The White Man's Foot

"The White Man's Foot" by Grant Allen is an adventure story set in Hawaii during the late 1800s starring brothers Tom and Frank Hesselgrave. It is about their trip to study the volcano Mauna Loa. As they embark on their journey, they come across the local islanders, including Kea, a mixed-race girl, and her uncle Kalaua; adding complexity to the storyline. The novel commences with Tom and Frank on a mail steamer bound for Hawaii, where they quickly notice the cultural differences. Despite warnings from Kea about volcanos and the goddess Pélé, Tom remains arrogant in his determination to observe Mauna Loa, creating tension between Western science and local beliefs. Kea's character becomes central in the developing struggle against the volcano and the expectations of the islanders.