Waikiki 100 B.C. to 1900 A.D.: An Untold Story

Waikiki has always been a special place to the people of Hawai'i, but in recent years its mana, or spirit, has been lost–or more correctly–forgotten. The restoration of mana, requires looking back to the history of the community. To this end, George Kanahele, one of Hawai'i's most distinguished historians, has written the first comprehensive history of Waikiki.

Dr. Kanahele describes the prehistoric origins of Waikiki and its cultural, economic, and political evolution. Once an important center of Hawaiian civilization, Waikiki collapsed in the wake of Westernization long before it became a popular tourist destination. Kanahele weaves an intricate and fascinating story using myths and legends, archaological and other scientific findings, and the works of Hawaiian historians and scholars. Waikiki 100 B.C. to 1900 A.D. will give readers a new “sense of place” and appreciation for Waikiki.

• George S. Kanahele, Author

  George H. S. Kanahele, 1930–2000, received the Hawaii Book Publishers Association John Dominis Holt Award in 2000 for his significant contribution to Hawaii publishing. He is also the author of Waikiki 100 B.C. to 1900 A.D.: An Untold Story (UH Press, 1996) and Emma: Hawaii’s Remarkable Queen (UH Press for the Queen Emma Foundation, 1999).