Hawai‘i Literature & Art
— Since 1978 —
And one day I will be old, my hair will turn grey, my dark brown will turn to white. The coarse hair of my grandmother will become my own. First with one strand then another, soon to turn into waves, coming in and out with the longs box dye I’ve seen my grandmother use. And…
Aloha to all you writers, and a very Happy Year of the Snake to everyone. As always, these contest prompts are only suggestions. You may write about anything you choose. If these prompts inspire you, terrific. If they don’t, my apologies. The usual parameters apply: write a piece between 100 and 1000 words, any genre,…
Shangri-La waiting Disturbed by sidewalk scene Shirtless sleeping man. Weeds and shirtless man Sidewalk sleeping yet come spring, Weeds flower. eyk 1/25/25 Looking across Beretania Street to the sidewalks of Thomas Square while waiting to get on a bus for the tour of the Doris Duke estate and art. I was struck by the…
This New Year’s Day, in addition to the traditional Ozoni meal, sake toast, and oseichi meal, we had a group challenge to submit their First or “Hatsu” haiku of the new year. All participated and for some, this was their first haiku they composed. Subjects ranged from preparing for the NewYear’s meal, fireworks and feelings…
I ate oysters in both locations, and I had a card. “Ate” is what you call it, but come on, is it really eating? We carried stamp cards, a gimmick, with boastful pride, for each oyster slurped down, progress made toward a free one. Prisoners of that marketing device, we were slaves to lemon juice…
Happy New Year. I was wondering how we might encourage more writers to participate in our online contest. I asked Eric and Darrell, again, about the car prizes. I was thinking anything but a Tesla. But they said cars are still a bit over our budget. Even used cars. That don’t run. And have no…
Year of the Dragon Haiku JANUARY Crisp cool New Year’s day Waking bird songs joined by Sound of sweeping brooms. 1/1/2024. We woke early to sweep up the red firecracker debris from the New Year’s Eve celebration. Glistening in grass Last Dew drops sparkle before Gone with rising sun. eyk 1/19/2024 FEBRUARY Long lines for…
I was reading a piece this morning that a friend, maybe drafted yesterday, and posted online. There is a phrase about laughter, how it splays down the streets of the city at 2:00 a.m. I can picture that, the splaying, echoes bouncing off dark buildings, reaching, a hand, fingers of sound running down empty streets,…
Okay, listen very carefully because I will now speak in Pig Latin. Er, I mean READ very carefully because I will now WRITE in Pig Latin. As-way always-way, ese-they ompts-pray are-way ere-hay or-fay ou-yay oo-tay ignore-way. In-way other-way words-way, feel-way free-way to-way ignore-way them-way and-way write-way about-way anything-way you-way want-way to-way write-way about-way. As you…
I was out in my yard one morning and heard the faint strains of reveille. Sometimes the wind carries it over from the East Range. It is one of those songs from early in my life when I was in the service. So I wrote the following, Cool Autumn morning Bugle call faintly heard Recalls…