Mrs London writes in her foreword "In this journal covering a few months spent ten years ago in Hawaii, concluding with a resume of experiences there in 1915-1916, I have tried to limn a picture of the charm of the Hawaiian islander as he was, and is becoming, with the enchantment of his lofty isles, and their abundant hospitality. During the original writing many elisions were advised by Jack London, as being too personal of himself for me, being me, to publish. However, in the circumstances of his untimely passing, and in view of a desire made evident to me in countless letters as well as in the press, for biographical work, I have been led to reinstate and elaborate much of the mass of data. Even in face of his objections at the time, I had stoutly disagreed, maintaining that the lovers of his soul and his work would value revelation of his personality and manner of living life."