Breaking News: I have a new feature at USA Today's HEA BLOG ... State of Romance! We'll explore the romances set in the featured state. The first state is the last state to join the Union ... Hawaii ... at this link.
King Kamehameha Day is a state holiday in Hawaii. Today the kama'aina (locals) will drape King Kamehameha's statues with lei to celebrate his legacy. Born on the Big Island of Hawaii to the Royal Family, Kamehameha demonstrated his warrior prowess and leadership skills as he wrestled control of Hawaii from his cousin. He then set forth to conquer Maui, Lana'i, Moloka'i, and Oahu. The king of Kaua'i signed a peace treaty to prevent Kamehameha from bringing his fierce warriors to Kaua'i shores. By 1810, the islands were united as the Kingdom of Hawaii.
King Kamehameha is shrouded in many legends. As a teenager, he lifted the sacred Naha Stone that weighs over two tons. If he failed, he would have been executed. But he succeeded, demonstrating that he was destined to be a great leader.
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| The Scouts pose in front of the Naha Stone. |
For all the violence he engaged to unite his kingdom, Kamehameha also showed compassion. He enacted the Kānāwai Māmalahoe - Law of the Splintered Paddle:
E mālama ‘oukou i ke akua
A e mālama ho‘i ke kanaka nui a me kanaka iki;
E hele ka ‘elemakule, ka luahine, a me ke kama
A moe i ke ala
‘A‘ohe mea nāna e ho‘opilikia.
Hewa nō, make.
Oh people,
Honor thy god;
respect alike people both great and humble;
May everyone, from the old men and women to the children
Be free to go forth and lay in the road
Without fear of harm.
Break this law, and die.
This law became the foundation of human rights in Hawaiian law. The crossed paddles appear in the badges of the Honolulu Police Department.
Kamehameha "retired" to Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii - the start and finish of the Iron Man competition.
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| Kamehameha's private heiau in Kailua Kona |
I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Can you recommend any books set in the State of Hawaii?
2. Comments are open through Saturday, June 14, 10 pm in Baltimore.
3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 15.
3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 15.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Check out pictures of the Big Island of Hawaii on my travel blog at this link, link, link, link, link, link, and link.
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| Kamehameha's statue in Kapaau |
I can recommend two series:
ReplyDeletePhantom Lover series by AJ Llewellyn
Hawaiian Heroes by Cathryn Cade
Your link to the USA article isn't working. Where you have /10/, I believe it should be /11/. I managed to locate it anyway!! Very nice.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall reading any books set in Hawaii, so I have no recommendations. I do love the state, though. Only visited it twice (in 78 and 04), but the memories have stuck. :)
My bad. Your link here DOES work. It was the link you sent in the e-mail to us RomVets that wasn't working. That's what I get for not checking. But hey, the URLs look the same. Grumble, grumble. :)
DeleteI shared!
ReplyDeleteJames Michener - Hawaii - loved that book.
ReplyDeletethat was one of my most treasured books
DeleteCongrats on the new column, Kim. It was great. I've read several books set in Hawaii, but none come to mind. Oh, well.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend Meryl Sawyer's "Better Off Dead" and "Unforgettable."
ReplyDeleteThere are a series of vampire ones and Neil Plakcy has a series about a detective.
ReplyDeletedon't think I've read any
ReplyDeleteI was going to say HAWAII by James A. Michener too. A great favorite of mine. The two movies were actually rather good too.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember any Hawaii settings.
ReplyDeleteThanks to DannyFireDragon for the rec!
ReplyDeleteMy fave Hawaiian series are The Lei Mysteries & Somewhere on Maui by Toby Neal,
JoAnn Bassett's funny Islands of Aloha Mysteries, and right now I'm reading Paradise Betrayed by Alice Sharpe.
I have read and loved Meryl Sawyer's one mentioned and I think HelenKay Dimon has some also. I cannot remember the titles. Sorry.
ReplyDeletePatoct
They are fiction books, but the "revealed" guidebooks are great for taking with you on a trip. We took "Kauai Revealed" with us to Kauai and found lots of very cool things to do and places to eat on the island from that book.
ReplyDeleteI cannot think of any other Hawaiian themed books other than the ones that were mentioned here. Sorry. Happy Hawaiaan week and thanks for the giveaways.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of any Hawaiian setting books.
ReplyDeleteKaren T.
I don't know of any books. However, I do know the film, "Blue Hawaii", and saw it thirteen times when I was a very young girl. I still remember most of the songs off by heart. LOL
ReplyDeleteThe only one that comes to mind is Marco by Melissa Schroeder. I love those Santini men! ;)
ReplyDelete