--- product_id: 8208155 title: "Honolulu: A Novel" price: "S/.106" currency: PEN in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.pe/products/8208155-honolulu-a-novel store_origin: PE region: Peru --- # Honolulu: A Novel **Price:** S/.106 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Honolulu: A Novel - **How much does it cost?** S/.106 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.pe](https://www.desertcart.pe/products/8208155-honolulu-a-novel) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description From the bestselling author of the "dazzling historical saga" ( The Washington Post ), Moloka'i , comes the irresistible story of a young immigrant bride in a ramshackle town that becomes a great modern city "In Korea in those days, newborn girls were not deemed important enough to be graced with formal names, but were instead given nicknames, which often reflected the parents' feelings on the birth of a daughter: I knew a girl named Anger, and another called Pity. As for me, my parents named me Regret." Honolulu is the rich, unforgettable story of a young "picture bride" who journeys to Hawai'i in 1914 in search of a better life. Instead of the affluent young husband and chance at an education that she has been promised, she is quickly married off to a poor, embittered laborer who takes his frustrations out on his new wife. Renaming herself Jin, she makes her own way in this strange land, finding both opportunity and prejudice. With the help of three of her fellow picture brides, Jin prospers along with her adopted city, now growing from a small territorial capital into the great multicultural city it is today. But paradise has its dark side, whether it's the daily struggle for survival in Honolulu's tenements, or a crime that will become the most infamous in the islands' history... With its passionate knowledge of people and places in Hawai'i far off the tourist track, Honolulu is most of all the spellbinding tale of four women in a new world, united by dreams, disappointment, sacrifices, and friendship. Review: Great story...I enjoyed all 430 pages! - This is a fascinating account of the life of a Korean girl who aspires to more than her life in Korea promises. The regimented, highly confining life of a young girl in Korea makes her desperate to find a way of escape. After secretly learning to read and write (as girls are not educated in other than wifely tasks), she latches onto the only access she can find to the outside world - that of a "picture bride". Life takes off from there, as she travels to meet her new husband in Hawaii. Although the author in his notes talks about "the glamour days of the 1920-1930's", we are not treated to clipper ships, elegant cruise liners,or vacationing celebrities. We are ensconsed in the tenements of the fields of pineapple plantations and in canneries, where our protagonist struggles to find a life with an abusive husband. This is the story of the seemier side of Hawaii, the struggle for survival, and the unrest between ethnic groups - the Korean, Japanese, Chinese, the white elite, and the naval personnel - during a period of growth, depression, and eventually, war. Unfortunately, the novel does not cover anything of the impact of World War II. I kept waiting for that, and was disappointed. All in all, though, as one who has only been exposed to the high-rises, the beaches, and tourist attractions, this story, which is based largely in reality and truth, is an eye-opener. Having read Hawaii by Michener, which dealt with the missionaries who went to work on the native Hawaiians in the very early days, this book was a good follow-up. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and for me, it was a page-turner. The ending wrapped up a bit too neatly (and prosperously), but I'll never turn down a happy conclusion to a story. I did wince however, when Jin, our protagonist named "Regret" in Korea, said, as the last line in the book that she had no "regrets"! Ouch. Review: Hawaii wasn't always paradise - I was a huge fan of Brennert's book Moloka'i, so I was a little hesitant to read this follow-up. I need not have been, while not quite as good as Moloka'i it was a fascinating look at Hawaii long before it became the vacation capital of the world. The book begins in Korea, where girls have very little value. This is made abundantly clear when her parents name our protagonist Regret. Wishing to better her life and get an education, Regret becomes a "picture bride". In exchange for passage to Hawaii she agrees to marry a young Korean named Noh. Unfortunately when Regret gets to the promised land she learns she has been duped into marrying an older man, an alcoholic with a severe gambling habit and an inclination to take his anger out on his wife with his fists. Regret, now called Jin, has been taught her whole life to be subservient to men; eventually she gets the courage to run away and try to make a better life for herself. When Jin relocates to the other side of the island she reconnects with a few other picture brides she met on her trip over from Korea. With the help of these friends, plus her own will and determination Jin begins to carve out a new life. Over the course of 40 years we follow Jin and her friends ups and downs. Brennert peppers the narrative with real life historical figures and introduces us to a land that is little more than a ramshackle town, segregated into the haves: sugar and pineapple plantation owners and the have-nots: the laborers that made them rich. I enjoyed following Jin's journey from unwanted and unloved Regret to a life filled with many joys and sorrows, a woman who never gives up her dreams of a better life. Although I appreciated all the research that went in the book, there was sometime a feeling of overload. In addition I found the fact that Jin was constantly meeting and befriending all of the famous personage's on the island highly unlikely. For these two reasons I dropped my rating a little; nevertheless I do recommend the book, it was a worthwhile read. ## Images ![Honolulu: A Novel - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81H5vvpDOCL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great story...I enjoyed all 430 pages! *by R***R on October 24, 2014* This is a fascinating account of the life of a Korean girl who aspires to more than her life in Korea promises. The regimented, highly confining life of a young girl in Korea makes her desperate to find a way of escape. After secretly learning to read and write (as girls are not educated in other than wifely tasks), she latches onto the only access she can find to the outside world - that of a "picture bride". Life takes off from there, as she travels to meet her new husband in Hawaii. Although the author in his notes talks about "the glamour days of the 1920-1930's", we are not treated to clipper ships, elegant cruise liners,or vacationing celebrities. We are ensconsed in the tenements of the fields of pineapple plantations and in canneries, where our protagonist struggles to find a life with an abusive husband. This is the story of the seemier side of Hawaii, the struggle for survival, and the unrest between ethnic groups - the Korean, Japanese, Chinese, the white elite, and the naval personnel - during a period of growth, depression, and eventually, war. Unfortunately, the novel does not cover anything of the impact of World War II. I kept waiting for that, and was disappointed. All in all, though, as one who has only been exposed to the high-rises, the beaches, and tourist attractions, this story, which is based largely in reality and truth, is an eye-opener. Having read Hawaii by Michener, which dealt with the missionaries who went to work on the native Hawaiians in the very early days, this book was a good follow-up. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and for me, it was a page-turner. The ending wrapped up a bit too neatly (and prosperously), but I'll never turn down a happy conclusion to a story. I did wince however, when Jin, our protagonist named "Regret" in Korea, said, as the last line in the book that she had no "regrets"! Ouch. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hawaii wasn't always paradise *by L***T on June 1, 2013* I was a huge fan of Brennert's book Moloka'i, so I was a little hesitant to read this follow-up. I need not have been, while not quite as good as Moloka'i it was a fascinating look at Hawaii long before it became the vacation capital of the world. The book begins in Korea, where girls have very little value. This is made abundantly clear when her parents name our protagonist Regret. Wishing to better her life and get an education, Regret becomes a "picture bride". In exchange for passage to Hawaii she agrees to marry a young Korean named Noh. Unfortunately when Regret gets to the promised land she learns she has been duped into marrying an older man, an alcoholic with a severe gambling habit and an inclination to take his anger out on his wife with his fists. Regret, now called Jin, has been taught her whole life to be subservient to men; eventually she gets the courage to run away and try to make a better life for herself. When Jin relocates to the other side of the island she reconnects with a few other picture brides she met on her trip over from Korea. With the help of these friends, plus her own will and determination Jin begins to carve out a new life. Over the course of 40 years we follow Jin and her friends ups and downs. Brennert peppers the narrative with real life historical figures and introduces us to a land that is little more than a ramshackle town, segregated into the haves: sugar and pineapple plantation owners and the have-nots: the laborers that made them rich. I enjoyed following Jin's journey from unwanted and unloved Regret to a life filled with many joys and sorrows, a woman who never gives up her dreams of a better life. Although I appreciated all the research that went in the book, there was sometime a feeling of overload. In addition I found the fact that Jin was constantly meeting and befriending all of the famous personage's on the island highly unlikely. For these two reasons I dropped my rating a little; nevertheless I do recommend the book, it was a worthwhile read. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars is not enough for this book! *by M***T on March 24, 2013* I love Hawai. I read "Molaki" by this author and enjoyed the story and his writing. "Honolulu" is even a better story and more enjoyable. The characters are well developed and interesting. I learned a lot from both novels. The history of Hawaii is well detailed throughout the books. Alan Brennert brought to life the culture and essence of the development of Honolulu. The Japanese and Korean people along with the original Hawaian people show the labor and work ethic that developed the area. The multi cultural enviorment is one of the most wonderful things about Honolulu and Hawai. I read with eagerness and great interest about the people that arrived in Honolulu to take advantage of the "streets that were paved in gold". Their adventure in this new world was both wonderful and heartrending. Mr. Brennert took my breath away with the many details of the different cultures and blending of lifestyles in this novel. I can't really give this book enough stars. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.pe/products/8208155-honolulu-a-novel](https://www.desertcart.pe/products/8208155-honolulu-a-novel) --- *Product available on Desertcart Peru* *Store origin: PE* *Last updated: 2026-05-18*