Hawai‘i Literature & Art
— Since 1978 —
She rolls over. Snoring, puffing air, then quiet. Gusts of wind blow through her wiry hair Sun shines on the leathery cracks. On her face, her elbows, her knees, the soles of her lu’au feet. Tutu? You sleeping? No answer. Tutu? Puffing, grunting. Too lazy to open her eyes. She replies. Yeah, jes one short…
Aloha friends, fellow poets and readers. Let’s celebrate February as ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language) Month. He Au Hou, “a new era” is a 21st century oli (chant). It’s written to be chanted “leo nui -style”, loudly and proudly, from the rooftops, from a canoe, even a mountaintop. Translation provided below its original text for Da…
Fo da boss, he says, “jes’ write”, e kākau wale hoʻi. ʻEha Ke Poʻo Ouuuch! ʻEha ke poʻo! My head hurts. Auē! I feel trampling, all over my rugged kino, my body. I hear yelling, shouting, cussing. Sounds of chanting send tremors through my ʻili. A worn-out cycle of confusion and controversy . One hui…
Hemo-skin hot imu stones swatting flies with ti leaf.
Aloha mai kākou e Bamboo Ridge readers, February is also known as the Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian Language Month. The impact of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi covers a broad spectrum of impressions on those who come into contact with it. Ranging from the simple brush of “aloha” and “mahalo”, to those who eat, sleep, cry, chant, think…
Kaloa Pau Cold morning Fisherman shuffles to the calendar on the wall, Squinting at the tiny print. Oh, Kaloa Pau moon, fishing supposed to be “excellent”. We’ll see about dat… He shuffles away, shaking his head. Cold morning, “double jacket” kine cold. Fisherman steps out to gaze at the sky. Pre-dawn beasts clutter the black…
A Companion This companion, is a long-distance bird, a bird of long journeys, a bird of many changing colors and many clothes. His small body is simply carried off by fierce onshore winds. Persistently thrashed till rain-soaked to the bone, is this fragile bird. In blustery winds, full of anger, the forces mean nothing to…
ʻO keia hoanoho, he manu lele loa, he manu huakaʻi loa, a he manu loli lole. Halihali wale ʻia kona kino liʻiliʻi e na makani nui e pa mai ana mai ka moana mai. Palukulukuʻia a pulu i ka ua ia manu palapala. Piha no ka makani puaʻo i ka inaina. He meaʻole naʻe i…
Stories that conjure up memories of the ohana at Christmas hold a special place in the hearts of many of us, it helps bring their warm aloha back to you, right where you are. I started writing this one while occupying a cramped space in a concrete block, steel bars defiantly staring back at me….
Kāne, tonight’s fingernail moon, gazes enviously upward at his illustrious neighbor, sun defiant Venus A false rivalry. An army of rain-streaked, leaden gray clouds assemble darkening the early dawn sky over Hilo Bay. No cheeseburger, no chips, no Pepsi, just good vibes of mana.