Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kamehameha V), filled with works created by artists living in Hawaii; the Honolulu Academy
of Arts, the state's only general fine arts museum, with an excellent collection of Asian arts;
and the Contemporary Museum, three acres of sculptured gardens and displays of contem-
porary art in the museum.
HONOLULU, WAIKIKI & OAHU IN POP CULTURE
In addition to the topics discussed below, those planning an extended trip to Hawaii should
check out Frommer's Honolulu & Oahu Day by Day, Frommer's Kauai, Frommer's Maui,
Frommer's Maui Day by Day, Frommer's Hawaii with Kids, and Frommer's Hawaii 2012.
Books
FICTION
The first book people think about is James A. Michener's Hawaii (1974). This epic novel man-
ages to put the island's history into chronological order, but remember, it is still fiction, and
very sanitized fiction, too. For a more contemporary look at life in Hawaii today, one of the
best novels is Shark Dialogues, by Kiana Davenport (1995). The novel tells the story of Pono,
the larger-than-life matriarch, and her four daughters of mixed races. Davenport skillfully
weaves legends and myths of Hawaii into the “real life” reality that Pono and her family face
in the complex Hawaii of today.
Lois-Ann Yamanaka uses a very “local” voice and stark depictions of life in the islands in
her fabulous novels Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers (1996), Blu's Hanging (1997), and Heads
by Harry (1999).
