Jane Austen Society of North America — Hawai‘i Region

Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, JASNA Hawai`i encourages friendly fellowship and lively discussion of great literature, with an emphasis on Jane Austen, among residents of the Sandwich Isles.

Although not, strictly speaking, part of the continent, we are part of the Jane Austen Society of North America, and we maintain contact with fellow Janites around the Pacific Rim.

E Komo Mai — Join Us!

“They could all eat; and the beautiful pyramids of grapes, nectarines, and peaches soon collected them around the table.”

Pride and Prejudice

Activities

Members and their guests enjoy balmy breezes, delicious food and spirited games at the annual Jane Austen Birthday tea, celebrated on Island time (i.e. belatedly) in the spring. The 2022 Tea was a breath of fresh air, literally, as members enjoyed our first in-person event since the pandemic.

Occasional speaker events provide food for thought, and the pandemic has afforded access to online programs hosted by sister regions. In addition we co-hosted the first ever Jane Austen in the Pan Pacific Conference virtually in late 2021. View the sessions on YouTube.

“‘The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.’”

—Henry Tilney, Northanger Abbey

Reading Group

Interested JASNA members meet periodically to discuss a work by or about Jane Austen or those she has inspired. Next up: Teenage Writing by Jane Austen, edited by Katherine Sutherland and Freya Johnston, online Saturday, June 3 at 2 p.m. Learn more.

Past discussions have explored all six Austen novels and Sanditon as well as spinoffs and fan fiction (including The Jane Austen Project, The Jane Austen Society; The Other Bennet Sister; Ayesha at Last; Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman trilogy and prequel; Longbourn; and our own Bob Newell’s Courting Jane), and nonfiction.

“‘My idea of good company is…clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.’”

— Anne Elliot, Persuasion

Membership

Become a member or renew your membership via the JASNA website.

JASNA membership includes subscriptions to the quarterly newsletter, which provides regional news, informative articles, and book reviews, and the annual peer-reviewed journal Persuasions, as well as membership in one or more regions.

Members also receive information about the JASNA Annual General Meeting and advance notice of tours to England tailored specifically for members.