The Pohaku: A Novel
by Jasmin Iolani Hakes
A young woman lies comatose in a hospital, watched by her estranged grandmother. Mystery surrounds the woman’s fall—did she jump off the cliff, or was she swept away by a wave? Her grandmother suspects it is linked to the pōhaku, an ancient stone that their family was tasked with protecting.
In this novel spanning generations across Hawai`i and California, it soon becomes clear that the pōhaku’s story must survive if there is to be any hope of the family’s reconciliation with their home, with nature, and with each other.
Reminiscent of Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing, Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, and Tommy Orange’s There, There, The Pōhaku is an immersive and bold novel about the history, perseverance, and resilience of the Hawaiian people.
