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goobdiddy's review
3.0
I really wanted to love this book, since this was my first Sarah Vowell book. I've seen her on the Daily Show several times and found her to be delightfully snarky, but hadn't gotten around to reading any of her work until finding this book in our condo during our Hawaii vacation. It was pretty cool to actually visit some of the locations mentioned in the book, but overall, I only 'liked' it.
It's a very stream-of-consciousness sort of a read, jumping around from topic to topic, and chronologically as well, which bugged me a bit. I prefer my historical non-fiction to be in some sort of logical order, even if it does have a backing of subtle (and not-so-subtle) humor to it.
Still, I enjoy her voice, and I'm interested to see what is in her other books.
It's a very stream-of-consciousness sort of a read, jumping around from topic to topic, and chronologically as well, which bugged me a bit. I prefer my historical non-fiction to be in some sort of logical order, even if it does have a backing of subtle (and not-so-subtle) humor to it.
Still, I enjoy her voice, and I'm interested to see what is in her other books.
mediabaron's review
2.0
A good job digging up a lot of information, some errors as other reviews have noted. I would recommend against listening to the audiobook as the author mangles numerous pronunciations that should have been caught with a decent editor from Hawaii who would be familiar with all the names and places on the ear.
Erratum: The Captain Cook Monument site in Kealakekua Bay was set up by Australia, not the British. See below about the myth of British soil at the monument. I visited the monument with my friend Dawn, I have been there several times and lived near there as the Mynah Bird flies.
A plaque next to the monument reads, “THIS JETTY WAS ERECTED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN JAMES COOK R.N. THE DISCOVERER OF BOTH AUSTRALIA AND THESE ISLANDS”
Of course we know there were people living in what is now known as Australia and Hawaii before Cook arrived so he didn’t ‘discover’ both places.
“Is the land on which the Captain Cook Monument sits sovereign British land?
Short answer about the monument being on British soil – NO.
Longer answer – National Historic Register shows land in the Kealakekua Bay Historical District is owned by the State and Private ownership. So this was not a definitive answer so I contacted the Kona Historical Society. Land was given by Cleghorn and Likelike to Major James Hay Wodehouse, “and his heirs and assigns In Trust however for the following uses and purposes and for none other that is to say in trust to keep and maintain on granted premises a monument in memory of Captain Cook…” Per the deed of conveyance (copy held at the Kona Historical Society.
Even Longer answer – There is no record showing that Wodehouse or his heirs ever gave the land to the British Government. So the land is still owned by his heirs and with current international laws the British Government can not obtain title to the land.
How did this rumor start?? Seems that the Tax assessor sent the King of England a notice of Real Property Assessment back in 1938. Subsequently, a letter of apology was sent from the Board of Tax Commissioners, Third Taxation Division.
This information is from a copy of a letter to the editor of the Tribune Herald who ran the story, I suspect in November of 1954 (but that is my guess based on the letter.)
That’s it. No British soil in Kealakekua Bay. Mystery solved thanks to the Archivist at the Kona Historical Society.
— Dawn”
Erratum: The Captain Cook Monument site in Kealakekua Bay was set up by Australia, not the British. See below about the myth of British soil at the monument. I visited the monument with my friend Dawn, I have been there several times and lived near there as the Mynah Bird flies.
A plaque next to the monument reads, “THIS JETTY WAS ERECTED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN JAMES COOK R.N. THE DISCOVERER OF BOTH AUSTRALIA AND THESE ISLANDS”
Of course we know there were people living in what is now known as Australia and Hawaii before Cook arrived so he didn’t ‘discover’ both places.
“Is the land on which the Captain Cook Monument sits sovereign British land?
Short answer about the monument being on British soil – NO.
Longer answer – National Historic Register shows land in the Kealakekua Bay Historical District is owned by the State and Private ownership. So this was not a definitive answer so I contacted the Kona Historical Society. Land was given by Cleghorn and Likelike to Major James Hay Wodehouse, “and his heirs and assigns In Trust however for the following uses and purposes and for none other that is to say in trust to keep and maintain on granted premises a monument in memory of Captain Cook…” Per the deed of conveyance (copy held at the Kona Historical Society.
Even Longer answer – There is no record showing that Wodehouse or his heirs ever gave the land to the British Government. So the land is still owned by his heirs and with current international laws the British Government can not obtain title to the land.
How did this rumor start?? Seems that the Tax assessor sent the King of England a notice of Real Property Assessment back in 1938. Subsequently, a letter of apology was sent from the Board of Tax Commissioners, Third Taxation Division.
This information is from a copy of a letter to the editor of the Tribune Herald who ran the story, I suspect in November of 1954 (but that is my guess based on the letter.)
That’s it. No British soil in Kealakekua Bay. Mystery solved thanks to the Archivist at the Kona Historical Society.
— Dawn”
marvelousmeg's review
informative
medium-paced
3.0
I didn't know a lot about Hawaii going into there was a lot of new information. The format (no chapters) is a little bit unusual and while there were many direct quotes, no citations or notes at the end just a selected bibliography.
alidottie's review
4.0
Sarah Vowell was less snarky and sarcastic in this book about the history of the Americization of Hawaii. My eyes have been opened. I really knew nothing about how we annexed, and later added as a state, the Hawaiian islands.
loujoseph's review
3.0
perfectly fine and informative, but very familiar... a little too familiar. felt like any of the mentions of the trail of tears was a little cringe-worthy, like "oh by the way one of my relatively was on the trail of tears", but you're left wondering how that connects, other than the overall narrative of colonialism. maybe it is a little too glib for the subject matter..
mharrison13's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
A history of Hawaii whose center point is the Americanization and annexation there of. The story was very interesting and sometimes shocking. Sarah Vowell made the whole thing entertaining.
coleycole's review against another edition
3.0
Good, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I liked The Wordy Shipmates. As always, I love her voice and listening to this on audiobook was great.
sharonsueg's review
2.0
I enjoyed the history provided in the book. I read it prior to a trip to Hawaii. The author's opinions come across strongly which may put off some readers.