harbor Story is a must-read for anyone who wants more than just a surface verdict of a singular event that changed world history.

Harry Spiller adds to the legacy with oral accounts of 24 servicemen who were at Pearl Harbor on that fateful December morning. Even though he offers no new insight into the battle or the indomitable human spirit, there is something compelling in his accounts from men who continue to feel anger, pain, and loss more than 60 years after the attack. For those who think only in terms of history and tactics, strategy and battles, this book reaffirms the trimph of the human spirit.

LTC David G. Rathgeber, USMC, Retired, Fallback, CA

Have you every wondered how Pearl Harbor received its name? Several hundred years ago, in this area, Hawaiians gathered large quantities of pearl oysters, which they called "i a hamau leo" or the "fish with a silenced voice." Ocasionally, the small bivalves contained tiny lustrous pearls, which were known in Hawaiian as "momi." The harbor was named "Wai-Momi" or "The River of Pearls."

This book is divided into three historical periods: the First Period focusing on Pearl Harbor (ca. 1000 to 1849); the Second Period at Pearl and Hermes Reef, located 1100 miles north of Honolulu (1927 to 1930); and the Modern Period (1930 to present). I have also included a chapter on Hawaiian Pearl Mythology. - excepts from book's introduction.

Penina Uliulu is a rare and precious black pearl of the Pacific. This book uses its title as metaphor; its aim is to be a "precious, rare, and colourful resource" for the current issues in mental health of Pacific peoples. It is, of course, refreshing to encounter studies of Pacific people written by Pacific people themselves. It is also rare, precious, and colourful to find so many voices unified by their Pacific distinctiveness yet reflective of their own unique cultures and experiences. This edited volume contains nineteen contributions, consisting of mainly essays, but also interviews and poetry. The end of the book includes a substantial categorized bibliography pointing to further resource material in Pasifika mental health. Divided into four sections, the book covers the broad topics of Pacific identities, spirituality, the Pacific unconscious, and trauma and healing.
The subjectivity and attached perspective of the essayists is definitely a major strength of the book. While the contributors are readily equipped to avoid the pitfalls of assumed Western objectivity, their first hand experiences are written down carefully and critically, unafraid to analyse and critique the sometimes negative aspects of their own cultures. This leads to an insightful read not only for Pacific people, but also those interested in learning how Pacific people see themselves.

George Hatem was a the son of Lebonese Maronite Catholic immigrants to the East Coast of the United States. I want to say that his childhood was uneventful, but that would not really be accurate, because it is quite certain that his childhood had a tremendous influence on him, and was a big part of his decision to stay in China and give up his American citizenship. So let's put it this way: He was the son of immigrants. He tended to be picked on a bit while he was growing up. During his later grammar school years, he became unmanageable, and was placed in a reform school by his parents. He eventually went back to Lebanon for medical school. After medical school, he went to China, perhaps more out of curiosity than anything else, and that is where he stayed for the rest of his life. Now, I could spend quite a bit of time speculating on what elements of his childhood predisposed him toward rejecting the land of his birth and becoming a Chinese citizen. But I don't want to do that, because that is not what this book is about, and when it comes right down to it that is not what George Hatem was about. So I will leave you with the brief summary, and let you draw your own conclusions.

The world waited. World War II was over. The Japanese had been defeated, and the conflict between the Communists and the Guomindang was heating up. Nobody knew for sure who would come out on top. There were problems with both options. The Guomindang reeked with corruption. The Communists had some weaknesses in their organizational structure which allowed a few people at the top to wield too much power. One thing is certain: if the Communists had not come out on top, this story would probably not have happened. George Hatem was a good doctor. But there are lots of good doctors in the world. George Hatem's defining quality was not some sort of dazzling, unreal brilliance. He shined because he happened upon a society, a world, a system that really, really needed what he had to offer, and because, by temperament, he was essentially apolitical. But most of all, he had an uncanny knack for finding what he was good at, and sticking to it with a pertinacity which outshone all his peers.

Do men make history, or does history make the man? Nobody knows the answer to that question, but, when it comes to George Hatem, I would say that history made him. Definitely. The greatness of Hatem is that he took what history had made and used it to again make history. Dogged persistence, the ability to stick to his work and not put his nose in where it didn't belong, and the tireless pursuit of a goal which was of benefit to the masses-these were the traits that defined him as a person, and these are the traits that he used to define the way he would approach the monumental events happening around him.

While we are on the subject of history, let me say that history is the main reason I read this book. Of course, I always like a good story, and I liked this one. But the historical value of this book should not go without mention, because it is, in fact, my primary reason for reading it. Whatever his reasons for coming to China when he did, the fact is that George Hatem was quiet closely acquainted with all the major players of the Communist revolution in China, both among the Chinese, and among the expatriate community. He knew Mao well, he was always on good terms which Zhou Enlai. He was a close friend of Zhu De, Mao's general. He treated Anna Louise Strong for some time. He knew both Sydney Shapiro and Sydney Rittenberg quite well. Of course he was close to Edgar Snow, whose book, Red Star Over China is still the definitive chronicle of the Long March, and he was also a close personal friend of Rewi Alley.

I have told you what was important to me as I read this book. But I would be remiss if I did not at least touch on what was important to George Hatem. The two public health problems which consumed his time and passion throughout his life were venereal disease and leprosy. George Hatem at first horrified, then impressed his Chinese colleagues by his insistence on touching his leprosy patients. His treatment approach usually combined what he found to be the best balance between western and oriental medicine. And his work involved a lot of travel and necessitated living for extended periods of time under very adverse conditions.

One of the strengths of this book is its appeal, for different reasons, to a variety of people. This really is an excellent story, and a very useful addition to the history of the Communist revolution in China.

another of us original Ar.FL players. It
chronicles the 12-0-0 season of the Haw-
i'i Warriors in the WAC. With Coach June
Jones now gone to the bigger budgeted SMU
program, which is also in need of some
boosting, it's very important for all us
Rainbows / Warriors of the past to get
this book! Highly recommended before Colt
Brennan starts tearing up the NFL!

...and it will change your understanding of Islam, religion, emotions, and self-cultivation. Clear, engaging, and sophisticated, this study integrates rich ethnography that makes South Suluwesi come alive on the page, with careful theoretical discussions of our words for describing the psyche and education. And it has some great pictures, too.

Josh and Tank's airplane crashes on a beach and they encounter a pirate. It turns out the pirate is a vietnam war veteran. But Josh and Tank have a plan to escape from the pirate. This is my second Lee Roddy book, and if you like a book with action and mystery, you'll love this one.

Informative and interesting guide to local geography. Much more than a tourist guide for kids, this points out local attractions plus a bit of history and legend. Attractive captioned illustrations enliven each page and at times add a touch of humour. Some of the vocabulary may be difficult for youngsters, but the format lends itself to reading aloud. Ms Kaupuiki also includes a glossary and pronunciation guide for many of the Hawaiian words, although it seems to be taken for granted that readers will know that Peter and his dog are wearing helmets that ancient Hawaiian warriors wore, though why they wear them, I don`t know (because he is skateboarding?) I grew up in Hawaii, with local history lessons and all, but even I learned a thing or two from Peter Panini. My two boys enjoy hearing about places they know, as well as finding out about the other islands and some basic history and lore. I wonder if other states have as interesting geography books for kids about their region.

About 10 years ago I bought this book for my father, the first son of my immigrant grandfather from Japan who arrived in Hawaii about 1915. My father did not appreciate the book because it reminded him so vividly of the difficult days of living on the plantations and working in the canefields almost under slavelike conditions. This book truly depicts, through words and photos, an accurate history of the Japanese immigrants who sought a better life in Hawaii. Anyone who reads this book will have a good feel of the immigrant life and cannot leave the book without an appreciation of what we have today.