Isle Pages

New releases from Hawaii authors

"The Hawaiian Monarchy"
By Alan Seiden
(Mutual Publishing, $29.95)
This sweeping reference reaches from pre-Kamehameha I to post-Liliuokalani in one handsome volume.

A slick and colorful design gives the book impact -- the historic photographs go far beyond the cameo-like images through which we have come to know the kings and queens, and succeed in gripping the imagination.

"Hawaiian Volcanoes"
By Clarence Edward Dutton
(University of Hawaii Press, $0.00)
The author, a gifted writer of natural history, prepared this report in 1883 for the U.S. Geological Survey. It is presented as such, coming across as dense, with little regard for modern short attention spans.

But those with a serious interest in our volcanoes will find Dutton's prose an affecting account of this time and place.

"Haunted Hawaiian Nights"
By Lopaka Kapanui
(Mutual Publishing, $9.95)
The author passes on a collection of short supernatural tales as told to him by many with first-hand knowledge. They range from ancient mischief to modern curses.

The writing is breezy and straightforward, making this a good choice for an upper-elementary-to-middle-school child with an interest in the spooky.

"At the Edge of Speech"
By Norma W. Gorst
(Finishing Line Press, $14, via http://hometown.aol.com/finishingbooks/myhomepage/)
This little book of poetry is a captivating collection of work by a writer well-published in local literary journals.

"When we reach the highest point on the road to Waianae," she writes, "higher still rise the mountains, parabolas expanding as though in the middle of one long inhalation."