Waikiki: A History of Forgetting and Remembering

Waikiki:A History of Forgetting and Remembering presents a compelling cultural and environmental history of the area exploring its place not only in the popular imagination but also through the experiences of those who lived there. Employing a wide range of primary and secondary sourcesincluding historical texts and photographs government documents newspaper accounts posters advertisements and personal interviewsan artist and a cultural historian join forces to reveal how rich agricultural sites and sacred places were transformed into one of the worlds most famous vacation destinations. The story of Waikikis conversion from a vital self-sufficient community to a tourist dystopia is one of colonial oppression and unchecked capitalist development both of which have fundamentally transformed all of Hawaii. Colonialism and capitalism have not only changed the look and function of the landscape but also how Native Hawaiians immigrants settlers and visitors interact with one another and with the islands natural resources. The books creators counter this narrative of displacement and destruction with storiesless known or forgottenof resistance and protest.