The book will delve into the rise and fall of the Hawaiian crime syndicate led by Wilford ‘Nappy’ Pulawa, known as the first and only Hawaiian mob boss.
Entertainment wrestler-actor Dwayne Johnson is taking on a new role as co-author of a nonfiction book that investigates the rise and fall of a Hawaiian crime syndicate from the 1960s and 70s. Known for his wrestling persona as The Rock and his Hollywood blockbuster career, Dwayne is now collaborating with award-winning investigative journalist Nick Bilton on this ambitious project.
“Super grateful to co-author my next project (a nonfiction book) with award-winning investigative journalist, @NickBilton. Nick and I have worked on this for months now, with many more months of work ahead of us – this has already been such an unbelievable, inspiring and eye-opening experience,” Johnson shared on Instagram.
The book will focus on The Company, a powerful and feared crime syndicate in Hawaii. At its helm was Wilford ‘Nappy’ Pulawa, the only mob boss of Hawaiian origin. The story is already being developed into a feature film directed by Martin Scorsese, with a screenplay by Bilton and Dwayne. The cast will reunite Dwayne with Emily Blunt and also feature Leonardo DiCaprio.
“This isn’t just a gangster story – it’s about power, identity, and what was taken from the Hawaiian people,” Dwayne explained. “What drew me to this project wasn’t just the action and the intensity. My own family lived through parts of this era, and I’ve seen first-hand the complicated legacy it left behind. Telling this story is a way to honour our Polynesian culture, and honour where we come from and share the untold history of what really happened in paradise,” he added.
