Maui’s isolated Hana coast in the late...

Maui’s isolated Hana coast in the late 1800s was home and haven for the Piilanis, Hawaiian landowners. It served as a place of escape for Tadao Nakamura, who established his family business there. For Heino Mittelmann, an ex-German soldier, it was his dream come true. Mahele O Maui by Lynn Kalama Nakkim (Seahorse, 350 Ward Ave., Suite 106, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814: $5.95, paperback, illustrated) spans four generations in the lives of these families struggling to claim, or keep, their land. Developers use unethical tactics to acquire ownership of acres originally deeded to the Piilanis. Foreigners, imported to work the fields, also bring change through intermarriage. Lynn Nakkim (a native of this same Hana coast) flavors her story with descriptions of old Hawaiian customs, uses a liberal sprinkling of slang dialogue and colorful Hawaiian words, but ends it so abruptly . . . perhaps to entice us to read the sequel.