Degree Name

Department

English

College

Humanities

Defense Date

2018-04-06

Publication Date

2018-12-07

First Faculty Advisor

Dr. John Bennion

First Faculty Reader

Dr. David Stock

Second Faculty Reader

Ms. Leone Saaga

Honors Coordinator

Dr. John Talbot

Keywords

historical fiction, Kekuaokalani, Hawaiian Iconoclasm, Ka'ahumanu, Liholiho

Abstract

This thesis offers an exploration of the Hawaiian Iconoclasm of 1819 through the lens of an historical fiction novella. The thesis consists of two parts: a critical introduction outlining the theoretical background and writing process and the novella itself. 1819 was a year of incredible change on Hawaiian Islands. Kamehameha, the Great Uniter and first monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, had recently died, thousands of the indigenous population were dying, and foreign powers were arriving with increasing frequency, bringing with them change that could not be undone. With the death of Kamehameha, Hawaiʻi’s rulers faced the impossible of task of deciding how to move the fledgling kingdom forward. Some, including Kaʻahumanu, the favorite wife of Kamehameha and new de facto ruler of the islands, sought to break with ancient traditions believed to be holding the kingdom back. Others, including Kekuaokalani, the nephew of Kamehameha and keeper of the war god, believed that to break with tradition would bring destruction and a loss of identity. Kekuaokalani tells the story of the title character’s journey to deal with the loss of his uncle and defend the ancient faith of his people.

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