Hawaiiana: The Best of Hawaiian Design

by Mark Blackburn

This beautifully illustrated book contains over 600 color photographs and an instructional text that capture the romance and allure of the Hawaiian Islands during their years as a Territory of the United States, from 1900 to 1959. The objects shown in the book all are from collections in Aloha attire, jewelry, paper goods and prints, dolls, woodenware, and souvenirs. This is the first comprehensive overview of Hawaiian objects and designs to be published, containing both the typical and the inspired patterns that are so eagerly sought after world-wide by collectors and designers alike; from Hawaii--the paradise of the Pacific., 600+ color photos, 8 1/2" x 11", Price Guide

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1996

Reviews

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

So disappointing. It's as if I picked up an attractive looking book called "The Best of Swedish Interior Design" and ended up with a hardcover IKEA catalogue. It appears to be an essentially self-published (certainly it's self-laid-out) list of the authors' collection of Hawiiana, and it's all for sale. If not by him, then by a buddy with a nearby gallery. Everything has a price, and there's almost no text, no introductory chapters, no context, nothing.

Granted, it was on sale at a deep discount, but I wouldn't have bought it if I'd realised it was a jumped-up catalogue.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a price guide to things like Hawaiian shirts, postcards, etc. I'm not interested in that, just like pictures of old stuff. Many great things in here.