A review by whatsmomreading
Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes

4.0

Hula is a story that spans over three generations of Naupaka women fighting to save Hawai’i and preserve their culture, each one taking a different approach and stance on the role the US should be taking in Hawaiian matters. It’s a novel about the ties of family bonds, mother daughter relationships and the obligations we have to our family legacies.

This was a far more dense read than I had been expecting which is why it took me a bit longer to get through it. I truly enjoyed how well Hakes weaves the history of Hawai’i and hula into the story to drive home the importance of culture and perseverance. There was a lot written in Hawaiian and plenty of pidgin phrases used, so I had to stop and ask my husband what some things meant. Overall a really fantastic novel.