Lucky Come Hawaii: A Novel of December 7, 1941

In the opening chapter of this classic novel set in Hawai‘i, news of the attack on Pearl Harbor has just reached rural Maui. Miscommunication, confusion, and rumors of war aggravate the already tense relations among the diverse immigrant communities, Native Hawaiians, and the American military. As told through the perspective of a poor Okinawan family, Lucky Come Hawaii vividly captures the emotions and trauma at this momentous turning point in Island history, which will change the fate of individuals, ways of life, and the land itself forever.

First published in 1965 to national acclaim but long out of print, Lucky Come Hawaii is a tale of love, intrigue, humor, and Island families torn apart and reunited by the events of December 7th. The novel also anticipates the changes overtaking Hawai‘i, from Territory to Statehood, from small towns to a militarized Pacific metropolis. Lucky Come Hawaii should be required reading for anyone who cares deeply about the untold stories of the Islands’ multi-ethnic communities and the struggle of individuals to find a place and sense of identity in their American home.

• Jon Shirota, Author