by Ryka Aoki
First published 2014
Noleani Choi has just announced her newest project to her halau in Hilo. She wants to tell the story of Jesus Christ through hula dance. The other dancers stare at her in disbelief. What could she possibly be thinking? Word spreads quickly through their tight community. Meanwhile, whispers follow a wealthy mainland transplant who has arrived on the island. The dancers find themselves asking hard questions they have avoided for years. What makes hula authentic? Who gets to call themselves Hawaiian? Why does each of them feel compelled to dance? As tensions rise within the group, each person must confront their own motivations and desires. The beautiful island setting cannot hide the complexity of identity and belonging that surfaces. Through their struggles, they learn that accepting others requires first accepting themselves.
Genres: fiction, romance, literary-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, identity-crisis
Setting: Hilo, Hawaii
Period: contemporary
310 pages · Paperback · Topside Signature