Hawai‘i Literature & Art
— Since 1978 —
What puts the kick in the chicken, the magic in June? Does anybody sing “Elmer’s Tune” these days? Why would they? What makes me think about it now? Oh my ma is out, and my pa is out, even Grandpa’s cigar is out, everyone’s out, so let’s stay in tonight. So what happens to all…
Two isolated capitals, initials, abbreviations, codes, symbols — perhaps a prestige logo? Or complete and utter nonsense? Or maybe the beginning of a word or phrase, the remainders of which got lost along the way from conception to realization, still seeking completion? Or complete erasure? Letters skipped, skimped, skimmed, skinned? Wait! I hear it forming…
Out on the open road again, Miss Chevy rides smoothly enough at the moderate speed I’m driving her, and I’m well aware that moderation could win the day, assuming the day can be won. I’m also aware that I seem to want to give a name to my vehicle, an indulgence I’ve always resisted on…
“Here you go, sweetheart, and plenty more where that came from.” Mardi curtsies as she hands me the chilled longneck. “And would the ‘here’ you reference mean here in Bryan as a place to seek ultimate solace, comfort, and wisdom or as a marker for where you stand in your life’s journey?” “Both. And more.”…
Mardi’s mom’s name is Rose. A long-standing family tradition has her dad selecting one yellow bloom from the bush he cultivates near the swimming pool and presenting it to her each morning. “A rose for my Rose,” he says. I don’t know what she replies, never having witnessed the ritual. Maybe it doesn’t happen every…
“I don’t want to drink all your dad’s beer,” I tell Mardi. “Don’t worry about it. He stocked up for you.” “Appreciate it.” “Thought you would. My suggestion. Wanted to get you talking.” “Bet you’re sorry now.” “Au contraire. I’m on the edge of my seat. You’ve got the prayer to say before the first…
Part One It was taking longer than it should for sister-in-law Maya to get her kids ready for the drive to Hilo airport after a week-long family visit. Lost socks, missing underwear, bathroom emergencies, and a stubbed and bloody toe, the usual things when you travel with kids. Still, it seemed to be taking longer…
ON HE RODE — Chapter Thirty-Nine The country school I attended in grades five through eight was a steep-roofed chalet built of river rock, heavy Douglas fir timbers, and cedar shake roofing taken from the ground on which it was built by the WPA in 1938. A gorgeous edifice immaculately maintained by angular post-retirement old-timers…
Don Millich only lived in our neighborhood for a couple years, and he was a couple years older than me, but we got to be pretty good hangout buddies sometimes. One time we pack our B-B guns and go poking around the remains of the old shingle mill across the highway from Mark McDonald’s family home, about…
“The whole damn thing about God, if He exists,” I say to Mardi, rudely pointing my Lone Star longneck, “is that, if He exists, we need to take that into consideration in the way we live our lives. Consider, for example, how we conduct business and government and parenting and relationships with each other. What…