Book three of the John Tana trilogy: John and his young family have settled onto their farming compound on the north shore of Kauai island. It is the late 1800's a time of ruthless expansion of sugar plantations which threaten native Hawaiian water rights and the existence of the Hawaiian monarchy and sovereignty. Hawaiians seem divided: some try to survive and others stubbornly cling to traditional religious practices. Tattooed men attach leading to unforeseen dangers including disease.