The Last Aloha

Winner, Ka Pala Po`okela Book Award

for Excellence in “Aloha from Beyond Hawaii”


Finalist, National Indie Excellence Awards


Winner, Texas Writers’ League Award for Historical Fiction


“I was caught up in the drama and spectacle from the first. Quinn knows her history and is skilled at bringing it to the page. I highly recommend this novel, not just to those with an interest in the Hawaiian Islands, but to all who can appreciate a good yarn. Knowing that much of this one is true made it all the more compelling.”

—Eileen Goudge, best-selling author of Garden of Lies and Such Devoted Sisters


“A riveting story of the glory of the Hawaiian kingdom, The Last Aloha is a top pick that should not be overlooked.”

—The Midwest Book Review


How did Hawaii become part of America?

Suppressed for over a century,

the whole story hasn’t been told—until now.

THE  LAST  ALOHA

A Novel by Gaellen Quinn


In 1886, following the tragic deaths of her father and her fiancé, Laura Jennings, now alone in the world, travels to Hawaii to live with missionary relatives. Laura imagines she’ll live in a grass hut and minister to savages, but, on arriving in Honolulu, she’s surprised to find that, far from being savages, the Hawaiians have developed a sophisticated and prosperous kingdom—and Laura’s family is among the wealthy elite plotting to overthrow the monarchy. To avoid her conniving uncle’s control, Laura goes to work for the royal family. Hawaii’s last queen, Lili`uokalani, struggles to save the kingdom. As the Missionary Party’s opposition intensifies, the queen’s efforts reveal a power that can restore the spirit of a people caught up in a turbulent, changing world, and Laura discovers how her own family’s long-hidden secrets can lead the way to reconciliation.

“Beautifully and insightfully written, The Last Aloha shines a light on a dark part of Hawaii’s history, and challenges us to see each other with both our minds and our hearts—the true aloha spirit. Quinn reminds us that this spirit has always been in the hearts of the Hawaiian people, giving us hope that it is within reach of us all.”

—Q’Orianka Kilcher, actress, star of The New World and Princess Ka`iulani


“As a native Hawaiian, I appreciate Quinn’s approach to her Western protagonist coming to know the islands and their people. As a specialist in Hawaiian history, I also appreciate the historical accuracy. I’m recommending The Last Aloha to all my family and friends.”

—Keanu Sai, PhD


“A work of towering historical majesty, The Last Aloha propels us into a story as exotic and seductive as any of the Hawaiian Islands—before the tourists arrived. This is a journey far off the beaten track, an elegy to a world lost by being found.”

—Sarah Bird, author of The Yokota Officers Club and Virgin of the Rodeo


“Inspired by true events, The Last Aloha explores the deep recesses of Hawaii’s history. It details the final days of the monarchy and the queen’s struggle to save her throne. Quinn’s extensive research through original 19th- and 20th-century documents, conversations with native Hawaiians, and visits to the original sites make her book more thorough than any other.”

—Kira Taniguchi, for Austin Woman Magazine





Gaellen Quinn holds a master’s degree in International and Community Development and a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Chinese. She was development director of the Association for the Cohesive Development of the Amazon (ADCAM), vice president of both Network Action Company and Central Technologies, Inc., and operations and marketing director for the California Wellness Plan. Through her affiliation with the Mona Foundation, Ms. Quinn works as a consultant to economic development projects in such far-flung parts of the world as Brazil, Cambodia, Haiti, Honduras, India, Panama, Tanzania, and Austin, Texas. Her writing reflects her passion for diverse peoples, as well as for global themes that affect our personal, social, and spiritual lives. Gaellen Quinn has two daughters, and lives in Moloka`i.