HawaiiHawaii
Score Classic
What it's about
James Michener tells the story of Hawaii from the volcanic birth of the islands to the 1950s, through the peoples who came: Polynesian voyagers, New England missionaries, Chinese and Japanese immigrants. Each group brings its own dreams to the islands, in a story both profoundly beautiful and profoundly sad.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 49 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1959 and 1960. It's Michener's most famous epic.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It's more than 900 pages. It's fiction, but its characters are often based on real people.
By the numbers
- Readers66 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller59 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Moving
More by James Michener
The Source
Centennial
Alaska
TexasIf you like this, read next
The Color Purple
Lonesome Dove
Pride and Prejudice
I, Claudius
The Pillars of the Earth
One Hundred Years of SolitudeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Hawaii worth reading?
Yes. It spent 49 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1959 and 1960. It ranks #960 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Hawaii about?
James Michener tells the story of Hawaii from the volcanic birth of the islands to the 1950s, through the peoples who came: Polynesian voyagers, New England missionaries, Chinese and Japanese immigrants. Each group brings its own dreams to the islands, in a story both profoundly beautiful and profoundly sad.
How long does it take to read Hawaii?
About 26 hours (1036 pages), or about 7 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Hawaii?
If you liked it, try The Source by James Michener, Alaska by James Michener or Shōgun by James Clavell.