The Hawaiians

by Steve Stelle

Author's note: This recent edition has been extensively edited to remove errors found in the previous edition.
Surfing is not a crime, but it was in Old Hawaii when the Calvinist missionaries held power by influencing the royalty. When a group of young Americans jump ship and start the first surf camp in a downtrodden and practically deserted Waikiki, Head Missionary Hiram Bingham becomes apoplectic with rage. A cast of memorable characters fill this novel with many plot twists and ideas that are as relevant today as they were almost two hundred years ago. In 1824 sixteen-year-old, orphaned William Goode was put aboard ship in New Orleans as an apprentice seaman against his will. A young man with unique abilities, he began an adventure that took him to Hawaii, forging friendships and making enemies along the way. Spanning more than a decade, this fast-paced narrative is written in a blend of James Michener and James Patterson, full of accurate history and a rousing ensemble of characters presented in a page turning style. The Calvinist missionaries want to make sure no one is having any fun while William and his friends just want to work their little farm of taro patches and fishponds and go surfing free from religious oppression. From the beaches of early Waikiki to the chilly winters of Boston, this novel moves back and forth, around the Horn and across the vast Pacific, with enterprising surfers, a beautiful Hawaiian princess, runaway slaves, and a renegade priest. You will fall in love with Hawaii, fall in love with the characters, and see Hawaiian history in a whole new way.

AI Virtual Voice not good

So this is kind of like James Michener light, combined with bad virtual AI reading of the story.

The Hawaiian words are butchered on a regular basis and the story seems like it wants to be a knock off of the great novelist especially in the first dozen or so chapters regarding the Calvinist preachers.

There’s decent character development, and again it’s a shorter version of the great novelist but still a good story on its own. Just wish that they had not used virtual to narrate the book.

AI reading NOT GOOD!

Really terrible AI reading! Such a disservice to a enjoyable novel. Storytelling is for humans!!

The Hawians

I thought it was a very good story, but some of the phrases that were used were modern when they should’ve been appropriate for that time.

Loved the stories

The virtual voice narration lacked variety and interest. A good editor could have removed the sentences that were repeated in many chapters.

Dump AI! Good story, awful narration

Growing up in Hawaii, I expected to really enjoy this story. I would have enjoyed it, a lot more, had it not been for the absolutely awful AI voice. Not only was the AI wooden, in general, the pronunciation of even basic Hawaiian words was horrendous. Did no one who knows anything about the Hawaiian language review the recording, before it was released? From now on, I will check whether the narration of any title is human or AI, before purchasing. The story deserves better.