THE DESCENDANTS

Dealing with the Descendants, there’s a lot to be said. The main issue I have with some other critiques of Hemming’s story is that people expect too much out of it. They expect a story that revolves around one idea of Hawaii, a more “Native” idea of Hawaii, one that’s unkempt and cursed with over reaching Haoles that sucked their land dry but the picture Hemmings paints is the other side of the story. Hemmings modern day story shows how the lives of missionary descendants are not ideal either and paradise for them is just as much of a struggle for them as it is for other lower class Hawaiians. Not matter what side of the Aloha rainbow you’re on there’s no escaping misfortune. One of my favorite lines of the novel exemplifies how Matt’s character has to deal with living with reality in paradise, “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)  I actually really like the novel. I think the family dynamics are quite particular to Hawaii, although I can’t speak with too much authority I find that while some of these issues, such as infidelity, manipulation, and parenting are universal, while the subplots make the context of Hawaii seem more real.

The issue of the land and parenting seem out of Matt’s grasp mentally. Leaving him at a loss for what to say and do. This idea of loss is quite prevalent throughout the book and even stems as far back to his native ancestors who had to deal with the loss of their cultural identity, their land and their race but it's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything. Although Hemmings moves past the past and creates an universal image of the Hawaiian family she does manage to create a new paradigm for looking at paradise, one thats more based in reality than fantasy.