John Tana
MAUI
Naked, his immediate family dead, a young Hawaiian is confronted on his Kahului farm by two whip-wielding men from Grant Plantation. Served with an eviction notice, John Tana learns about the law of private property from the village parson and that Grant Plantation now owns his land.
John burns his shacks and flees in his canoe to escape from Grant men seeking to imprison him. Arriving in Lahaina, he meets the last of his relatives and falls in love with his cousin, Leinani. He quickly learns that such love is now forbidden by the white missionaries and he represses his love.
In 1866, the town of Lahaina is still subject to "whaler's law" and is rife with prejudice. John soon learns that Grant and Company is offering a reward for his capture. After a battle with whalers and a rescue of Leinani from a lecherous sea captain, John flees in his canoe for Honolulu on Oahu Island.
OAHU
In Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, John becomes involved in a sensational murder trial of a Chinese who has killed a white businessman. During the trial he learns about capitalism and how to acquire private property. When the surprising identity of Leinani's real father is discovered, John attempts to secure her consent to marriage but is prevented from doing this when called to military duty. Leinani becomes engaged to a rich white businessman. John is forced to flee once again when he learns that the French Minister of Foreign Affairs has ordered his arrest for the claimed rape of his daughter.
KAUA'I
Settling into farming life on Kaua'i, John marries a Hawaiian woman and lives with other Hawaiians on the north shore.
During the ensuing years, John combats superstition, rampaging Chinese, fire, floods, Grant Company employees and marauding tattooed warriors seeking human sacrifice.
Despite many obstacles, John acquires private property, develops a farm and builds a home on it for his family.
When John visits the leper prison on the island of Molokai, he learns of the dreaded disease, leprosy.
Soon thereafter, his son develops it.
Rather than have him surrender to authorities and be imprisoned in Molokai, John brings his wife and son to remote Kalalau Valley where many Hawaiians with leprosy hide.
Meanwhile, Grant and Company buys the land surrounding John's farm and shuts off his access to river water.
Complying with the law of the Hawaiian monarchy, John files a lawsuit and a jury finds in his favor.
Grant Company appeals..
After Western business interests overthrow the Hawaiian Queen, the new Republic dispatches militia to Kalalau Valley to capture the lepers and take them to Molokai.
John rushes over the mountains to save his family.
Yet he is too late and artillery fire kills his wife and son.
Devastated, John receives one more blow: the Supreme Court of the Republic reverses the verdict of the jury.
His land is worthless.
Seeking revenge, John joins a revolution by monarchists who seek to return the queen to power.