Book excerpt: A Concise History of the Hawaiian Islands covers the major events and personalities in Hawaiian history from the first human landfall in the islands to the arrival of Captain Cook, through the sovereignty movement of the late 1990's to the administration of the current governor, Linda Lingle. Included are accounts of missionaries and whalers, ali'i and kahuna, the Hawaiian Monarchy, the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the rise and fall of the sugar industry. The history comes to life through illustrations and interesting anecdotes. By investing a couple of hours the casual reader can greatly increase the depth of his or her understanding of the events that have shaped and continue to shape these magical islands.