The Last Aloha - by Gaellen Quinn (Paperback)

About the Book

Laura goes to work for the royal family as Hawaii's last queen, Lili`uokalani, struggles to save the kingdom.

Book Synopsis

In 1886, following the tragic deaths of her father and her fiancé, Laura Jennings, alone in the world, travels to Hawaii to live with missionary relatives she's never met. Laura imagines she'll live in a grass hut and minister to savages, but on arriving in Honolulu, she's surprised to find that, far from being savages, the Hawaiians have developed a sophisticated and prosperous kingdom-and Laura's family is among the wealthy elite plotting to topple the throne. To avoid her conniving uncle's control, Laura goes to work for the royal family, little knowing that her destiny will become intertwined with those of great island sovereigns.

• Winner: BAIPA Award for Best Historical Fiction
• Winner: Ka Palapala Po`okela Book Award
• Winner, Texas Writers' League Award for Historical Fiction

Review Quotes

"I was caught up in the drama and spectacle from the first. Quinn knows her history and is skilled at bringing it to the page. I highly recommend this novel, not just to those with an interest in the Hawaiian Islands, but to all who can appreciate a good yarn. Knowing that much of this one is true made it all the more compelling."

-Eileen Goudge, best-selling author of Garden of Lies and Such Devoted Sisters

"A riveting story of the glory of the Hawaiian kingdom, The Last Aloha is a top pick that should not be overlooked."

-The Midwest Book Review

"As a native Hawaiian, I appreciate Quinn's approach to her Western protagonist coming to know the islands and their people. As a specialist in Hawaiian history, I also appreciate the historical accuracy. I'm recommending The Last Aloha to all my family and friends."

-Keanu Sai, Ph.D.

"A work of towering historical majesty, The Last Aloha propels us into a story as exotic and seductive as any of the Hawaiian Islands-before the tourists arrived. This is a journey far off the beaten track, an elegy to a world lost by being found."

-Sarah Bird, author of The Yokota Officers Club and Virgin of the Rodeo

"Inspired by true events, The Last Aloha explores the deep recesses of Hawaii's history. It details the final days of the monarchy and the queen's struggle to save her throne. Quinn's extensive research through original 19th- and 20th-century documents, conversations with native Hawaiians, and visits to the original sites make her book more thorough than any other."

-Kira Taniguchi, for Austin Woman Magazine

"Beautifully and insightfully written, The Last Aloha shines a light on a dark part of Hawaii's history, and challenges us to see each other with both our minds and our hearts-the true aloha spirit. Quinn reminds us that this spirit has always been in the hearts of the Hawaiian people, giving us hope that it is within reach of us all."

-Q'Orianka Kilcher, actress, star of The New World