Hawaii Nei - (Talanoa: Contemporary Pacific Literature) by Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Hawaii Nei brings together three plays by one of Hawaii's finest playwrights. A compassionate portrait of early nineteenth- century Hawaii, "The Conversion of Kaahumanu" charts the lives of five women during the traumatic, transforming events that followed Western contact. Set in post-World War II Hawaii, "Emmalehua" tells the story of a young Hawaiian woman struggling to preserve a cherished cultural heritage in a world eager to forget the past and embrace the new American dream. Through history, humor, and a whodunnit plot, the past and present collide in "Ola Na Iwi," which explores the issues surrounding the treatment of indigenous human remains.

Review Quotes

"Represents the very best of indigenous theatre. . . . Each play is written with verve and wit and has a sure sense of theatricality."