The Value of Hawai‘i: Knowing the Past, Shaping the Future

Biography Monographs

by Craig Howes (Editor), Jonathan Kay Kamakawiwoole Osorio (Editor)

How did we get here? Three-and-a-half-day school weeks. Prisoners farmed out to the mainland. Tent camps for the migratory homeless. A blinkered dependence on tourism and the military for virtually all economic activity. The steady degradation of already degraded land. Contempt for anyone employed in education, health, and social service. An almost theological belief in the evil of taxes.

At a time when new leaders will be elected, and new solutions need to be found, the contributors to The Value of Hawai‘i outline the causes of our current state and offer points of departure for a Hawai‘i-wide debate on our future. The brief essays address a wide range of topics―education, the environment, Hawaiian issues, media, tourism, political culture, law, labor, economic planning, government, transportation, poverty―but the contributors share a belief that taking stock of where we are right now, what we need to change, and what we need to remember is a challenge that all of us must meet.

Written for a general audience, The Value of Hawai‘i provides a cluster of starting points for a larger community discussion of Hawai‘i that should extend beyond the choices of the ballot box this year.

Carlos Andrade, Chad Blair, Kat Brady, Susan M. Chandler, Meda Chesney-Lind, Lowell Chun-Hoon, Tom Coffman, Sara L. Collins, Marilyn Cristofori, Henry Curtis, Kathy E. Ferguson, Chip Fletcher, Dana Naone Hall, Susan Hippensteele, Craig Howes, Karl Kim, Sumner La Croix, Ian Lind, Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie, Mari Matsuda, Davianna McGregor, Neal Milner, Deane Neubauer, Jonathan Kay Kamakawiwo’ole Osorio, Charles Reppun, John P. Rosa, D. Kapua‘ala Sproat, Ramsay Remigius Mahealani Taum, Patricia Tummons, Phyllis Turnbull, Trisha Kehaulani Watson.

Genres: Nonfiction

264 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2010

Reviews

[Kenny Stevenson]

This book is the last book that I read for a new project that takes place in Hawaii, and it was the best book to wrap up all of the work that I have done. It gets a little too textbook-ish at the end, which made it a little boring, but overall, it was really good.

[R]

A thought-provoking collection of essays about Hawaii.

[Rachelle]

"The Value of Hawaii" is a collection of 28 essays focusing on what is valuable about Hawaii, and provoking discussions of what is right. Howes identifies three general themes throughout the book: 1. we must come fully to terms with Hawaiian claims to land and sovereignty; 2. we require a certain number of government services and planning to preserve our society and environment; and 3. public and private-sector partnerships are essential. I am a little disappointed that there is only one perspective on each issue, and I think that the author bios should be at the beginning or end of each essay (not at the back of the book). Most of the essays are informative, poignant, and practical, with reasonable and "actionable" solutions. The book definitely accomplishes its goal of provoking thoughtful and open discussions; I really appreciate its focus on solutions, not just blame.

[Momi]

Heard about this book, The Value of Hawai`i, on the internet...Hawai`i NPR by chance. In my Hawai`i life I knew Osorio and one of the women who writes in this book. A must read for all who'd like to know more than just sunsets/mai tais and snorkeling. Well done!

[Elizabeth]

I wish there was a book like this for every state, every five years. It's so wonky and wonderful. It's escapist reading for me, reading about another state's budget crisis.

[allysther]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11098850