Hawaiian Daughters: A Historical Novel - Paperback

by Paula Dawson (Author)

HAWAIIAN DAUGHTERS is the story of three sisters who are driven by their destinies as they are influenced by culture, mentors, and heroes. Their lives are chronicled as they witness the incredible history of Hawaii. The attack on Pearl Harbor shatters their tranquil existence in Paradise, and forces upon them connections to Camp Tarawa and the battle of Iwo Jima. The onset of war is the first of many historic events in which they will become participants. They will struggle during tragedies including a tsunami in Hilo and the eruption of Mauna Loa, and they will celebrate when Hawaii becomes a state. Faced by challenges and choices, their lives are inevitably predestined as they forge ahead in efforts to achieve their dreams. At an early age, one sister is consumed with thoughts of converting her grandmother's boardinghouse into a hotel. Another is inspired by her love of the sea to become a protector of its natural resources. The third sister pursues a career in law and considers opportunities for a future in politics. They will find themselves involved in conflicts over land development, plantation use of pesticides, endangered species, and the diversities of the Hawaiian people. Parents and grandparents mold the ideals of the sisters, propelling each of them in a different direction. There is the father who suppresses memories of his experiences during World War I and the mother who was raised as an adored only child of Hawaiian and Irish parentage. Among the strongest influences in their lives are their Hawaiian grandmother who is determined to preserve her heritage: and their Irish grandfather who tells stories of his adventures as a seaman who jumped ship one day and on the next day became a cattleman in the hills of Waimea. A young cousin arrives in Hawaii on his way to war, and the sisters struggle to balance the life forces of careers and families. As the business interests of one sister collide with the conservation efforts of another, the third sister, involved in the enactment of legislation, is compelled to remain neutral for the sake of equilibrium between Hawaii's growing economy and its fragile ecology. This is a story of love and loss; joy and sorrow; loyalty and conflict. While history continues to move forward, the lives of the sisters are intertwined with it.