The Image of America series from Arcadia Publishing is a prolific series of short, accessible books filled with vintage photographs that chronicle the small towns, neighborhoods, downtowns and communities across the United States. There are over 5,800 books in the series so far, with many more being published or in development. Hawaiʻi has the pleasure of being the focus of at least half a dozen or more books in this series. We briefly reviewed one of these titles already, Theatres of Hawaiʻi by Lowell Angell, in honor of the 89th anniversary of the opening of the Hawaiʻi Theatre. I’ll be reviewing a few more of these books in the coming couple of weeks, many of which you can find in the Hawaii State Public Library System or on the bookshelves of your local book seller.
The North Shore of Oʻahu focuses on the images and history of one of the most internationally recognizable stretches of land found in Hawaiʻi. Now known to the world as a mecca of surfing, the North Shore has always been a valuable location for all who have lived and resided in the area. Joseph Kennedy, an archaeologist and writer who has lived on the North Shore for over 30 years, captures the value and essence of this locale through this compilation of archived and personal images, weaving a local tale of cultural significance, agricultural importance, and recreational enjoyment.
The book begins with an introduction where Kennedy posits that “for more than 1,000 years and for 40 generations of people from disparate ethnic backgrounds, the North Shore of Oahu has always been a region marked not just by its rustic definition—but also because it is a state of mind.” This intro includes a brief summary of the region’s early history while still in the exclusive hands of Hawaiians. Each subsequent section of the book, of which there are five covering: Hawaiians, the Melting Pot of cultures, Military Presence and WWII, Surfing, and Adaptive Reuse—are each introduced with a few short paragraphs before the photos take over and do the rest of the storytelling.
The North Shore of Oʻahu is a fine photographic resource; a useful archive for visually conceptualizing the region known as the North Shore, helping us to understand its historical and cultural significance to Hawaiians and the world in general. The book comes in a compact (roughly 9×7″), paperback that can easily slide onto your bookshelf without taking up much space, yet is packed full hundreds of rare and notable historic photographs. From Puʻu o Mahuka heiau and Haleʻiwa Hotel, to the H. Miura Store and Matsumoto’s, the images located within The North Shore of Oʻahu are an invaluable resource for traveling into Hawaiʻi’s past.
The North Shore of Oʻahu (Images of America series)
by Joseph Kennedy
Arcadia Publishing, 2011
128 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-0738575254
$21.99
