Living with Reality in Paradise

In the book the Descendants it starts out with the line, "The sun is shining, mynah birds are chattering, palm trees are swaying, so what" (Hemmings 3). This quote sets the tone for the book, I feel. The characters are in Hawaii, a place that has come to symbolize paradise, vacations, and an escape from reality. The characters of this book though are not having a stereotypical Hawaiian experience. They are, as the quote goes on to explain, in a hospital. By setting the story in Hawaii it causes the reader to question what they previously thought about this island paradise. It places a fictional version of a real family dealing with real issues in a place that has been traditionally viewed as an escape. This traditional view is almost always from a Western perspective where Hawaii is really viewed as a vacation spot. It is separate from the mainland USA and could be viewed purely as a place to get away from the stress of everyday life. This view though forgets about the real people who live, love, work, and so much more on the islands.

Despite the setting of "escape" the characters cannot escape their situation. They are left to deal with their dying mother and the property issues. The setting then seems to heighten their loss and tough decisions. They are surrounded by tourist and happy people but they themselves are in anguish. They see so many people not dealing with reality when they are being forced to deal with it. This is especially seen in the last chapter when they are scattering Joanie's ashes and a booze cruise goes by. The characters decide this is a fitting farewell to their mother but it shows the dichotomy of the situation. The characters trying to face their problems surrounded by people trying to escape theirs.

Even the climate makes it a difficult situation to be upset in. As Hemmings states, "The tropics make it difficult to mope. I bet in big cities you can walk down the street scowling and no one will ask you what's wrong or encourage you to smile, but everyone here has the attitude that we're lucky to live in Hawaii; paradise reigns supreme. I think paradise can go fuck itself" (Hemmings 5). This quote again shows how the setting in the story heightens their problems. They aren't supposed to be sad or angry or frustrated. Bad things should not be happening in such an idyllic place. Despite this they are happening and that the reality everywhere. No one is immune from human suffering. I feel that Hemmings places the story in Hawaii to reveal the reality that people face there. To help to humanize the inhabitants instead of viewing them as happy cartoon like characters. I feel she is trying to show that in Hawaii there are real people that deal with real issues just like the rest of us.

I feel revealing the reality of Hawaii is one of the larger themes seen throughout Hawaiian literature. It is trying to dispell the myth that this is a happy island nation everyone should come visit. Instead many of the books we have read show the racial, sovereignty, land, and more problems that affect real Hawaiian people. I think one of the quotes from The Descendants says it best when it states, "We're back to reality miles and miles away from the slow and easy island" (Hemmings 224). Hawaii is not the island paradise it is portrayed as but instead a real place where many real problems exist.