by William R. Bliss (Author)
William R. Bliss, a writer who visited Hawaii in the 1870s, wrote this evocative and vivid account of life on the island; how the native people lived day-to-day and traded with the Americans with whom they became close. An excellent account of historic Hawaii, Paradise in the Pacific offers a detailed and clear portrait of how life was. Bliss is keen to brief the reader on the history of the isles; particularly its kings, and how the peoples arrived and settled in what were then termed the 'Sandwich Islands'. Bliss demonstrates that all parts of Hawaii's culture, from its festivals to its courtrooms to its domestic life, are affected by old beliefs. The author seeks accuracy; the darker side of Hawaiian life, such as the segregated villages where leprosy is prominent, receive mention. Volcanic eruptions and destruction which changed the landscape are discussed. Lightheartedly, we hear about the islands' politics; disputatious yet lively, with populism and appeals to traditional values commonplace.