Passion and music in 1930's Hawaii. 5 Star MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW of first edition Sept. 02/09 says picturesque, memorable like taking a vacation to Hawaii in a time machine!"
Aloha and Mai Tais is a romance novel that will take the reader back to the sun, surf, and romantic atmosphere of 1930's Waikiki. In this novel four friends, Kimi Kai'ika from Nanakuli, Teri'i Komo from Tahiti, Ito Nimura from Honolulu and Felice Santos from Waianae become hula dancers and musicians for the Tropical Palace Hotel in Waikiki. Winston Emory, a bandleader rechoreographs ancient Hawaiian chants and dances for a western audience, making them irresistable to tourists. Success leads the entertainers to the mainland where Pearl Harbor forces excruciating separations for the young entertainers.
Excerpt
"Ito, Brah, maybee dis answer to beeg problem." Teri'i Fa'atua poked his rather plump Japanese-American friend and handed him the ad from the Honolulu newspaper.
"I no read but tink picture say hotel need Polynesian talent. Where mo Polynesian talent dan us?" Teri'i's friend put down his prize possession, his ukelele, and read the ad with intense concentration.
"You right Teri'i-san. That's what this ad says." He jumped out of his usual lethargic, ukelele-playing self and started to throw clothes frantically into a suitcase.
"Pack, Teri'i-san," he ordered. "We've got to go to Lihue right away. The steamer comes into Nawiliwili harbor tomorrow. We've just about got enough time to make it if we leave immediately."
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