WRITING DA TAIL 2015

Mahalo to everyone who wrote a sentence and participated in our collaborative community story at the 2015 Hawaii Book and Music Festival. Our “sequel” wasn’t quite as long as the story last year, but it was equally entertaining with sudden twists that were humorous, dramatic, and poignant at every turn. Writing just one sentence proved to be a challenge for most and there were liberal uses of commas and semi colons. Also, we noticed that people really love to use exclamation points. 🙂 But it was definitely fun… and we even had a visit from Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and a friendly HPD officer who were both happy to contribute a sentence.

We hope to share more community writing stories with you at other literary events in the future. Thank you to Bamboo Ridge Press and Abstract Magazine for co-sponsoring this project with us, and to the HPU students who volunteered at the writing table.

Here are both of the stories written over the weekend, each day of the festival we began a new tail (tale). For the most part, they are transcribed exactly as written.

SATURDAY

1. One day in beautiful Hawaii nei, there was a fish in Waikiki Beach.
2. Who fell in love with Godzilla.
3. Tragically their love was never meant to be, for Godzilla loved another.
4. And that other was Barack Obama.
5. Obama and Godzilla were married at once and went on a Jamaican cruise where they ran into Rick Astley.
6. Then Susan woke up, “what a strange dream,” she said and left for work.
7. She didn’t get dressed or have coffee or brush her teeth; she opened the front door and walked into the clouds.
8. She didn’t look back or wonder where she was going; she knew she would find her place eventually
9. With faith guiding her, the clouds parted and a beautiful rainbow arched gloriously in the distance.
10. In the distance, you can see stones that collect through time to form the path that made you who you are today.
11. It was a path you were afraid to take and still gives you pangs of anxiety, but was the best choice.
12. The trees part to give way to mud and bamboo, thick and thorny.
13. The opening gave way to a blue pond, with beautiful golden Koi.
14. The tigers were still asleep yet.
15. Suddenly they heard a loud crash!
16. And instantly, there appeared seven rainbow!
17. One rainbow for each keiki in the woods.
18. The oldest keiki was the first to begin her climb.
19. Her Kaikunane followed suit, racing up past her.
20. Faster and faster she ran, but she could not catch up.
21. ‘Auwe no hoʻi! (oh! oh!)
22. Mom saw us take the cookie!
23. And she asked us to bake some more for others.
24. And they will be so ʻono for your opu.
25. My opu was full, so I enjoyed the beautiful day!
26. I went over to the soft grass under the tree, stretched out on the ground and yawned.
27. The view of home is far from here, my sister’s hair, blowing on the breeze.
28. Ho, was sooo tangled, like one ‘bus up fishing net.
29. So under the Ko’olau moon, they tangoed.
30. As the Naulu wind brought a shower from the shore
31. A dog fell asleep by her owner.
32. The owner said, “maybe I will secretly get her a nice juicy bone.”
33. Then she will be happy
34. And she shared it with her favorite friend, Joe.
35. And he in turn refused to share it with anybody.
36. A shiver of resentment ran over the crowd.
37. “I like bacon.”
38. Priscilla proclaimed, then proceeded to butcher the gigantic hog.
39. A family went on a bike ride and had fun at a fair reading and listening to music.
40. To top the day off a lady on a horse rode by and gave a plumeria blossom to each one of them!
41. Ion the early evening as the sun set, went to Tutu’s hale for an ʻono dinner and to listen to one of her stories of the past.
42. She told me stories about Aunty and Uncle that nearly made me fall on the floor with fits of giggles and shock!
43. Then I realized he was lying.
44. I said “why tell me a real story!”
45. His response, “my life is full of stories.”
46. “I create my own story.”
47. And I am empowered by it.
48. Generations passed down.
49. A fairy lived in the sea.
50. She was beautiful.
51. And she loved to read books!
52. Then one day, everything changed.
53. And the caterpillar was gone and in its place a brand new being was exposed.
54. It flew for many days and nights across the Pacific Ocean until it came across a lovely princess.
55. One who could stand proud.
56. Ain’t too proud to beg.
57. Said the BIG DOG
58. “I don’t know what your problem is!”
59. Do you have a problem? Or, are you a problem?
60. No; each of us is a solution.
61. Beneath the mango tree we ponder the “why” and how we each can malama ‘aina.
62. Then the mango fell, and hit her on the head, and she realized—take care of myself and the rest will follow; she learned to love herself and the universe took care of the rest.
63. She sighed and took a big, juice bite out of the mango.
64. A little green, she though, she was a little fearful, she’d been allergic to green mangoes as a child and remembered the rash she’d had.
65. It was her mother that showed her how to peel the skin from mangoes so no pieces were left,; then she would eat them with no problems, so ‘ono!
66. If her mother did want to leave the skin on the mangoes, she cut them into halves, then the inner fruit into cross hatches—it was done so elegantly, it was unbelievable to those who thought she hadn’t sliced deeply enough.
67. Then the mangoes exploded!
68. Into a delicious bread.
69. Became a chocolate swirl for a delicious banana bread and scooped a large Ben & Jerry’s ice cream on top and called it life…
70. And I picked the trifecta at the Kentucky Derby today!
71. I like unicorns
72. They have beautiful rainbow halos.
73. But sometimes their halos fall off and they put them back on.
74. And they find it at the bottom of the sea… shining.
75. Where they laugh and sing with the mermaids.

 

SUNDAY

1. After taking a sip of “magic juice” Gabrielle started feeling a tingling sensation in her cleavage.
2. “I wonder what this could be” she thought to herself.
3. “At first it looked like a turtle, but now I’m not so sure…”
4. There was a pregnant pause as the scene briefly fell under the shadow of a passing blimp overhead.
5. Their eyes locked, neither sure of the others intentions, a passing train whistled in the distance as Jake tipped his hat and a slow smile spread across his face.
6. He knew what he must do next; time would tell if it would come to be.
7. Maybe he could fight it, but maybe he could not.
8. His heart tugging this way and that, he climbed in the canoe and left.
9. It would be a long time before he would return top that cove again.
10. The waves were crashing with the call of the past.
11. The moon reflected off the ocean, waves crest.
12. This was a sight like no other.
13. Like a mystical gem
14. The sky was the color of amethyst.
15. There was a gentle breeze blowing and the waves were crashing on the shore.
16. Suddenly, dark heavy clouds blew in from the north.
17. The trail laid out before them ready for the prints of their steps.
18. The path led down, descending into the deep dark forest.
19. No time to worry.
20. Time to make it happen!!
21. Time to live your life!
22. “Don’t forget to take your friends!”
23. A preemptive move lets you lead instead of following…
24. The family of turtles, swimming out beyond the reef and into the deep ocean.
25. Vast and unknown!
26. His fate was sealed.
27. Gabrielle looked at him and said “Luca, you’s a dead man.”
28. Luca smirked at Gabrielle’s remark as he has other plans.
29. Little did she know he actually had a romantic beach picnic planned.
30. However, she only saw him as her pet beluga whale.
31. She decided to call him Spout, the whale.
32. Out of the blue he said, “I love you!”
33. Then they both swam across the ocean.
34. And landed on a beach on a deserted island.
35. No food, no water, no one.
36. Just the three girls, nose to nose with the giant fire breathing dragon!
37. “I love you,” said one of the girls, “you are hot and can fly.”
38. But you’re kind of annoying, what are you doing here anyway?
39. You turn around and realize you are here for the books; books, books, books!
40. Then you turned back around again…
41. And went to sleep, until the next morning when it all started again.

This weekend will mark the Tenth Annual Hawaii Book & Music Festival. For ten years, the musicians, dancers, authors, booksellers, food vendors and volunteers have worked towards making this the biggest book event of the year. In celebration of this milestone, Hawaii Book Blog wants to share some of our favorite photographs we have taken over the past few years enjoying HBMF. It’s hard to pick even this few as we’ve experienced and captured so many fun moments with everyone, but here are a diverse ten featuring some of our favorite shots:

10.

Dan Kois knows what’s up.

9.

John Keawe showing off his slack key guitar skills.

8.

Julia Flynn Siler and Kaui Hart Hemmings

7.

Mr. Alligator gets a big hug

6.

The awesome Lisa Linn Kanae

5.

Willow Chang shows Kobe Bryant how it’s done!

4.

Maxine Hong Kingston celebrates HBB!

3.

Everybody loves Slush Puppies!

2.

Lee Cataluna shows off some stylish bookmarks.

1.

Sarah Vowell and a handsome fan.

Tonight the Hawai’i Book Publisher’s Association hosted the 2015 Ka Palapala Poʻokela Awards at the East-West Center at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. There were a lot of greats books in the field of nominees, but only these select few were chosen as the winners of the Award of Excellence and Honorable Mention in their respective categories, representing the best of Hawaiʻi publishing in 2014.

Here are the award results:

Excellence in Children’s Literature

• Award of Excellence – Honu and Hina: A Story of Coexistence by Patrick Ching, illustrated by Patrick Ching and Friends (Island Heritage)
  
• Honorable Mention – N/A

Excellence in Hawaiian Language, Culture & History

• Award of Excellence – No Mākou Ka Mana – Liberating the Nation by Kamanamaikalani Beamer (Kamehameha Publishing)
• Honorable Mention – North Shore Place Names: Kahuku to Ka‘ena by John R. K. Clark (University of Hawai`i Press)

Excellence in Literature

• Award of Excellence – The Red-Headed Hawaiian by Chris McKinney and Rudy Puana, M.D. (Mutual Publishing)
• Honorable Mention – The Sum of Breathing by Brenda Kwon (Bamboo Ridge Press)

Excellence in Illustrative or Photographic Books

• Award of Excellence – ‘Io Lani: The Hawaiian Hawk photographs by William Chillingworth
• Honorable Mention – Hawaiian Plant Life: Vegetation and Flora by Robert J. Gustafson, Derral R. Herbst & Phillip W. Rundel (University of Hawai`i Press)

Excellence in Natural Science

• Award of Excellence – Hawaiian Plant Life: Vegetation and Flora by Robert J. Gustafson, Derral R. Herbst & Phillip W. Rundel (University of Hawai`i Press)
• Honorable Mention – The Watersmart Garden: 100 Great Plants for the Tropical Xeriscape by Fred D. Rauch & Paul R. Weissich (University of Hawai`i Press)

Excellence in Text or Reference

• Award of Excellence – Tropical Pacific Island Environments by Christopher Lobban, Maria Schefter, Frank Camacho, &  John Jocson (Bess Press)
• Honorable Mention – Practical Folk Medicine of Hawai‘i by Likeke R. McBride (Petroglyph Press)

Excellence in Cookbooks

• Award of Excellence – Ocean to Plate: Cooking Fish with Hawai‘i’s Kusuma Cooray by Kusuma Cooray (University of Hawai`i Press)
  
• Honorable Mention – A Portuguese Kitchen: Traditional Recipes with an Island Twist by Wanda Adams, photos by Ian Gillespie (Mutual Publishing)

Excellence in Special-Interest Books

• Award of Excellence – Writing the Hawai‘i Memoir by Darien Gee (Watermark Publishing)
• Honorable Mention – The Hawaiian Survival Handbook by Brother Noland, illustrations by Andrew J. Catanzariti (University of Hawai`i Press)

Excellence in Nonfiction Books

• Award of Excellence – Sovereign Sugar: Industry and Environment in Hawai‘i by Carol A. MacLennan (University of Hawai`i Press)
• Honorable Mention – No Mākou Ka Mana – Liberating the Nation by Kamanamaikalani Beamer (Kamehameha Publishing)

Excellence in Design

• Award of Excellence – He Puke Nō Nā Pēpē Hawai‘i Baby Book (Bess Press)
• Honorable Mention – The Hawaiian Survival Handbook designed by Jen Tadaki Catanzariti

Samuel M. Kamakau Award

No Mākou Ka Mana – Liberating the Nation by Kamanamaikalani Beamer (Kamehameha Publishing)

We would like to congratulate all of the authors, illustrators, designers and publishers on their extraordinary achievements. As always, we hope to see even more excellent books out of Hawaiʻi next year!

It’s our favorite time of year again… the Hawaiʻi Book Publisher’s Association‘s Ka Palapala Poʻokela Awards celebrating books published the previous year. Here are the nominees in each category:

EXCELLENCE IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

• Honu and Hina: A Story of Coexistence by Patrick Ching, illustrated by Patrick Ching and Friends (Island Heritage)
• Uncle’s Magic Thrownet by Todd Yamashita, illustrated by Jamie Meckel Tablason (BeachHouse Publishing)
• Alphabet Hukilau in Hawai‘i by Vera Arita, illustrated by Mariko Merritt (BeachHouse Publishing)

EXCELLENCE IN HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE, CULTURE & HISTORY

• Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary by Edward Tregear, cover art by Kura Te Waru Rewiri (Ai Pohaku press)
• No Mākou Ka Mana – Liberating the Nation by Kamanamaikalani Beamer (Kamehameha Publishing)
• Ancient Sites Of Hawai‘i: A Guide to Hawaiian Archeological and Cultural Places on the Big Island by Van James (Mutual Publishing)
• Ke Kauoha Hou me Ka Buke o Nā Halelū a me Nā ‘Ōlelo Akamai a Solomona: The New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs (Mutual Publishing)
• Keka‘a: The Making and Saving of North Beach West Maui by Sydney Lehua Iaukea (North Beach-West Maui Benefit Fund Inc.)
• North Shore Place Names: Kahuku to Ka‘ena by John R. K. Clark (University of Hawai`i Press)
• Kua‘āina Kahiko: Life and Land in Ancient Kahikinui, Maui by Patrick Vinton Kirch (University of Hawai`i Press)
• ‘Ike Ulana Lau Hala: The Vitality and Vibrancy of Lau Hala Weaving Traditions in Hawai‘i edited by Lia O’Neill M.A. Keawe, Marsha MacDowell and C. Kurt Dewhurst (University of Hawai`i Press)
• Ulu I Ka ‘Āina: Land edited by Jonathan K. Osorio (University of Hawai`i Press)
• The Hawaiian Survival Handbook by Brother Noland, illustrated by Andrew J. Catanzariti (Watermark Publishing)

EXCELLENCE IN LITERATURE

• The Sum of Breathing by Brenda Kwon (Bamboo Ridge Press)
• Cry Ohana: Adventure and Suspense in Hawaii by Rosemary and Larry Mild (Magic Island Literary Works)
• The Red-Headed Hawaiian by Chris McKinney and Rudy Puana, M.D. (Mutual Publishing)
• Murder At Volcano House by Chip Hughes (Slate Ridge Press)

EXCELLENCE IN ILLUSTRATIVE or PHOTOGRAPHIC BOOKS

• The Gecko Who Wanted to Be Different by Dorothy Sarna Saurer, illustrated by Don Robinson (Island Heritage)
• Islands of Wonder O‘ahu: The Heart of Hawai‘i photographs by Douglas Peebles (Mutual Publishing)
• Hawaiian Plant Life: Vegetation and Flora by Robert J. Gustafson, Derral R. Herbst & Phillip W. Rundel (University of Hawai`i Press)
• ‘Io Lani: The Hawaiian Hawk photographs by William Chillingworth

EXCELLENCE IN NATURAL SCIENCE

• Hawaiian Plant Life: Vegetation and Flora by Robert J. Gustafson, Derral R. Herbst & Phillip W. Rundel (University of Hawai`i Press)
• The Watersmart Garden: 100 Great Plants for the Tropical Xeriscape by Fred D. Rauch & Paul R. Weissich (University of Hawai`i Press)
• ‘Io Lani: The Hawaiian Hawk photographs by William Chillingworth

EXCELLENCE IN TEXT or REFERENCE

• Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary by Edward Tregear, cover art by Kura Te Waru Rewiri (Ai Pohaku Press)
• Tropical Pacific Island Environments by Christopher Lobban, Maria Schefter, Frank Camacho, &  John Jocson (Bess Press)
• Shot Psychology by Craig Keast (Kahala Press)
• Practical Folk Medicine of Hawai‘i by Likeke R. McBride (Petroglyph Press)

EXCELLENCE IN COOKBOOKS

• A Portuguese Kitchen: Traditional Recipes with an Island Twist by Wanda Adams, photos by Ian Gillespie (Mutual Publishing)
• Cooking Hawaiian Style: ‘Ohana Recipes from Lanai & Friends by Lanai Tabura and Frank Abraham (Mutual Publishing)
• An Okinawan Kitchen: Traditional Recipes with an Island Twist by Chef Grant Sato, photos by Kaz Tanabe (Mutual Publishing)
• Ocean to Plate: Cooking Fish with Hawai‘i’s Kusuma Cooray by Kusuma Cooray (University of Hawai`i Press)

EXCELLENCE IN SPECIAL INTEREST

• He Puke Nō Nā Pēpē Hawai‘i Baby Book by Paige Brattin, illustrations by Lauren Hewitt Caldeiro (Bess Press)
• Secrets of Diamond Head: A History and Trail Guide by Denby Fawcett
• Surfing Places, Surfboard Makers: Craft, Creativity, and Cultural Heritage in Hawai‘i, California and Australia by Andrew Warren and Chris Gibson (University of Hawai`i Press)
• Wahine Volleyball: 40 Years Coaching Hawai‘i’s Team by Dave Shoji and Ann Miller (University of Hawai`i Press)
• Writing the Hawai‘i Memoir by Darien Gee (Watermark Publishing)
• The Hawaiian Survival Handbook by Brother Noland, illustrations by Andrew J. Catanzariti (University of Hawai`i Press)

EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION

• An Aura of Greatness: A Reflection on Governor John A. Burns by Brendan P. Burns (Aignos Publishing, Inc.)
• Yesterday in Hawaii: A Voyage Through Time by Scott C. S. Stone (Island Heritage)
• No Mākou Ka Mana – Liberating the Nation by Kamanamaikalani Beamer (Kamehameha Publishing)
• Līhu‘e: Root and Branch of a Hawai‘i by Town Pat L. Griffin (Kaua‘i Historical Society)
• Keka‘a: The Making and Saving of North Beach West Maui by Sydney Lehua Iaukea (North Beach-West Maui Benefit Fund Inc.)
• Reflections of Honor: The Untold Story of a Nisei Spy by Lorraine Ward and Katherine Erwin with Yoshinobu Oshiro (Curriculum Research & Development Group)
• Secrets of Diamond Head: A History and Trail Guide by Denby Fawcett
• Breaking the Silence: Lessons of Democracy and Social Justice from the World War II Honouliuli Internment and POW Camp in Hawai‘i edited by Suzanne Falgout and Linda Nishigaya (University of Hawai`i Press)
• Kua‘āina Kahiko: Life and Land in Ancient Kahikinui, Maui  by Patrick Vinton Kirch (University of Hawai`i Press)
• Sovereign Sugar: Industry and Environment in Hawai‘i by Carol A. MacLennan (University of Hawai`i Press)
• From Race to Ethnicity: Interpreting Japanese American Experiences in Hawai‘i by Jonathan Y. Okamura (University of Hawai`i Press)
• Call Me Captain: A Memoir of a Woman at Sea by Susan Scott (University of Hawai`i Press)
• Local Story: The Massie-Kahahawai Case and the Culture of History by John P. Rosa (University of Hawai`i Press)
• The Value of Hawai‘i 2: Ancestral Roots, Oceanic Visions edited by Aiko Yamashiro and Noelani Goodyear-Ka‘ōpua (University of Hawai`i Press)
• Grove Farm: 150 Years of Stewardship and Innovation by Jan Tenbruggencate (Watermark Publishing)
• Perry on the Left, Price on the Right by Larry Fleece (Watermark Publishing)

EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN

• He Puke Nō Nā Pēpē Hawai‘i Baby Book (Bess Press)
• Haleakala Ranch: Celebrating the 125th Anniversary designed by Barbara Pope, Barbara Pope Book Design
• No Mākou Ka Mana – Liberating the Nation designed by Mozaic
• Secrets of Diamond Head: A History and Trail Guide designed by Barbara Pope Book Design
• Ocean to Plate: Cooking Fish with Hawai‘i’s Kusuma Cooray designed by Mardee Melton
• Hawaiian Plant Life: Vegetation and Flora designed by Mardee Melton
• Wahine Volleyball: 40 Years Coaching Hawai‘i’s Team designed by Julie Matsuo-Chun
• The Hawaiian Survival Handbook designed by Jen Tadaki Catanzariti

–We hope to see everyone at the awards ceremony on Thursday! It’s open to the public, so come check it out.–