Talking Story
Book Review: Oriental Faddah and Son
by Lee A. Tonouchi
Hawaiian Pidgin, as a language, is raw. It communicates on a visceral, no shibai level, cutting to the heart of the matter with a few quick words in an inflection that can leave you bloody on the floor. There’s a reason my kids don’t worry if I’m scolding in English;...
Learning ‘Ōlelo: pāhoehoe
pāhoehoe (PAH-hoe-hoe) (n) A type of lava that is smooth and often slick when wet. Example English: Billy! Don’t run! This lava is really smooth and—it’s okay! Don’t cry! Pidgin: What I said? Das wet pāhoehoe, lōlō. You run like that in slippahs of course you going...
Character Haiku: Zader
Black ink glides and dances, a girl with flowing hair peeks out. My sister? Perhaps. ~Zader For more character haiku click here.
Number Problems
I hate math. My suspicions that the numbers game is rigged happened when Mr. Waters, my sixth grade teacher, taught us that a negative times a negative equaled a positive, clearly the most counter-intuitive idea ever. I stuck with math through algebra and geometry...
Book Review: Persistence of Vision
by Liesel K. Hill
Imagine you wake up in Las Vegas to discover you’re missing hours in a blackout that you fear is the result of a drugged assault. Now imagine that a few months later, just when you’re finding your groove, you get attacked again, but this time you’re rescued by a...
Learning ‘Ōlelo: pōpō aniani
pōpō aniani (poh-poh AH-nee-AH-nee) (n) Glass balls or floats found on Hawaiian beaches that usually originated from fishing nets in Asia. Example English: How much for that little glass ball? It will look perfect on the patio! Pidgin: Try look! Pōpō aniani! We go...
Character Haiku: ‘Ilima
Nose under Zader’s hand. Flip. Nudge. Lick. Flip. Nudge. Sigh. Belly rub at last. ~'Ilima For more character haiku click here.
Hawaiian Daze
I once heard a kumu hula say that he never left Hawai‘i because everywhere he stepped he was taking aloha with him. It’s something I’ve tried to keep in mind, particularly when the endless snow and ice outside my window starts to grind on me. I’m not alone in wanting...
Interview with Author Adrienne Monson
This week’s blog is an interview with debut author Adrienne Monson whose book Dissension, Book 1 in The Blood Inheritance Trilogy, was published by Jolly Fish Press on Feb. 23, 2013. It’s available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and other fine bookstores. Okay,...
Learning ‘Ōlelo: Holoholo
Holoholo (HOH-loh-HOH-loh) (v) Pidgin for going out and finding some fun. Example English: "Lilinoe, let us get in your car and drive up and down main street and see what others are doing. Perhaps we can meet young men with whom we can converse." Pidgin: “Lili! We go...
Character Haiku: Zader
Curl of wood, easy like butter. Shave fin, tail, nose, eye, scale. Free the fish. ~Zader For more character haiku click here.
Book Review: Dissension
by Adrienne Monson
What do you do when your very existence is an anathema to you, the love of your life has wanted to kill you for 2,000 years, your stalker ex is back, and you’ve a teenage girl dumped into your lap that can’t go home? When you’re Leisha, one of the original vampires,...
Character Haiku: Uncle Kahana
Talk story time, pau for now. Sun sets on Piko Point. Aloha pō. ~Uncle Kahana For more character haiku click here.
5 More Ways My Husband Says I Love You
Happy Valentine’s Day! In keeping with my tradition, here are five more ways my husband says I love you. 1) Just letting you know I’m taking the kids to school since they missed the bus. 2) I’m driving through town on my way home. Need anything from the...
Learning ‘Ōlelo: Junkalunka
junkalunka (juhn-KAH-luhn-KAH) (adj) Pidgin description of something that is old, broken down, used up. Example English: Perhaps we should borrow your mother's car since the road is steep and winding and your car tires are bald and the brakes are soft. Pidgin: Pali...
Character Haiku: Zader
Essay: scribble, erase, doodle, sketch, dream, shake, erase, erase, sigh. Rather fly kite. ~Zader For more character haiku click here.
The Power
Last night I had The Power. At least that’s what we called it when we were kids. He who controlled the tv remote ruled the world as far as we were concerned. During my childhood our father was King of the TV. Like most Maui families, we had just one, but it was a huge...
Learning ‘Ōlelo: daikon legs
daikon legs (DYE-kon leh-eggs) (n) Pidgin description of legs that a short, fat, and white. Example English: "Interesting choice, Michi-san. Have you seen these floor-length prom dresses?" Pidgin: “Michi, you blind? That mini shows off your daikon legs!” Note: ‘Ōlelo...
Character Haiku: ‘Ālika
Slam, fist, grind, nose, pop, blood gushes, grab tee-shirt quick, limp to the office. ~‘Ālika For more character haiku click here.
Eddie Would Go
Surf’s up on the North Shore of ‘Oahu as big wave season begins again. I love sitting safely on the beach and feeling the pounding surf slam against the sand. When the giants come it’s like sitting in a car with the bass blasting; you feel it in your chest like a...