Hula

A Novel

By: Jasmin Iolani Hakes

Narrated by: Mapuana Makia

Audiofile Magazine Earphones Award Winner• Named a Best Book of the Summer by Harper's Bazaar and ELLE

“Stunning…an intricately built novel that spans decades, moving in and out of a collective voice, while also telling Hi’i’s deeply personal and devastating story of trying to find her way.” –Los Angeles Times

“A full-throated chant for Hawai'i. . . . It’s impossible to come away unchanged.” —KAWAI STRONG WASHBURN, author of the PEN/Hemingway award-winning Sharks in the Times of Saviors

Set in Hilo, Hawai’i, a sweeping saga of tradition, culture, family, history, and connection that unfolds through the lives of three generations of women—a tale of mothers and daughters, dance and destiny.

“There’s no running away on an island. Soon enough, you end up where you started.”

Hi'i is proud to be a Naupaka, a family renowned for its contributions to hula and her hometown of Hilo, Hawaii, but there’s a lot she doesn’t understand. She’s never met her legendary grandmother and her mother has never revealed the identity of her father. Worse, unspoken divides within her tight-knit community have started to grow, creating fractures whose origins are somehow entangled with her own family history.

In hula, Hi'i sees a chance to live up to her name and solidify her place within her family legacy. But in order to win the next Miss Aloha Hula competition, she will have to turn her back on everything she had ever been taught, and maybe even lose the very thing she was fighting for.

Told in part in the collective voice of a community fighting for its survival, Hula is a spellbinding debut that offers a rare glimpse into a forgotten kingdom that still exists in the heart of its people.

Interesting

I was really into the story For the most of the book— until the end. The ending was complicated and I am not sure I understood historically and emotionally what indeed occurred. I would recommend the book because it is a historical study that as far as I know has not had a strong light shone on it. I love Hawaii and I am sorry for the injustices done to that country.

Beautiful story telling

It was a bit confusing at first whose point of view the story was being told through at points but overall not hard at all to figure out like other reviews have mentioned. I personally found the way the historical bits were weaved in to be fascinating and informative while lending to the story. It is such a shame to see how much outside influences have truly destroyed a people. The ending did feel a bit too open ended in terms of how abrupt and vague it was but it also seems like a story that has no end. As the story spans many generations with many problems bleeding in from the last generation, it would be easy to argue that the ending was left that way to show that it’s not over. Overall it was a great story and had me in tears!

Finally!!

We need more books that shows the conflicts and struggles of the Hawaiian people. This is a great insight into the historical events that have plagued Kanaka. Though this book is fiction, the historical date and events are fact. The author illustrates how difficult this issues are to tackle as a People. She does a great job of showcasing differing viewpoints on how to protect and perpetuate Hawaiian culture, land, and people. We must remember the end goal is always the same and to stand tall and proud as one Lāhui. IMUA!!

Authentic portrayal of the struggle native Hawaiians face

I loved the authenticity of the story. Only someone from Hawaii could tell the story truthfully. The narrator was excellent too. I felt the “titah” in her words. It was a beautiful portrayal of a special place.

Beautiful

As a local who long ago moved away this was a lovely story to listen to. I felt connected to and the story of what was going on was pulled thru w out hitting you over the head. Was a great education for my mainland friends wanting a new depth to their understanding of native hx.