The True Story of Kaluaikoolau - (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The story of Kaluaikoolau (or Koolau) is one of Kauai's great legends. In 1892, after learning that he and his young son had contracted leprosy, Koolau fled with his family deep into Kalalau Valley. In June 1893 Koolau shot and killed a sheriff and two Provisional Government soldiers who had been sent to arrest him. He vowed never to be taken alive and became a powerful symbol of resistance for many Hawaiians in the years following the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani.

The story of Koolau's last years, as narrated by his devoted wife, Piilani, was published in Hawaiian in 1906. In this volume, the Hawaiian text is preceded by an English translation that successfully retains the poetic imagery and figurative language of the original. Many writers have attempted to tell Koolau's story, but none have been able to match the simple grace and poignancy of Piilani's narrative. It is one of only a handful of historical accounts by a native Hawaiian.

Review Quotes

"The tale of this family's tragic flight into the remote Kalalau Valley has had many tellers over the years, including Jack London. But, as translator Frances N. Frazier writes in her introduction, 'none can compare with that of Piilani herself.'"

About the Author

Frances N. Frazier has translated numerous works for the Bishop Museum and the Hawai'i State Archives.