In the Pacific they may hold some interest for scholars of literature- or studies of war memory, but they aren't seen as being particularly accurate historical portrayals or anything of that matter. The intention of the books are entertainment above accuracy or precision.

At far as literature goes, in my experience, most people focus on his use of the exotic to make the Pacific a place at once familiar and understandable, yet different and foreign. It fits into an audiences expectation of particular imagines and stereotypes.

I have seen a Professor assign Hawaii and South Sea Tales in a course before- though the intention was for students to critically analyze the books and consider popular western images/histories of the Pacific.