Expected Publication Date: October 10, 2023

Genre: Action/ Adventure

A boundary-bridging novel that will surprise, captivate, and move readers who thought they knew Hawaiʻi; an age-old story of healing a seared heart and finding home.

Mauna Kea: A Novel of Hawai'i is a gripping tale of clashing passions—science and spirituality, vengeance and compassion, fear and courage—set atop Hawaiʻi’s 14,000-foot Mauna Kea, realm of revered goddesses and star-wise explorers. A young vagabond running from America’s turmoil is forced to confront his own grief and rage on an embattled holy mountain in the Pacific. There he encounters a mysterious domain of ancient mountain deities and the Native Hawaiians who revere them, including two wise elders who take him under their wings and a young woman with a world-weary heart akin to his own. Through his startling experiences with them—and a motley cadre of other islanders—he learns the power of aloha and discovers an untapped reservoir of faith and courage that rekindles his hope in himself and in the world we share.

Includes an illustrated map and 12 original pen-and-ink drawings made especially for the novel by John D. Dawson.

About the Author

An award-winning novelist and acclaimed writing teacher, Tom Peek lived his early life on Minnesota’s Upper Mississippi River. After hitchhiking by boat through the South Seas, he settled on Hawaiʻi Island three decades ago. There he’s been, among other things, an astronomy and mountain guide on Mauna Kea, an eruption ranger and exhibit writer on Kilauea, and an insider participant in the efforts to protect both sacred volcanoes.

In praising his debut novel, Daughters of Fire, Maile Meyer, founder of Honolulu’s Native Books/Nā Mea Hawai‘i, said, “Peek’s understanding of place, culture, and current issues is deep and respectful without being heavy-handed.” The Contemporary Pacific Journal called him “a storyteller extraordinaire, cut from an older cloth seldom seen today.”

“Tom Peek is an organic intellectual in the tradition of Mark Twain.” — Poet Jaime Jacinto, author of Heaven Is Just Another Country

"Peek is an author who takes the time to listen and observe, honestly portraying islanders of all hues and voices.” — Nelson Ho, Sierra Club leader and longtime Mauna Kea activist

Review

While I am selective in the genres I read, this one captured my interest because having been born and raised in Hawaii, I will read anything when it comes to my Hawaiian heritage. I wasn't sure what to expect at first, but I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed reading about how one man comes to learn the true meaning of Hawaii and the gods that we, native Hawaiians, revere based on our culture. Through the man's growth and his learning about the meaning of aloha, a true understanding and appreciation of faith (in all aspects) has developed. I will rate this book 4 stars because while I did like it, I found some parts a little drawn out (they could've been shorter and still capture the true essence of the author). The book is a bit long to read and will take time but in the end, you will enjoy it if you give Tom Peek a chance!