In 1886, following the tragic deaths of her father and her fianc, Laura Jennings, now alone in the world, travels to Hawaii to live with missionary relatives.
Laura imagines she'll live in a grass hut and minister to savages, but, on arriving in Honolulu, she's surprised to find that, far from being savages, the Hawaiians have developed a sophisticated and prosperous kingdomand Laura's family is among the wealthy elite plotting to overthrow the monarchy.
To avoid her conniving uncle's control, Laura goes to work for the royal family.
Hawaii's last queen, Liliuokalani, struggles to save the kingdom.
As the Missionary Party's opposition intensifies, the queen's efforts reveal a power that can restore the spirit of a people caught up in a turbulent, changing world, and Laura discovers how her own family's long-hidden secrets can lead the way to reconciliation.