748 reviews for:

Hula

Jasmin Iolani Hakes

4.06 AVERAGE

ninanightshade's review

4.5

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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As a hula haumana of 6 years who has been blessed to be welcomed into a halau, I felt this book in the same place I feel the hula come from. The voice of the community is such a great way to tell this story. The generations of women who hold a special connection to both hula and the  ʻāina were a beautiful mix of flaws and strength. It was a privilege to read this story.

madelinekeo's review against another edition

4.75

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

what_jenn_read's review

4.75

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

tasha_sy's review

4.0

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4.5
this story is so incredibly beautiful. the interwoven historical stories and the lives of laka & hi'i. GAWD it was just pure art.

btw i'm now depressed for hawaii

book_hed's review against another edition

5.0

reflective medium-paced

Strong character development: Yes

karenkill's review

4.25

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

canoechica's review

4.0

informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lgrossmann13's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

archbibliomage's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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As someone who grew up in West Virginia and went to school in Ohio for much of my life, Hawaii was rarely discussed outside of being a vacation destination, filming location, or the events of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I started learning about Hawaii’s history and the injustices the people and their culture have suffered at the hands of American colonizers. Hula is a book following the Naupaka family and sometimes narrated by the tribal We, which fosters a rich sense of community amongst the characters and provides a stark contrast to Hi’i, who is desperate to belong to the family from which her mother ran. I listened to Hula on Audio, which was incredible, but I wish I’d had a physical copy to reference names, places, and spellings— especially because the story skips around in the timeline and is not always told in chronological order.

This book was very good at making me very emotional. The themes of belonging, family, and tradition were very present throughout, especially as the community navigates the colonization of their lands and struggles to preserve their culture. Hi’i’s struggle to find her place and secure who she is it heartbreaking and sometimes painful to watch. Hula is a powerful story about powerful women who are ultimately trying their best. Highly recommend if you like historical fiction from marginalized voices and appreciate the exploration of the effects and nuances of colonization. 

erobison's review against another edition

4.0

emotional informative medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes