Oh, Hawaii! The islands aren’t just beautiful places to visit; they inspire some incredible stories too. If you love getting lost in a book that takes you somewhere amazing, maybe you’ll find a new favorite here.
I’ve put together a list of novels set in Hawaii, from big historical tales to mysteries and stories about growing up. Let’s dive in!
This book is huge, and for good reason. Michener starts way back, with the first Polynesians who used the stars to find these islands. Then you meet the missionaries from New England who arrive later.
The story follows families through generations, so you see how Hawaii changed, how cultures mixed, and how people wrestled with their heritage. It’s a journey through history told through people’s lives.
Matthew King has a lot on his plate. His wife is in a coma after an accident, and he barely knows how to handle his two daughters. On top of that, he learns some secrets about his wife he never expected.
He’s also part of a family that owns a huge, beautiful piece of untouched land, and now he has to decide whether to keep it or sell it. It’s about family ties, what we inherit, and tough choices.
Imagine being a soldier on Oahu right before the Pearl Harbor attack. That’s where this book takes you. You follow guys in an army unit who deal with tough commanders, their own arguments, and affairs they shouldn’t be having.
One main character is Private Prewitt, a bugler and former boxer who won’t box anymore, no matter the pressure. Then there’s Sergeant Warden, who falls for the captain’s wife. It shows the grit of army life with the shadow of war looming.
This story lets you see 1930s Maui through the eyes of a young Hawaiian girl named Mokihana. You read about her everyday world, her family, her friends, and how she connects with the island’s nature and traditions.
It gives a real sense of the culture and the feel of Maui at that time, all through her childhood experiences.
Life isn’t easy for Blu and his family on Molokai after their mother dies. Blu has to help raise his younger brother and sister, and they face poverty and loss together. The story shows their struggles but also their strength.
It takes place in a small, rural community, and the writing paints a powerful picture of their world.
Sam is a gay teenager in Hawaii who becomes completely fascinated by Clay, a cool surfer and skater. Clay seems to represent everything Sam wants, but their relationship gets intense and complicated.
Sam’s feelings push boundaries, and the story explores the confusion and intensity of youth against the backdrop of the islands.
Here’s the first appearance of the famous detective Charlie Chan! John Quincy Winterslip, a proper Bostonian, arrives in Honolulu in the 1920s to fetch his aunt’s runaway son. Soon, there’s a murder right in the family home, and Winterslip finds himself in the middle of it.
Charlie Chan steps in to sort through the secrets and motives. It’s a classic mystery with the atmosphere of old Hawaii.
Step into a fifth-grade classroom in Kalihi, Hawaii, during the disco era of the 1970s. This book follows a group of Filipino-American kids obsessed with pop culture, like “Charlie’s Angels” and the soundtrack to “Saturday Night Fever”.
They deal with bullies, family issues, and questions about who they are. The story uses lists, poems, and dialogues; it feels unique and captures their voices.
Tomi is a Japanese-American boy living in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor is attacked. Suddenly, his world flips upside down. His father is arrested, and his family faces suspicion from neighbors.
Tomi has to figure out how to stay loyal to his family and his best friend, who isn’t Japanese, while fear and uncertainty surround them.
Charlie Chan is back for another case. This time, a famous Hollywood actress is murdered while staying at a luxurious home in Honolulu. The puzzle gets deeper because her death seems connected to another unsolved Hollywood murder from years before.
Chan has to navigate the glamorous, secretive world of the movie star and her circle to find the truth.
You might know Adrian Monk from TV—the brilliant detective with OCD. In this book, he has to go to Hawaii, a place full of things that trigger his phobias, to help his assistant, Natalie.
The case is strange: a wealthy woman supposedly drowned during a scuba lesson… inside her hotel room. Monk’s peculiar methods clash hilariously with the relaxed island setting as he tries to solve the crime.
Nancy Drew heads to Hawaii! She’s there to solve a mystery about a hidden family treasure connected to a beautiful golden pavilion. While searching for clues near Waikiki and even volcanoes, Nancy runs into danger and shady characters.
It’s a fun adventure mixed with Hawaiian settings and culture.
Lovey Nariyoshi is growing up in Hilo, Hawaii, in the 1970s. Her family is working-class Japanese American, and Lovey feels caught between cultures. She doesn’t always feel like she fits in and struggles with expectations about how she should speak and act.
The book uses her voice, which is funny and honest, to show what life was like for her navigating identity, family, and prejudice.
Adam is just a teenager living near Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, he decides to sneak off with his friends to go fishing. Their boat gets caught right in the middle of the Japanese attack.
The story shows the chaos of that day through his eyes and how the war suddenly changes everything for him, his family, and his friendships, especially with Japanese-American neighbors.
Edward, who goes by “Birdie,” is legally blind but discovers he has an amazing, natural talent for golf. His unusual neighbor helps him hone his skills. Together, they aim for a local tournament that offers a million-dollar prize for a hole-in-one.
It’s a story about overcoming challenges and the power of an unlikely friendship.
This book takes place on Moloka’i in the 1990s. Rani is sixteen, and her family life is falling apart after she discovers her father’s affair. She’s Gujarati Indian, lives in a mostly Hawaiian community, and feels lost until she discovers hip-hop.
She starts writing rhymes and performing as MC Sutra to deal with her anger and trauma. It’s a powerful story about finding your voice.
Travis McGee, the salvage consultant who finds things for people, gets a call for help from an old friend, Pidge. She thinks her new husband might be trying to kill her. McGee heads to Hawaii to investigate.
He finds himself tangled in a situation full of secrets, money, and potential danger against the beautiful but sometimes deceptive island scenery.
This one mixes horror with Hawaiian history and myths. Eleanor goes to a fancy resort on the Big Island for a vacation, but things get scary fast. Ancient Hawaiian spirits, Pele the volcano goddess, and dark forces seem to awaken.
The story alternates between Eleanor’s terrifying experiences and the journal entries of a missionary from the 1800s who encountered something similar. The volcanic landscape feels alive and menacing.
Jaya and Rasa live on Maui but come from completely different worlds. Jaya has money, but struggles with severe anxiety and his family’s high expectations. Rasa lives in poverty and faces abuse at home.
When they meet, they form an intense bond and try to find a way to support each other through their difficult lives. It explores their pain and the connection that offers them hope.
Mamie Stover arrives in Honolulu from Mississippi just before World War II, ready to leave her past behind. She lands a job as a dancer in a nightclub frequented by soldiers and sailors.
Mamie is ambitious and uses her wits and looks to build her own small fortune during the war years. The book gives a gritty look at her rise and the choices she makes in pursuit of independence and wealth in wartime Hawaii.