The Puna Kahuna: A Ben McMillen Hawaiian Mystery

Rating:
Summary: OVERALL SCORE: (C-)
Review: Mark Brown captures much of the feel of Hawaii, the sights, sounds, and the feel of the tropical paradise. Unfortunately the plot drags, the characters are stiff and uninteresting. This book also has the most idiotic ending that you can possibly imagine, I won't spoil it, but what would you sentence a serial killer too, I bet it would not be what Mr. Brown comes up with!

While I enjoy the Polynesian/Hawaii culture and history very much [their rich and vibrant history is an essential part of the seduction of Hawaii], Mr. Brown seems to have developed a sycophantic attraction to the indigenous people here.

The worst thing about these books are that, Mr. Brown's (from Michigan) preaches a very pro-indigenous view point in his books, he is extremely one sided in his arguments, he finds only the most laudable traits about the Polynesian people of Hawaii. He misses the fact that they were EXTREAMLY warlike, they practiced the most extreme form of aristocratic class domination, had human sacrifice, and put people to death for VERY minor crimes, and treated women as property.

Mr. Brown does not seem to understand that the "Polynesian people of Hawaii" have nearly died out, many who claim to be "Hawaiian", are mostly something else, but are looking for political power [money] at the expense of the rest of the people living in Hawaii.

A disturbing aspect of these books is that Mr. Brown does not seem know that "Haole" is a racial insult aimed at white people, just as the "N" word is for African Americans, and the "G" word is for Asians!

Leave off on the political preaching and these books would be a much more enjoyable read!

Also his use of Hawaiian terms constantly throughout the book gets a bit much, even for a Kama'aina.

OVERALL SCORE: (C-)
READABILITY: (C+), PLOT: (C-), CHARATERS: (B-), DIALOGUE: (C-), SETTING: (A+), ACTION/COMBAT: (C-), ANTAGONISTS: (B-), ROMANCE: (B-),AGE LEVEL: (PG)

I would recommend,if you want GREAT Hawaii mystery/adventures; Charles Knief's Books "Diamond Head", "Green Flash", "Sand Dollars", and especially "Silversword"!

Mahalo nui loa!