Frontmatter and The Blue Arm Summary and Analysis

In The Curse of Lono, Hunter Thompson travels to Hawaii to cover a race for a magazine. The trip becomes an extended stay. Though troubled with lousy weather, Hunter explores Hawaii's lore and legend, beach life, and fishing culture, in his unique and legendary way.

The book opens with two Ralph Steadman paintings. Each shows an archaic sailing vessel approaching the Hawaiian coast. The second bears a quote from Rudyard Kipling's Naulahka which cautions westerners against trying to "hustle the east." Following is a selection from Mark Twain's Letters from Hawaii, relating the origin of the Hawaiian god Lono. In a moment of anger, Lono slew his wife. Overcome with grief, the god sought solace in wrestling and boxing, eventually instituting the athletic games called the makahiki. Lono finally departed the islands in...