Elegant, brutal, and profoundβthis magnificent debut captures the grit and glory of modern Hawai'i with breathtaking force and accuracy.
In a stunning collection that announces the arrival of an incredible talent, Kristiana Kahakauwila travels the islands of Hawai'i, making the fabled place her own. Exploring the deep tensions between local and tourist, tradition and expectation, faΓ§ade and authentic self, This Is Paradise provides an unforgettable portrait of life as itβs truly being lived on Maui, Oahu, Kaua'i and the Big Island.
In the gut-punch of βWanle,β a beautiful and tough young woman wants nothing more than to follow in her fatherβs footsteps as a legendary cockfighter. With striking versatility, the title story employs a chorus of voicesβthe women of Waikikiβto tell the tale of a young tourist drawn to the darker side of the cityβs nightlife. βThe Old Paniolo Wayβ limns the difficult nature of legacy and inheritance when a patriarch tries to settle the affairs of his farm before his death.
Exquisitely written and bursting with sharply observed detail, Kahakauwilaβs stories remind us of the powerful desire to belong, to put down roots, and to have a place to call home.
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