Hawaii /James a. Michener (original 1959; edition 1959)

by james michener

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3,746	57	3,330	(4.03)	180
Pulitzer Prize-winning author James A. Michener brings Hawaii's epic history vividly to life in a classic saga that has captivated readers since its initial publication in 1959. As the volcanic Hawaiian Islands sprout from the ocean floor, the land remains untouched for centuries--until, little more than a thousand years ago, Polynesian seafarers make the perilous journey across the Pacific, flourishing in this tropical paradise according to their ancient traditions. Then, in the early nineteenth century, American missionaries arrive, bringing with them a new creed and a new way of life. Based on exhaustive research and told in Michener's immersive prose, Hawaii is the story of disparate peoples struggling to keep their identity, live in harmony, and, ultimately, join together. BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from James A. Michener's Centennial. Praise for Hawaii "Wonderful . . . [a] mammoth epic of the islands."--The Baltimore Sun "One novel you must not miss! A tremendous work from every point of view--thrilling, exciting, lusty, vivid, stupendous."--Chicago Tribune "From Michener's devotion to the islands, he has written a monumental chronicle of Hawaii, an extraordinary and fascinating novel."--Saturday Review "Memorable . . . a superb biography of a people."--Houston Chronicle… (more)

▾Book information

Member:	wtoomey
Title:	Hawaii /James a. Michener
Authors:	james michener
Info:	Random House (1959), Hardcover
Collections:	Your library
Rating:
Tags:	Historical Fiction, Hawaii

Work Information

Hawaii by James A. Michener (1959)

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▾Member reviews

English (56) Greek (1) All languages (57)

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Showing 1-5 of 56 (next | show all)

Excellent book. The author's classic style, James Michener, begins the novel with a highly detailed formation of the Hawaiian Islands with lava flows millions of years ago and ends with statehood in 1959. Where possible, the key characters are based on historical individuals who settled and transformed the once-free islands into an American state. (

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Huba.Library | Jan 20, 2024 |

Too long. Too much detail. (

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chancell | Jan 15, 2024 |

Excellent book. Extremely detailed (starting with lava flows millions of years ago) up through nearly statehood ( 1959). Chronicles key characters based on historic individuals who settled and transformed the state. The reason I gave 4 instead of 5 is because it was too detailed at times and dragged a bit. (

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lieblbiz | Aug 30, 2023 |

My first Michener experience at the tender age of 12. I will never forget the opening scenes of Hawaii. Michener is a painter of words, I felt the explosions of the Earth as the volcanoes erupted, saw the multiplicity of the colors when the lava flowed into the sea. And that was just the first chapter!

Long before social justice was trendy, Michener took on issues of religious oppression, sexual slavery, and so many more while weaving a thousand page plus plot that kept you inextricably linked to the very end. Hawaii is one of Michener's best! (

)

Windyone1 | May 10, 2022 |

This classic, published in 1959, purchased after visiting Hawaii in 2010, was the final book on my to-read shelf. I read through everything else on that shelf during the height of the pandemic (March 2020 through February 2022), saving this 1036-page book for last. It starts slow, and ends rather weakly, but the parts in the middle are quite good. The book traces the history of Hawaii from its prehistoric formation (no people in that chapter, so I only skimmed it), through the arrival of the original Hawaiians, the American missionaries, the Chinese, and the Japanese, up to 1954, just before statehood. James Michener creates memorable characters that one can care about. Parts of the book may be politically incorrect today, but it is (well-researched) historical fiction, accurate for the time it was written. (

)

riofriotex | Mar 14, 2022 |

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▾Other authors

» Add other authors (6 possible)

Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Michener, James A.	—	primary author	all editions	confirmed
Lorch, Fritz	Translator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Publisher Series

Bantam Books (8)

Is contained in

Alaska / Caribbean / Chesapeake / Hawaii / The Source / Texas by James Michener

Hawaii / Poland / Chesapeake / Journey / Caravans / The Bridges at Toko-Ri by James Michener

Alaska / Hawaii by James A. Michener

Centennial / Chesapeake / Hawaii by James A. Michener

Centennial / Caravans / Hawaii by James A. Michner

The Source / Sayonara / Caravans / Return to Paradise / Hawaii by James A. Michener

Contains

Hawaii, Volume 1 of 2 by James A. Michener

Hawaii, Volume 2 of 2 by James Michener

Hawaii, Volume 1 of 3 by James A. Michener

Hawaii, Volume 2 of 3 by James A. Michener

Hawaii, Volume 3 of 3 by James A. Michener

Hawaii, Chapter 1: From the Boundless Deep by James A. Michener

(show 3 more)

Hawaii, Chapter 2: From the Sunswept Lagoon by James A. Michener

Hawaii, Chapter 3: From the Farm of Bitterness by James A. Michener

Hawaii, Chapter 5: From The Inland Sea by James A. Michener

Has the adaptation

Hawaii [1966 film] by George Roy Hill

Is abridged in

Reader's Digest Condensed Books 1959 v04 by Reader's Digest

American Men at Arms by F. van Wyck Mason

Reader's Digest Condensed Books: Hawaii • Surface at the Pole • Pioneer Go Home • The Lovely Ambition • Village of Stars by Reader's Digest

Reader's Digest Condensed Books: Trustee from the Toolroom • The Leopard • The Triumph of Surgery • Hawaii by Reader's Digest

(show 5 more)

De grote Ceasar; De tijgerkat; De goden van Hawaii; Diamanten voor Janice by Reader's Digest

Biblioteca de Selecciones: Hawaii y Tres Otros Cuentos by James Mitchner

De verkeerde diagnose; Met de westenwind naar Hawaii, Zuster Luc; Wie doet me wat by Reader's Digest

O Cardeal; A Cidade Que Recusou Morrer; Vento Oeste Para o Havaí; O Caçador de Cavalos by Reader's Digest

Volume XI: 1. West Wind to Hawaii; 2. The Final Diagnosis; 3. Jungle Girl; 4. Act One: An An Autobiography; 4. Woman of Straw by Reader's Digest

Is a supplement to

James Michener's Favorite Music of Hawaii by James Michener

Has as a supplement

Hawaii Truth Stranger Than Fiction by LaRue Piercy

Has as a student's study guide

Summary & Study Guide Hawaii by James A. Michener by BookRags

▾Awards and Honors

Distinctions

New York Times bestseller (Fiction – 1959)

Publishers Weekly Bestseller (Fiction – 1960)

Notable Lists

Greatest Books algorithm

Koen Book Distributors Top 100 Books of the Past Century

Notable Books List (1959)

San Francisco Chronicle list of The 20th Century's 100 Best Fiction of the American West

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▾Common Knowledge

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Canonical title

Original title

Hawaii

Alternative titles

Original publication date

People/Characters

Important places

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Important events

Related movies

Hawaii (1966 | IMDb)

The Hawaiians (1970 | IMDb)

Epigraph

Dedication

First words

Millions upon millions of years ago, when the continents were already formed and the principal features of the earth had been decided, there existed, then as now, one aspect of the world that dwarfed all others.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Original language

English

Canonical DDC/MDS

813.54

Canonical LCC

PS3525.I19

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

▾Book descriptions

Pulitzer Prize-winning author James A. Michener brings Hawaii's epic history vividly to life in a classic saga that has captivated readers since its initial publication in 1959. As the volcanic Hawaiian Islands sprout from the ocean floor, the land remains untouched for centuries--until, little more than a thousand years ago, Polynesian seafarers make the perilous journey across the Pacific, flourishing in this tropical paradise according to their ancient traditions. Then, in the early nineteenth century, American missionaries arrive, bringing with them a new creed and a new way of life. Based on exhaustive research and told in Michener's immersive prose, Hawaii is the story of disparate peoples struggling to keep their identity, live in harmony, and, ultimately, join together. BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from James A. Michener's Centennial. Praise for Hawaii "Wonderful . . . [a] mammoth epic of the islands."--The Baltimore Sun "One novel you must not miss! A tremendous work from every point of view--thrilling, exciting, lusty, vivid, stupendous."--Chicago Tribune "From Michener's devotion to the islands, he has written a monumental chronicle of Hawaii, an extraordinary and fascinating novel."--Saturday Review "Memorable . . . a superb biography of a people."--Houston Chronicle

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