The saga of a land from the time when the volcanic islands rose out of the sea to the decade in which they become the 50th state. Michener uses individuals’ experiences to symbolize the struggle of the various races to establish themselves in the islands. A look at Hawaii through different characters’ personal experiences covering the time from the first settlers until application for statehood.
Therefore, men of Polynesia and Boston and China and Mount Fuji and the barrios of the Philippines, do not come to these islands empty-handed, or craven in spirit, or afraid to starve. There is no food here. In these islands there is no certainty.
Paradise Found and Flawed: A Look at James A. Michener’s Epic Hawaii
James A. Michener built a literary empire on the backbone of the multi-generational, geographically anchored historical saga. Among his most famous and ambitious works stands Hawaii, a sprawling epic published in 1959 that attempts to encapsulate the entire history of the islands, from their violent geological birth millions of years ago to the cusp of statehood in the mid-20th century. It is a monumental undertaking, a book of immense scope and meticulous (if sometimes selective) detail, offering readers an immersive journey through time and culture. Yet, despite its undeniable power and historical significance, Hawaii is a book that demands a critical eye, revealing profound strengths alongside significant narrative and perspective weaknesses.
At its heart, Hawaii is structured as a series of interlocking novellas or long chapters, each focusing on a pivotal wave of inhabitants or events that shaped the islands. We begin with the very rocks and volcanoes, move to the arrival of the resourceful Polynesian settlers, endure the seismic shock of the American missionaries, witness the influx of Chinese and Japanese laborers transforming the sugar plantations, and finally arrive at the complex, racially diverse society of the 20th century. Michener’s narrative is panoramic, focusing less on individual destinies (though key characters serve as anchors for each era) and more on the grand sweep of history, the collision of cultures, and the relentless, often brutal, process of adaptation and change.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its sheer immersive power and sense of place. Michener excels at conjuring vivid landscapes, describing the lush valleys, treacherous coastlines, and fiery heart of the volcanoes with a painter’s palate. He clearly did extensive research, and the novel is packed with historical information about ancient Hawaiian customs, missionary zeal, plantation life, and the complex social hierarchies that developed. For many readers, Hawaii was, and perhaps still is, their primary introduction to the islands’ history, providing a seemingly comprehensive overview of its journey from isolated kingdom to American territory. The ambition of the project itself is breathtaking, a testament to Michener’s dedication to capturing the essence of a place through its deep historical roots.
However, it is in the execution of this ambitious project that Hawaii reveals its flaws, particularly when viewed through a contemporary lens. The most significant criticism often leveled against the book is its character development, or lack thereof. Because the narrative spans such vast periods and focuses on the macro historical forces, characters often feel less like full-blooded individuals and more like archetypes or representatives of their respective groups. The stern, unyielding missionary Abner Hale, the tenacious Chinese immigrant Kee, the stoic Japanese laborer Tomi – while memorable, they frequently serve as vehicles for Michener’s historical exposition rather than compelling psychological subjects. Their internal lives are often sacrificed for the sake of moving the large-scale narrative forward.
Furthermore, Michener’s didactic writing style can, at times, make the novel read more like a history textbook interspersed with fictional dialogue than a seamless narrative work. There’s a tendency to “tell” the reader historical facts or cultural traits rather than letting them emerge naturally through plot and character interaction. This can make the pacing uneven, with long stretches of exposition punctuated by moments of dramatic conflict.
Perhaps most critically, Hawaii is undeniably a product of its time (the late 1950s) and reflects a perspective that feels increasingly dated and, at times, problematic. While Michener attempts to portray the different cultural groups and the complexities of their interactions, the narrative frame often feels distinctly Western-centric. The arrival of the missionaries, for instance, is presented with a degree of understanding for their motives, even while acknowledging their destructive impact on native culture. The voices and perspectives of the indigenous Hawaiians, while present, can feel filtered through a non-native lens, sometimes simplifying or romanticizing their traditions while focusing on their perceived societal “failures” prior to Western contact. Similarly, the portrayal of racial dynamics, while grappling with prejudice, can sometimes feel simplistic or couched in language that modern readers might find uncomfortable.
Ultimately, Hawaii is a book of contradictions. It is a sprawling, meticulously researched epic that vividly brings centuries of history to life, yet often sacrifices character depth and narrative fluidity for the sake of historical breadth. It is an influential work that introduced countless readers to the story of Hawaii, but one that must be read critically, recognizing the author’s perspective and the limitations of a single narrative trying to encompass such profound cultural diversity and complex historical trauma.
For readers willing to embark on a lengthy journey and engage with a historical panorama, Hawaii offers a rich, if imperfect, tapestry of the islands’ past. Just remember that Michener provides a powerful, but not the only, story – a fascinating, flawed lens through which to begin understanding the complex, beautiful, and sometimes painful history of this unique corner of the world.