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Description edit
This richly imagined novel, set in Hawaii more than a century ago, is an extraordinary epic of a little-known time and place -- and a deeply moving testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.
Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven-year-old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far-off lands... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
- - Fear of the unknown tears a family apart.
Characters/People edit
- Rachel Kalama Utagawa: a young Hawaiian girl who develops leprosy and is sent to the island of Moloka'i to live with others who have leprosy
- Henry Kalama: Rachel's father. An important person in Rachel's life. Is often away for 8-10 months at a time on a steamer ship
- Pono: Rachel's uncle, who is sent to Moloka'i a year or so ahead of Rachel
- Haleola: Pono's lover, who becomes a surrogate aunt to Rachel
- Sister Catherine: one of the nuns who run a home for girls on Moloka'i
- Leilani Napana: one of Rachel's friends, known as Lani for short
- Charles Kenji Utagawa: Rachel's husband
- Sarah Kalama: Rachel's sister
- Ruth Amelia Voorhies: a child born on Moloka'i
- Dorothy Kalama: Rachel's mother
- Emily: Rachel's friend
- Francine: Rachel's friend. Also the first person Rachel meets upon being taken to Kahili
- James "Kimo" Kalama: Rachel's brother
- Keo: Haleola's husband who passed away before the book begins.
- Sister Leopoldina: a nun at the girls' home
- Hina: Rachel's friend
- Father Damien: a Catholic priest who worked and died on Moloka'i before Rachel arrived
- Dr. Goodhue: The main doctor of Kalaupapa
- Mother Marianne: the head nun at the home for girls on Moloka'i
- Felicia: A beautiful woman on Koloka'i who does not yet show any obvious dis-figuration characteristic of leprosy
- Lawrence Judd: Son of a family known for its missionary efforts. Becomes a politician. Travels to Koloka'i to see and learn about the exiles there.
- Jake Puehu: Add a description of this character.
- Ambrose Hutchison: Longtime resident of Kalaupapa- arrived during the time of Father Damien
- David Kamakau: Resident of Kalaupapa and friend of Kenji
- Ballard
- Bertha
- Brother Dutton: The Brother who runs the Boy's School on the island. It's located 3 miles away from the main settlement
- Louisa: Friend of Rachel's
- Hansen: The source of the eventual renaming of leprosy as Hansen's disease
- Sister Victor: A nun at the girl's school.
- Margaret Kalama: Uncle Pono's wife before he was sent to Moloka'i
- Jack London: Famed Author of Call of the Wild & White Fang who really did visit the settlement
- Dr. Oliver: One of the doctor's that works on Moloka'i. Had a wife and son on the island but made sure to keep them separate from the patients.
- Benjamin Kalama: Rachel's brother
- Setsu: A dog, sister to Hoku
- Mack
- Harry Woo
- Mr. Gibson
- Lani: Short for Leilani, a resident on Moloka'i
- Hokea: A sometime resident of the Boy's Home, an artist (painter)
- Dr. Currie: One of the doctors involved in the opening of the first dedicated center to leprosy, attempting to learn more and perhaps find a cure
- Diedrichson: The ship clerk who inventories and delivers the island's supplies.
- Sammy Kuahine: Real life resident who composed the only known music that left the island and gained mainstream awareness. He's not actually in the book but his lyrics are used.
- Dr. Luckie
- Nahoa: An 18yr old resident of Koloka'i who surfs
- Pyle
- Father Kamiano
- Haumea
- Uncle Eli
- Polly
- Pualani
- Kapono Kalama: Rachel's paternal uncle, known as Pono
- Father Maxime
- Duke Kahanamoku: Real life Hawaiian who gained fame as a swimmer who easily broke world records, even competed and medaled at the Olympic Games
- Noelani: A resident of the Nuns girls' school
- J. D. McVeigh
- Abelardo
- Alice
- Etsuko Watanabe: The adoptive mother of Rachel's daughter, Ruth
- Walter C. Short
- Mr. Waiamau
- Dr. Hollmann: One of the island doctors.
- Gabe Crossen: One of the few non Asian or Hawaiian exiles sent to the island. Was a sailor in the Navy
- James K. Hua
- Dr. Sloan
- Peggy
- R. W. Meyer
- Miriam
- Josephina
- Ehu
- Chester
- Māui: A Hawaiian island. A character in a Hawaiian Legend told in the story.
- George Wakina
- Louis Stolz
- James Keanu: An assistant light-house keeper
- Nakamura
- Frank Harada: Married to Shiuzo, resident of Koloka'i
- Father Wendelin
- Luis
- Shizuo Harada: Married to Frank, resident of Moloka'i
- Dr. Mouritz
- Mrs. Watanabe: Etsuko Watanabe
- Ruth Dai Watanabe
- Helen
- Luka
- Moko
- John Stevens
- Claudine Henry
- King Kalākaua: A King of Hawaii (actual historical figure)
- Hōku: Dog, brother to Setsu
- Mr. Brady
- Molly Friedrich
- Cecelia
- Reverend Waiamau: A preacher who voluntarily came to the island to minister to the residents.
- Dr. McArthur
- Mary Catherine Voorhies: One of the nuns that worked at the Franciscan girls home on Moloka'i. She came to the island as a young nun and stayed there over 30 years helping to run the place. Became a very important person in Rachel's life.
- Mr. MacReedy
- Dolores
- Grandpa Maka
- Aouli: Rachel's middle name
- Aunt Florence: Rachel's Aunt, Wife of Pono
- Ruth Dorothy Utagawa
- Tom Akamu
- Sister Albina
- Sarah Kaahea: Rachel's older sister.
- R. L. Cooke
- Auntie Haleola: A kahuna who has leprosy but continues to serve as a kahuna to the other residents
- Mary Victor Macardle: Nun at the girls home on Moloka'i. Had many mood swings. Became friends with sister Catherine.
- Mr. Wyckoff
- Hazel
- Ruth ..
- Mr. McVeigh
- Máui: A Hawaiian island. A character in a Hawaiian legend
- King Kalákaua: King of Hawaii
- Hóku
- Papa Ku'i
- Caruso
- Judge Walter Birch
- Charles Jr
- Mr. Stevenson
First Sentence edit
Later, when memory was all she had to sustain her, she would come to cherish it: Old Honolulu as it was then, as it would never be again.
Table of Contents edit
Part One - Blue Vault of Heaven
Part Two - The Stone Leaf
Part Three - Kapu!
Part Four - 'Ohana
Themes & Symbolism edit
Series & Lists edit
Authors & Contributors edit
- Alan Brennert (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Country: US
Publication Date: October 21, 2003
ISBN: 031230434X
Page Count: 384
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Country: US
Publication Date: October 21, 2003
ISBN: 031230434X
Page Count: 384
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813.54
Subjects edit
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