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HomeShop at BookSurgeHistoryEuropeGreece (see also Ancient/Greece)Country of Origin, the Sandwich Islands |
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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 3 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
A Practical Insight Into Today's Hawaii Jul 20, 2010
By Keith J. Steiner
James Campbell's antecedents settled in Hawaii in the 1850's when it was still a Kingdom, and their descendents have played an important part in the community. An interesting part of this book deals with present concerns, and the author gives his take straight from the shoulder, and is not concerned about what is "politically correct." In Hawaii, this book plays well with a big segment of the "Silent Majority."
A fine book Sep 06, 2009
By Melvin M. Medeiros
"passepartout"
My neighbor, who knows that a part-hawaiian (me!) lives across the street, suggested I read this book about the James S. Campbell family that spans the history of Hawaii to the present. He said that the author and he were great friends at boarding school some years ago in the mainland. The story and setting of the book is of epic proportions. While the book is meant to be a Campbell family history, the setting, from the earliest missionary settlements and their efforts to (control) and convert the Hawaiians, to the sugar plantations and their segregated yet cohesive ethnic habitats in the shadow of World War, to the social and economic problems that Hawaii faces today is a great read for someone with some knowledge of Hawaii's diversity and history. Of great interest was the author's personal experiences of being raised on the Mokuleia plantation with his siblings surrounded by all manner of ethnic groups hired to work the farm, all the while facing a World War, racism, and personal challenges. The book is successful in giving the reader a chance to experience old plantation life vicariously. Bravo.
A theme that runs through the book is the plight of the Hawaiians, who nearly suffered extinction from a lack of immunity to white man's diseases, whose monarch's weaknesses were exploited by ruthless lenders, and the eventual loss of their kingdom and islands. The formidable socioeconomic problems of Hawaiians continues to this day. The books references to the kingdom's financial problems, the unaffordable and lavish lifestyle of the its monarchs to Queen Liliuokalani's attempts to reinstate an absolute monarchy in hastening the end of the kingdom stands in stark contrast to the current Hawaiian secessionist's assertions that the United States overthrew the monarchy. In closing, a few caveats, some knowledge of hawaiiana can help, as terms like "hanai", "huli-huli" are not known to non-hawaiians. Finally, when I first began the read, I mistakenly confused the author James S. Campbell with the James Campbell Estate, who are totally unrelated.
Fascinating perspective Jan 25, 2009
By T. Choy
Campbell's Country of Origin is a great read that gives some fascinating perspectives based upon personal accounts of a family's life in Hawaii. In this era of revisionist history its refreshing to be provided with some factual observations. After reading it, I ordered several copies to give as gifts which have been very well received.
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