Hawai‘i Literature & Art
— Since 1978 —
Aloha.
That’s the way we opened every show.
Hawaiʻi needed something like Aloha Shorts. As we all know, our island home is blessed with world-class writers, actors, and musicians. Hawaiʻi Public Radio and Bamboo Ridge Press recognized this and took a chance.
Cedric Yamanaka
host, writer, and performer
Aloha Shorts was a locally produced, half-hour radio program of writings from Bamboo Ridge Press performed by Hawaiʻi’s actors and formerly broadcast on Hawaiʻi Public Radio. Co-produced by Sammie Choy, Craig Howes, and Phyllis S.K. Look, live recordings were held once a month on Sunday nights, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in HPR’s Atherton Studio in front of an audience. The on-air host was Cedric Yamanaka, and the house band was Hamajang.
In 2019, Bamboo Ridge Press published The Best of Aloha Shorts, a collection of over thirty stories and poems that were featured on the program, history and behind-the-scenes accounts, plus personal essays by some of the writers, actors, musicians, sponsors, and the host.
Aloha Shorts Theme Song
New Year's Eve 1991
Rockhead
Benny's Bachelor Cuisine
Da Beer Can Hat
...Janessa's Friend
...Corinna's Friend, Sometimes
Luciano and da...
The House of Luke
Name Me Is
Swift Blur of Passing Vehicles
Ma Ket Stenlei
Waiting for Henry
Kid
Apocalyptic Barbie
Toads
A Day in da Life of a Java Junkie
Oz Kalani, Personal Trainer
Too Smart to Slow Down
Bearing the Light
ʻAu ʻA ʻIa
Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī
A Wife Reminisces
Tsunami April Fool's Day, 1946
Lava Watch
Toda Drug
Uncle's Drum
Dog. Lamb. Bug.
For Robin, Unclaimed
Letter to Honolulu
An Image of the Good Times
Listen to recordings of all the pieces included in The Best of Aloha Shorts.