Shoal of Time

A History of the Hawaiian Islands

By: Gavan Daws

Narrated by: Kaipo Schwab

The Hawaiian kingdom was tiny, and the big world was huge. The 19th century was the high water mark of Western imperialism, worldwide, and the great powers were planting their flags across the Pacific. Hawai'i was in their sights. By late in the century, two strong American currents were running: one east from the islands, one west from the continent.

Sugar plantations had become Hawai'i's biggest moneymaker. And many of the biggest names in the business were of American blood - the sons of missionaries, devout capitalists.

At the same time, the United States was beginning to envision itself as an imperial naval power in the Pacific. This was the doctrine of Manifest Destiny, and Hawai'i's Pearl Harbor was a strategic key. In 1893, they forced Queen Lili'uokalani to surrender the kingdom to them, and straight away they offered Hawai'i to the United States. The Hawaiians resisted, but they could not hold off the big world.

From warrior culture to constitutional government, to unstable monarchy, to revolution, to provisional government, to republic, to annexation, it had taken barely a hundred years.

Finally, in 1959, Hawaii was admitted to the Union.... Fiftieth star... Aloha State.

©1968, 1974, 2015 Gavan Daws (P)2021 Tantor

New to Hawaii History

Didn’t really know much of anything about Hawaiian history prior to purchasing this book. Bought it to prep for a move to HI.

The accuracy ,and the narrator was very well spoken.

I have read a lot of books on Hawaiian History, I learned more of the detail on events.

Very informative

Very informative and interesting title about the history of Hawaii. Lots of details and kept me captivated; highly recommend!

Idk Hawaii probably

Very enjoyable, definitely leans into historical sources more without over-editorializing. Wish there was more, but happy with a smaller introduction to the larger history.

Truly wonderful history and storytelling.

My usual habit when traveling is to download an audiobook history of my destination, listen to a few early chapters in stolen hours before I travel, and then abandon the recording once I’m on the ground. With this long, lucid history, beautifully written and narrated, I couldn’t do that. I listened to all the rest of the book after I got back. Couldn’t set it aside and can’t recommend it highly enough.