Essential Hawaii

Shark Dialogues by Kiana Davenport. This expansive and engrossing multigenerational saga details the history of Hawaii through the experiences of one family. It begins in the 19th century with the dramatic meeting of a young Yankee sailor and a beautiful Tahitian princess. Heads by Harry by Lois-Ann Yamanaka. Growing up in working-class Hilo is tough and there's no romantic Hawaiian ukelele's in the last of Yamanaka's triology. Good reading, though. Makai by Kathleen Tyau. A friendship of a lifetime is the subject of this story set in Honolulu before and after WW II. Murder in Paradise : A Christmas in Hawaii Turns to Tragedy Factual retelling of a Hawaii thrill killing in 1991. The Tattoo by Chris McKinney. A story about the flip side of paradise among people who live here. Glen Grant's Chicken Skin Tales: 49 Favorite Ghost Stories from Hawaii. Believe you, me, there's lots of spirits running around in the shadows in Hawaii.