The Last Aloha

A Novel

By: Gaellen Quinn

Narrated by: Jolene Kim

Length: 13 hrs

Publisher's Summary

How did Hawaii become part of America? This story, inspired by true events suppressed for nearly 100 years, is the one James Michener never wrote. In 1886, Laura Jennings travels to Hawaii to live with missionary relatives. She imagines she’ll live in a grass hut, ministering to uncivilized locals. When she arrives in Honolulu, she’s surprised to find her relatives are among the wealthy elite plotting to overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy. And the Hawaiians have developed a charming and prosperous Victorian kingdom. 

To avoid her conniving uncle’s control, Laura leaves to work for the royal family and learns her family’s prejudices against them are false. The last queen, Lili’uokalani, wages a tragic struggle to save the kingdom. Through choices she makes when every avenue is blocked, Laura sees the power that can restore the spirit of a people caught in a turbulent world and discovers how long-hidden secrets of her own family lead the way to reunion.

©2019 Gaellen Quinn (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

Powerful true account of how Hawaii was overthrown

This book is a must read for anyone visiting Hawaii, You will never see it as you did before. History is always written by the victor and so we knew very little about the inherent racism and gender inequality that gave these American colonialists the idea that the white male had the God given right to rule over darker skinned indigenous people. The evidence is now public, so the story of the peace loving accomplished Royal family can now be told. They sacrificed their independence for the safety of the people and to keep the spirit of Aloha alive. After reading and then listening to this book I approach visiting these beautiful islands with a sense of respect and not with any sense of ownership. I want to learn more about these gracious people and the history that is being rewritten. Thank you Gaellen Quinn for you dedicated service to the truth and your gift of telling a story that draws us into the lives of all the characters. I didn't want it to end. Although it could not have been a more beautiful and sensitive ending.

wonderful story but narration is terrible

this was a fantastic story! but the narrator sounds like she has a Really bad cold! a stuffy nose & sore throat and seriously sounds like she’s terribly out of breath- the Entire book but much worse the last 1/3. it was very very distracting and made me take deep breaths all the time bc she made Me feel out of breath bc she was! i will Not listen time any other books she narrates. unfortunate.

Great story

This is a well written story about the stealing of the Hawaiian islands by greedy Americans. The horrible injustices done to the rulers is a story that bears retelling