Hawaii Books

This is essential reading for any scholar or someone with interests in the Minjung movement. A thorough collection of articles from political scientists, historians, and anthropologists, and reknowned Korean scholars from other fields.

Very little of Okinawan literature has been translated into English, and this book exemplifies why that's such a shame.
This volume provides the reader with not only a chance to explore a culture that Americans know too little about (considering the tremendous influence/destruction we've wrought in Okinawa), but highlights a rich and wonderful literary tradition that gets little to no attention in the west. Buy this book!

This is an intensive and informative kind of book about Thailand and the United States alliance. There is probably no other book like this around that describes the background of Thailand and it's many coups and revolutions from 1947 to 1958, and it's involvment in all the Indochinese conflicts. And why the United States would support and ally with a corrupted and often brutal Thai army which at that time controlled the country and government. The book is really about Thailand at it's most, but it also tells Thailand's relationships with (besides USA), France, Britain, Laos, Cambodia, China, etc. Its a very useful and valuable book for those who wants to know about Thailand and the United States relationship from the very beginning, and how Thailand became as USA's most important ally at that time. A recommended history book.

In spite of its incredible panoply of characters, settings, and situations, THE SPEED OF DARKNESS strikes no false notes, attempts nothing that is spoiled in its dramatic effect by implausibility. Its characters range from elementary school students to cab drivers, from unemployed Vietnam burnouts to widows turned prostitute, from Kaho'olawe campers to physics professor surfers. They represent a wide variety of ethnic cuts and mixtures and speak everything from heavy pidgin to textbook English. They all come to absolutely credible fictional life only because they all come FROM life. Neither an outsider to the Islands nor a lesser artist could have encompassed this variety or earned this triumph. THE SPEED OF DARKNESS is no minor feat. It is a book I strongly recommend to people who love the literature of Hawai'i, or the literature of anywhere. (from "Gauging THE SPEED OF DARKNESS," HAWAI'I REVIEW, Spring 1989, p. 129 ff.

This is a beautifully done book on Hawaiian Petroglyphs. Excellent or both the enthusiast and someone who is has passing interest. It makes for a great coffee table book, as well as one for reference for the more than curious. I have a collection of books on Hawaiian Petroglyphs, but this is definitely one of the better, must haves, for those who are remotely interested.

This is an extract of a review of 'Staging Hong Kong' published in 'The UTS Review: Cultural Studies and New Writing' 5(2), Nove 1999, pp209-212. The reviewer is Mandy Thomas.

'Rozanna Lilley's book 'Staging Hong Kong' is a work which can be defined in every dimension as being 'hot'. As a result of the repercussions of global political and social change, anthropology has been forced to continually reposition itself dynamically through the successive establishmnet of innovative research practices and canons. This book is one of those books which we look to in order to redefine the discipline because it is 'hot' at so many levels, heralding new forms of cultural analysis. It's hot because it articulates an entirely new understanding of cultural productions, it's optimistic and vibrant, brilliantly crafted and seductively humorous, and it's hot because it is very much of the moment in terms of the global issues it deals with, and also because it's about a very cool group of people... 'Staging Hong Kong' is fascinating and exquisitely written. It's brimming with ideas about colonisation, cultural marginality, gender and sexual politics, social differentiation, and the dilemmas of being caught in a culturally and historically huge moment like the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China. In academic literature there is presently a palpable malaise around the subjects of globalisation, nationalism and retrospectives on the century we are farewelling. By returning to a study of the intersection of culture and politics, Lilley eclipses many of the wearying contemporary speculations on the conjunctions between the local and the global and offers us an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing problem of the relationship of art to life.

This book teaches Hawaiian astrology in the framework of Hoku-Heleli a kahuna that is teaching his son Hoku-iki astrology.

In this teaching; Hoku-iki is taught the constelations, which Akua (god of goddess) rules the constelation, then Hoku-Helelie expounds on the teaching by telling an appropriate Hawaiian legend as in "Kane and the creation myth", "The righteous warrior", "Papa and Wakea", "Hina and the moon", and others to illustrate the meaning of the signs. I am surprised that Pele is not mentioned in the book.

The book also teaches the importance of living in harmony with the rest of Creation.

I only have one tiny nitpick with the book. Ms. Claig refers to Io as the supreme or ultimate God (There are many names for the Creator that I need not go into). The nitpick is that Hawaiians were aware of the Creator; but did not pray to the supreme God because they felt that the supreme being was beyond human comprension, so they use their Aumakua, the Po'e Aumakua, and the assorted Akua to act as intercessors.

... ...I have read more HUNA books than are listed there,...

... Aloha nui loa. Two Bears

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

Finding information on Tibet, particularly objective information, can be challenging. This book provides insight into the signficant economic disparities suffered by the Tibetan people. Statistics from China are considered by many sources to be biased and not accurate, and pro-Tibet supporters are difficult to take at face value as well, however this text seems to project the true state of affairs as completely and honestly as possible. Perfect as a reference source for any academic work. Well done!

Mr. Budnick's historical review of the United States "takover" of the Hawaiian Islands unearths the all-too-familiar tale of political intrigue and corruption. This book provides an insider's view of the imperialistic fashion in which the missionaries, large ranch/farming interests, military fanatics and their political cronies collaborated against the Hawiian cultural and political system. It also explains the efforts of native Hawaiians to prevent these actions. Essentially, "Stolen Kingdom" is the non-fiction version of James A. Michener's "Hawaii". I learned much from this well-documented book; and most notably, of the various factions in the US and Hawaii involved in usurping power from the indigenous locals. I recommend this informative writing to all Americans as a primer for Hawaiian Political History.

For me the story really started moving once the immigrants arrived on Maui. But it was important to learn their background and their frame of mind when they left their homeland. It is great to revel in the picture that Bushnell paints with his words on Hawai'i in the monarchy days. It was also fascinating to consider; you've arrived at a land after a long perilous voyage, to discover the inhabitants of you new home do not speak your language. It is very sad that this book is hard to find.