Scott Kikkawa, author of Hawaiʻi Noir novels Kona Winds, Red Dirt and Char Siu is known for his sharp-witted dialogue and cinematic prose. Did you know that he draws some of his inspiration from film?
In celebration of his new publication Sporting Girl, we asked Scott Kikkawa and Sheik to drop their top movie recommendations.
- Double Indemnity (1944). Though based on a James M. Cain novel, the screenplay was helped to its feet by Raymond Chandler. Best noir dialogue on the silver screen. “How fast was I going, Officer?” and “You’re not smarter. You’re just a little taller,” are pure Chandler.
- Blade Runner (1982). My second favorite film noir. This was Ridley Scott’s—and Harrison Ford’s—finest hour. Set in a futuristic dystopian Los Angeles, it’s noir to the core disguised as science fiction. Chiaroscuro lighting in color reminiscent of black and white.
- Nora Inu / “Stray Dog” in English (1949). An Akira Kurosawa noir masterpiece featuring a young Toshiro Mifune as a police detective who spends the entire film trying to recover his missing Colt pistol against a desolate postwar Japan landscape. The pacing is brooding and desperate.
- In the Mood for Love (2000). Wong Kar Wai’s love letter to Hong Kong of the early 1960s with impossibly attractive leads Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung in period finery, gorgeously shot. Unrequited love backed by Nat “King” Cole crooning in Spanish. Hard to beat.
Era accurate viewing
Hell’s Half Acre (1954). It’s haoles behaving badly in the vicinity of ʻAʻala Park. How often do you see that?
Join us at da Shop to celebrate the launch of Sporting Girl! Alicia Upano, author of the upcoming novel Everything to the Sea (HarperCollins) will be our guest moderator.
It’ll be a great opportunity to meet the author and even get your copy signed! You won’t wanna miss it!
Event details: June 13, 2026 ⏰ 2-4pm da Shop, Kaimukī (3565 Harding Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816)
Copies will be available for purchase at the event. You can also purchase Sporting Girl online at Bess Press or our bookstore. The event is free and open to all. Hope to see ya there! ️
Sporting Girl (2026) is the fourth novel in Scott Kikkawa’s popular Hawaiʻi Noir series. Set in postwar Honolulu, Detective Francis “Sheik” Yoshikawa investigates yet another murder. This time, however, the murder was in his friend and fellow veteran Wally Yoshida’s home. What will Sheik do now? Check out our event page for the latest readings and launch events.
Wanna read more of Scott Kikkawa’s fascinating insights on noir, film, and Chinatown nostalgia? Subscribe to his Substack: https://honolulublotter.substack.com/
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