Hula A Novel
Hula, a novel by Jasmin Iolani Hakes, published by HarperCollins Publishers in 2023, spans 400 pages and is written in English. This narrative is set in Hilo, Hawai’i, and intricately weaves the stories of three generations of women, exploring themes of tradition, culture, family, and connection. The protagonist, Hi’i, grapples with her identity within a renowned family known for its contributions to hula, while uncovering the complexities of her family history and the unspoken divides within her community.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of experiences as Hi’i navigates her path toward the Miss Aloha Hula competition, facing the challenge of reconciling her heritage with her aspirations. The novel delves into the significance of dance and destiny, offering insights into cultural heritage and the coming-of-age journey of women. Hula presents a unique perspective on the intertwined lives of its characters, reflecting the struggles and resilience of a community fighting for its survival.
Official synopsis Publisher
Named a Best Book of the Summer by Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE * Audiofile Magazine Earphones Award Winner * HONOLULU Magazine’s Book of the Year About Hawai`i
“Stunning . . . An intricately built novel that spans decades, moving in and out of a collective voice, while also telling Hi’i’s deeply personal and devastating story of trying to find her way.” –Los Angeles Times
Set in Hilo, Hawai’i, a sweeping saga of tradition, culture, family, history, and connection that unfolds through the lives of three generations of women–a tale of mothers and daughters, dance and destiny.
“There’s no running away on an island. Soon enough, you end up where you started.”
Hi’i is proud to be a Naupaka, a family renowned for its contributions to hula and her hometown of Hilo, Hawaii, but there’s a lot she doesn’t understand. She’s never met her legendary grandmother and her mother has never revealed the identity of her father. Worse, unspoken divides within her tight-knit community have started to grow, creating fractures whose origins are somehow entangled with her own family history.
In hula, Hi’i sees a chance to live up to her name and solidify her place within her family legacy. But in order to win the next Miss Aloha Hula competition, she will have to turn her back on everything she had ever been taught, and maybe even lose the very thing she was fighting for.
Told in part in the collective voice of a community fighting for its survival, Hula is a spellbinding debut that offers a rare glimpse into a forgotten kingdom that still exists in the heart of its people.
“A full-throated chant for Hawai’i . . . It’s impossible to come away unchanged.” –Kawai Strong Washburn, author of the PEN/Hemingway award-winning Sharks in the Times of Saviors
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Hula A Novel” about?
Who is the author of “Hula A Novel”?
When was “Hula A Novel” published?
What is the ISBN for “Hula A Novel”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
