Sharks in the Time of Saviors is a coming-of-age, Hawaiian adventure novel written by Kawai Strong Washburn. It follows the story of the Nāwai family, four siblings, Mākana, Dean, Kaui, and Leilani, as they hop between islands in search of help to save their ailing mother, Leilanai, after she suffers an unexpected seizure. Along the way, they create a makeshift family alongside their makeshift home onboard a fishing vessel they name Shark Lady.
The novel explores the complexities of family, culture, and identity, and how these themes interact to create an ever-evolving puzzle of self-discovery. Washburn captures the nostalgia of growing up in a tourist town in the islands, as well as the sense of wonderment the four siblings find as they explore and discover the secrets of the land and its people in the search for their haumana—the saviors. They look to the landscape, the people, and the creatures to teach them about the mysterious prophecies of the islands and the peculiar creatures that inhabit them, coming to understand the stories of belief and obeah, the power of mana, and the captivating mysteries that lie beyond the plankton-speckled surface of the ocean.
The narrative deftly trades off between the siblings’ perspectives, introducing an array of characters, each with their own nuance and power. This serves to shed light on their various strengths and struggles, while still amplifying the harmonious bond between them. The protagonists’ actions are often challenged by the tropical landscape, and the supernatural forces that inhabit it, as they find themselves up against sharks, goblins, and the ulua, a giant sea monster. Through this, Washburn highlights the importance of holding onto hope against overwhelming odds and deciphering fears to find your own power.
The story comes full circle when they eventually make it back home to return to Leilanai, just in time to witness the power of their haumana—the saviors—at work. A euphoric conclusion bears witness to the healing power of the sun-kissed land, the strength of family, and the unbelievably captivating power of magical realism.
Sharks in the Time of Saviors is a novel of wonder, devoted to a search for a cure and a mission of discovery. Washburn beckons readers to explore a landscape of complexity, culture, and identity, basking in the glorious ways of the islands and the power of belief, reminding us to seek our haumana—the saviors—within each of us.
