Jessica is on the Hawaiian island of Maui, giving a lecture on community involvement in police investigations. Her co-lecturer is legendary retired detective Mike Kane, who shares his love of Hawaiian lore, legends, and culture with Jessica. But the talking stops when the body of a colleague is found at the rocky foot of a cliff.

Mala Kapule, a botanist and popular professor at Maui College, was known for her activism and efforts on behalf of the volcanic crater Haleakala. Plans to place the world's largest solar telescope there split the locals, with Mala arguing fiercely to preserve the delicate ecology of the area.

Now it's up to Jessica and Mike to uncover who was driven to silence the scientist...and betray the spirit of aloha.