ON April 1 and 2, I delved into James A. Michener’s West Wind to Hawaii and was completely captivated. I actually read it in a volume of Reader's Digest Condensed Books. The editors had chosen to describe only the story of the first generation of a Polynesian tribe. They leave the island of Bora Bora on a canoe named "West Wind to Hawaii", heading north in search of Havaiki, which likely became Hawaii over time.

By the way, Hawaii held a special place for Mr Michener. It was not just a literary interest but also his home. He and his Japanese wife lived in a house given to them by a group of Hawaiians, hoping he would write the story of their people. With his epic Hawaii, he accomplished just that, chronicling the tales of five or six generations of the island's original settlers, all while adding some spicy fictional elements.

Sixty Bora Bora islanders, including King Tamatoa, his brother Teroro, and sister Natabu, embarked on a perilous sea journey with food, supplies, and a house for their rock gods. Constellations guided them. At one point, they almost ran out of food and water, but a storm with heavy rain quenched their thirst, giving them new life.

Tamatoa and Teroro's aunt Teura had the ability to predict the future with omens, and even the great blue shark Mano came to her aid. The islanders had some strange customs, like the king mating with his sister to produce royal descendants. A century or more later, with the arrival of missionaries, these customs became taboo.

James Michener did much through his writing, travels, and personal life to foster understanding between the West and the people of the Orient. In 2008, a 59 definitive stamp was issued to honour him as part of the Distinguished Americans series. And Jocelyne LaGarde, a Tahitian, became famous for her one acting role in the 1966 motion picture, Hawaii, earning an Oscar nomination.

"Hawaii" book cover best suited for "West Wind to Hawaii".



James Michener and his wife, Mari, at home with their formidable art collection.



The beautiful Jocelyne LaGarde was a Tahitian who became famous for her one acting role in the 1966 motion picture, Hawaii.



James Michener, with a painting of himself, at his home in Pennsylvania in 1962. At the time he was running for the United States Congress.



On May 12, 2008 a 59 definitive stamp was issued to honour James Michener as part of the Distinguished Americans series...printed in small panes of 20.



One film equals one Oscar nomination for the French (Tahitian) Jocelyne LaGarde.

This is the second time I have read this book, with the first time being over 30 years ago.

It offers an interesting commentary on societal changes. Back then, as a woman, I might have given it 4 stars. However, this time around, I simply could not tolerate the endless portrayal of women being raped.

The book presents women (and even teenage girls) as happily working as prostitutes, and female characters being raped and then falling in love with their rapists, who are depicted as all-around good guys just doing what men supposedly did in that era.

Some might roll their eyes at me and claim that Michener was just being historically accurate. But I'm not so naïve as to believe that women actually enjoyed being raped, fell in love with their rapists, or happily swam out to sailors' boats to be raped by multiple men.

The pedophilia that Michener includes is also deeply disturbing, especially when read in 2023. There are many descriptions of nubile 14-year-old girls happily having sex with 40-year-old men in houses specially designed by their fathers for this purpose. It's truly gross.

I re-read this book for the fictionalized history of Hawaii, but this time I could hardly get through it.

This was a TOME.

It took me a whopping 3 months to complete it! However, I'm extremely glad that I did. While I'm not exactly a die-hard fan of Michener's style, I truly appreciated the in-depth contextual history of Hawaii that I gleaned from the captivating stories within this epic novel.

My significant takeaways are as follows:

- The original colonisers of Hawaii were undeniably racist.

- Oh, and they were also blatantly sexist.

- Michener himself might potentially have been racist and sexist as well.

- Hawaii possesses a truly fascinating history, and the earliest recorded history of it cannot be underestimated. I have such a deep appreciation for the early parts of this novel that are dedicated to the Polynesian stories from Tahiti and Bora Bora.

- The missionaries really caused a great deal of harm to Hawaii.

- Hawaii is indeed very different from the USA mainland, and it has been wronged by the USA mainland time and time again. I was aware of this before reading this book, but now I truly and fully understand just how messed up the whole situation was... And still is! Hawaii continues to suffer from many of the same issues that it faced in the 18th century.

That was an enormous number of books! At a whopping 55 hours, it is undoubtedly the longest audiobook I have ever engaged with.

On one hand, I have the sense that it could potentially be divided into several books. However, a significant number of the characters are connected over time through their lineage, and splitting it up might disrupt that crucial aspect.

In reality, it simply required some meticulous editing. There is an overwhelming amount of content and events that occur throughout, to the extent that by the conclusion, it all somewhat blurred together in my mind.

Despite its length and the need for refinement, there were still aspects of the audiobook that held my attention and kept me engaged. It was a challenging but also somewhat rewarding experience to have delved into such a vast and complex story.

Perhaps with a more streamlined and edited version, it could truly shine and become an even more captivating literary work.

This was my second encounter with Michener's work. Last spring, I read "Alaska" in anticipation of my travels through that state. That particular book didn't just furnish me with facts but rather presented a historical framework - stretching from the early pre-historic times to the attainment of statehood - through which I could perceive the place and its people. I desired the same kind of experience for my upcoming trip to Hawaii.

Although I was somewhat reluctant to commit myself to a 1,000-page book as it would prevent me from delving into other books during that period, this one proved to be quite captivating reading. (I had to complete it within ten days to return it to the library by the due date, and I managed to do so without excessive difficulty.) I relish crossing decades and centuries and uncovering the descendants of the original protagonists and antagonists in novel circumstances, situations, and dilemmas.

Most importantly, I am astounded by Michener's capacity to narrate numerous great stories essentially in a summary format to fit everything into "just" 1,000 pages. I wholeheartedly recommend this book which, in the final analysis, is principally about the sociology of economics. (Who would have thought?)

I started reading this book, but unfortunately, I did not finish it at 25%.

I initially read the first chapter, which was in tiny print and described how the islands were formed millions of years ago. It was quite interesting, but the small font made it a bit of a struggle.

So, I decided to switch to the audio version. The narrator was really good, and it made the story come alive. However, I soon realized that there were just too many characters for me to keep track of in an audio book.

This book is a whopping 50 hours of audio, and I simply lost patience with it. I found myself getting distracted and having a hard time following the plot.

Maybe I'll give it another try at a later date when I have more time and patience. But for now, I'm going to move on to something else.

If someone had simply handed me this book and declared, "Here's a strange cult novel from the 1950s," I would have likely believed them without hesitation. However, instead, this particular work comes to me with the full endorsement of a long-lived American bestseller. It has been a bestseller for years!

Structurally alone, the book is an absolute anomaly. It is divided into three-hundred-page "chapters," each of which undergoes a dramatic transformation in tone and focus. The first chapter reads like a science fiction novella, vividly描绘 the formation of the Hawaiian islands. I found myself constantly waiting for a space ship to land.

The second chapter delves into the arrival of the first Hawaiians on the island. Whether it embodies the mythology of the native Hawaiians themselves or the mythology that non-native Hawaiians have about the native Hawaiians, I cannot say for certain. Perhaps it is both?

The next chapter reads like literary fiction, describing the arrival of the American missionaries in both celebratory and condemnatory terms. It is a powerful and emotional chapter, filled with violence, spikiness, devoutness, and wistfulness.

The subsequent chapters read like mid-century popular reporting, chock full of racist and Orientalist distortions. It is unclear whether the book is attempting to undercut these distortions or not.

Then there is a World War II interlude, straight from the depths of hell. The Japanese Hawaiian troops are dying in the European crucible, desperate to prove that they are American enough.

The final chapter paints a rather unflattering picture of the declining haoles of the 1950s as bluff, machinating, inbred idiots who revere figures from the past that the earlier chapters have shown to be monsters.

And then, in its final moments, the book reveals that it is being written in the first-person by one of those very damned haoles. The narrator is revealed on the last line. I'm saying that it's odd, misshapen, and intermittently deeply effective, while at other times it can be ludicrous and infuriating.

In Michener's estimation, the only people who do not come across as horrifyingly hopeless bigots are the native Hawaiians, who, for that very reason, are dying out in a brutal world.

On top of everything, all of it is deeply, deeply fictional. The characters live in completely different centuries than the historical figures on which they were allegedly based, for example. But it is marketed and discussed as if it were nonfiction.

I'm saying that it's a challenging, complicated book, and I was expecting a straightforward historical drama. I was expecting it to be dull. In reality, it is both better and worse for being its eccentric, problematic self. It is better because if you're going to challenge the way people read popular history, it's not half-bad. But it is worse because I'm not sure most folks reading it, based on its reputation and packaging, would respond with explication rather than just acceptance. I don't even know. But I'm glad I read it. It is fiction with a capital F.

The story of Hawaii is an epic saga that dates back to its discovery by some natives who came from Bora Bora.

This momentous event marked the beginning of a new era for the Hawaiian Islands.

Over time, the native population thrived and developed a unique culture and way of life.

However, the arrival of Europeans in the 18th century brought significant changes.

Colonization, disease, and cultural assimilation had a profound impact on the native people.

Despite these challenges, Hawaii continued to evolve and grow.

In the 19th century, the islands became a major center for the sugar and pineapple industries.

This led to an influx of immigrants from around the world, further enriching the cultural tapestry of Hawaii.

Finally, in 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States.

This was a significant milestone in the history of the islands, and it set the stage for a new era of economic and social development.

Today, Hawaii is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful beaches, lush landscapes, and rich cultural heritage.

The story of Hawaii is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of its people, and it continues to unfold to this day.

Beautiful and breathtaking writing has the power to transport us beyond the present moment. It is like a magical key that unlocks the doors to different worlds and emotions. When we encounter such writing, it has the ability to stir our souls and make us feel things we never thought possible. It can paint vivid pictures in our minds, allowing us to experience the beauty and wonder that the words describe. Whether it is a poem, a novel, or a short story, beautiful writing has the potential to leave a lasting impression on us. It can inspire us, make us think, and even change our perspectives. It is a form of art that has the ability to touch our hearts and connect us with something greater than ourselves. So, the next time you come across beautiful and breathtaking writing, take a moment to appreciate its power and let it carry you away to a place you have never been before.

I was truly captivated by the introduction provided by Steve Berry regarding the book, which is as follows:

"Four years of meticulous research and three years of dedicated writing were required to bring 'Hawaii' to life. Its epic scope, remarkable length, and extensive breadth served as the hallmark of Michener's distinct style, a style that he would perfect over the subsequent forty years. Legend has it that he completed 'Hawaii' on March 18, 1959, the very day that Congress voted to admit the islands as the fiftieth state."

"Millions upon years ago, when the continents had already taken shape and the principal features of the earth had been determined, there existed, then as now, one aspect of the world that overshadowed all others. It was a vast and mighty ocean, resting uneasily to the east of the largest continent, a restless, ever-changing, and gigantic body of water that would later be known as the Pacific."

And thus begins the epic narrative of James Michener's classic Hawaii. I have an intense love for this book and the extraordinary history of these Pacific Islands, which have held such significance for me and my family over the years, despite being haoles.

This magnificent book by James Michener chronicles the history of the Hawaiian Islands up until they finally attained statehood in 1959. The story of the creation of this American state is told from the perspectives of numerous characters, each representing their respective ethnic and cultural groups within this monumental tale. I must emphasize that it was initially the dramatic small tribe from Bora Bora that set the stage for the epic story that unfolds before our eyes. However, we must not lose sight of that history, as it will resurface time and again. Additionally, there is the influx of people from the Calvinist missionaries who first arrived on the islands and established a community that thrived for many generations. The climax comes in the final chapter of the book, "The Golden Men," which follows the many descendants who go on to make significant and beneficial contributions to the culture, economy, and structure of the Hawaiian Islands, culminating in Hawaii achieving statehood in August 1959.

Aloha my friends.

A very interesting historical fiction about the island Hawaii.

James A. Michener is truly a MASTER STORY TELLER. His ability to bring the rich history and diverse cultures of Hawaii to life through his words is simply remarkable.

In this fictional account, Michener takes readers on a captivating journey through time, exploring the early days of the island's settlement, the interactions between different ethnic groups, and the evolution of Hawaiian society.

The story is filled with vivid descriptions of the beautiful landscapes, the unique traditions and customs, and the complex relationships between the characters. Michener's attention to detail and his deep understanding of the subject matter make this historical fiction a truly engaging and enjoyable read.

Whether you are a history buff or simply looking for a good story, this book about Hawaii is sure to captivate your imagination and leave you with a greater appreciation for the island's rich and fascinating past.

An intensely long but beautiful read, this one! :) :)

It consists of six chapters, each having its own throughput.

"From the Boundless Deep" is a well-put story about how geological forces over long ages gave birth to the beautiful islands later known as 'Hawaii'. :)

"From the Sun-Swept Lagoon" tells the story of the Polynesian Island people, their fights, gods, ideas, and how they became the first to inhabit the Hawaiian islands.

"From the Farm of Bitterness" focuses on the arrival of Christian missionaries in the early 1800s and their role in transforming Hawaiian ideas. The sea-voyage of the ten missionaries from Boston around Cape Horn was an interesting part.

"From the Starving Village" describes the transformation of Hawaiian society with the influx of Chinese immigrants. It also covers the impact of leprosy and related happenings on the Molokai leper colony.

"From the Inland Sea" deals with Japanese immigrants on the Hawaii Islands, their replacement of Chinese workers, the bombing of Pearl Harbour, and their fight for America in World War II.

"The Golden Men" shows how the commingling of various peoples in Hawaii produced 'The Golden Man' with a different way of thinking. It also covers the changes in Hawaiian culture, economics, and politics due to intermarriages.

Overall, I loved the book, though some parts were a bit boring due to monotony and my personal interests. Michener's writing style is smooth, rich, vivid, sweeping, and terrific. It covers many areas such as geology, sea-voyages, shamanism, Christianity, migrations, and more. Based on this, I give 5-stars to the first four chapters and 4-stars to the final two chapters.

If compared, while I'm satisfied with "Hawaii", I enjoyed "Alaska" and "The Source" more. "Hawaii" was Michener's first epic of extravagant length, and for a start, it deserves a big thumbs-up! :D