Harry J. Moors (1854-1926), was born in Detroit and died in Apia, Western Samoa. As an agent for the Hawaiian Board of Immigration, he made several voyages to the Gilbert Islands and Marshall Islands around 1880 to recruit labourers for Hawaii's sugar plantations. In 1883, he settled in Apia, Western Samoa, and became a successful trader and planter. Moors was closely associated with Robert Louis Stevenson during the novelist's five years (1889-1894) in Samoa, and in 1910 he published a book of reminiscences entitled 'With Stevenson in Samoa'. Moors stated in that book that Stevenson had once urged him to write down some of the wonderful stories he had related to Stevenson about his early career. Moors acted on this encouragement, and after Stevenson died, he wrote two novels, of which 'The Tokanoa: A plain tale of some strange adventures in the Gilberts' is one. Neither of the novels was published. See also the Bureau's newsletter 'Pambu', September 1968:4.

The novel is based on Moors' experiences in the Gilbert Islands [Kiribati] as a labour recruiter for the Hawaiian Board of Immigration. The title page states that it is compiled from the diary of John T. Bradley, labor agent.