Throughout his life, Munro remained a student of Lana'i's history. In his own words, "the motivation for this account is humdrum - the curiosity of one who spent his childhood on Lana'i. At the time, there were few historical works about the island in general circulation.

His family had copies of Kenneth Emory's study of Lana'i and Harold Stearns' work on the geology and groundwater resources. Anecdotes told at the dinner table and chance contacts with old-timers were about the only other sources. People reared on Lana'i almost always have a fondness for, and even pride in, the place. Thus, the lack of sources of historical information can be a source of frustration."

Upon retirement and accompanied by his wife Jean, he began this book as a compilation of his findings, supplemented by a wealth of photographs and images. The book goes into considerable detail on ownership history, the variety and challenges of early settlement, and the economic development of the island up through 1945.