Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me
by Lurline Wailana McGregor
Published by Kamehameha Publishing
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Reviewed by Diane Keyes
Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me is a difficult book to review. I’ve put it off hoping for inspiration. The idea is a wonderful one—to put in novel form an examination of the profound beauty and complexity of Hawaiian spirituality.
The book tells the story of a young Hawaiian woman who has left the islands to live the California life. She wants desperately to abandon her native roots and become like the rest of the Mainlanders. But startlingly real dream-visits from her ancestors trouble her. When her father’s death brings her back home she is confronted with her heritage and its legacy, risking her relationship with Charlie McNeil, who loves her deeply but does not understand her culture or its hold on her.
A couple years ago, I wrote a paper in an advanced spirituality class about the nature of the Hawaiian religious beliefs, so I know a bit more than most about this topic. That being said, I’m not sure anyone who isn’t Hawaiian can truly understand this book.
It may be that the author’s intention was to write for her own people to honor and support a belief system currently in danger of being swallowed up by the larger, decidedly less mystical world. If so, it is a job well done.
However, if McGregor’s desire was teach the rest of the world to appreciate the richness of her spirituality, I’m afraid she has fallen short. The author is so fluent and immersed in her topic she missed the fact that her larger audience does not have the same understanding.
A significant part of the story revolves around the ki’i. I do not know what that is, nor do I understand its significance. I searched the book and never figured it out. And several pages are written in Hawaiian, I understand it’s a prayer but I want to know more. And that is the crux of it, I want to know more. Give us more. However, the cover is exquisite.
Armchair Interviews says: Heed this reviewer’s comments and then decide.