Point of View

Hakes deploys a shifting point of view throughout Hula that is designed to highlight a number of perspectives and give a thorough look at various perceptions of Hawaiian culture so as to create a dynamic and thorough understanding of the culture itself. Some sections of the novel are narrated in a limited third-person voice and follow either Laka Naupaka or her daughter, Hi`i. Others employ a collective first-person narration (i.e. a "we" voice) and are presented as being from the perspective of the entire Hilo community. Still others eschew perspective entirely and operate as straightforward but stylized accounts of the colonial history of Hawai`i. These sections often operate as though they are being narrated by the author herself.

The sections narrated by Hi`i and Laka are intended to help the reader understand the perspectives of these two characters on their upbringings...