A Cocktail with a Story

Welcome to A Cocktail with a Story, our monthly book club that offers the perfect pairing for an island escape.
Some of my most treasured memories happen with a good book in one hand and something delicious in the other. Whether it's sipping coffee on a lanai while getting lost in a novel or sharing cocktails with friends as we debate a story's ending under the stars, there's something magical about how books and drinks bring people together.
As a mixed local girl (Native Hawaiian, Chinese, and Haole), I've always been drawn to stories that help me understand our islands' complex history and my tapestried place in the islands – the beautiful and the painful alike. From accounts of Queen Liliʻuokalani's strength during the overthrow to stories that explore how missionary influence changed our land and our people, these books offer us a chance to honor our past while understanding our present. These books don't just entertain; they help us to understand our home in deeper ways and connect us to the experiences of others who've called these islands home.
I'm so excited to invite you into this monthly journey.
Each month, we'll dive into a Hawaii-themed book together, and I'll craft a signature cocktail that complements the story's mood, setting, or themes. Think of it as your monthly invitation to slow down, savor something special, and connect with fellow book lovers who share your appreciation for island stories.
Whether you're curled up on your couch in Pukalani or reading on your front porch in Charlotte, you're part of our ohana. I can't wait to hear your thoughts, share in your discoveries, and create new memories together – one page and one sip at a time. Who’s with me?

My first book pick is Mark Twain’s Hawaii: A Humorous Romp Through History, edited by John Richard Stephens It’s an unusual pick for me; I haven’t read a Mark Twain book since The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the 7th grade. I know he has a refreshingly honest and funny outsider's take on our islands and culture. And I am always drawn to anything historical. I came across this book at our local Friends of the Library in the Hawaiian section. I was intrigued by the beautiful cover, and even though I often pursue this section, I had never come across this title. It’s a compilation of Twain’s observations and descriptions of his trip to the “Sandwich Islands” in 1866 as a young journalist for the Sacramento Union newspaper. He spent four months between Honolulu, Maui, and the Big Island, describing it as "the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean." And to this day, I would have to agree! I imagine his descriptions shaped the way many Americans of that time imagined the islands.