Islands In A Far Sea: The Fate Of Nature In Hawai'i

First published in 1988, Islands in a Far Sea offers a comprehensive environmental history of Hawai'i. This thoroughly revised edition begins with an up-to-date account of the geological formation and shaping of the islands, their colonization by plants and animals, and the patterns of ecology and evolution that unfolded in nurturing seas and on breathtaking landscapes. This book tells the story of human interaction with Hawai'i's native landscapes and rich biological heritage. The author's accessible language allows readers to grasp basic geological and biological principles and to understand the perhaps surprising vulnerability of Hawaiian ecosystems-which have coevolved with volcanoes-to human impact. Islands in a Far Sea includes many well-documented historical examples of such impacts, featuring growth and greed, fears and foibles as humans confronted endemic nature in Hawai'i. However, the book holds out hope that current efforts to protect what is left of Hawai'i's flora and fauna in their remaining wild settings may yet succeed.