Reefer Madness

The city prosecutor, Paul Tanabe, picks up one of the germinated seedlings, a couple little leaves breaking through the soil … More

Maybe a Phone Call

The phone rings. It’s a live number.  I inhale and hold my breath.  It’s been many years, so I can’t say for … More

The Halo Effect

They call that the halo effect. What? What I was just saying. It’s the idea that if you form a positive opinion of … More

Hawai’i Ties

Oh, said Mr. Souza, as he closed the bathroom door. Please do remember to lower the seat. The women who … More

Plan C

When one door slams shut . . .So where’s that other door to open upon possibilities?And there’s no window to … More

In the End

I make sure to toss spilled salt over my shoulderBut I never can remember if it’s supposed to be the … More

A hui hou (Until we meet again)

The last time I heard Hawaiian music in WaikīkīIt was a quiet night at Blue Note before the pandemic struck … More

Water Gazing

I sit watching a school of tiny blue fishZip lively in and out along the wharfImagine jumping in to join … More

Life’s Miracles

There are angels among us alwaysEvery moment may be a revelationLife is a series of miracles all our daysThere are … More

A Quickening

My night had passed me moving as slow painDressed all in my rose Sunday best I left up the empty … More

Time’s Slow Fade

That former love’s words recalled moreIn bits and pieces like lyricsOf a song recalled less and lessHer face shimmers further … More

You Become the Happiest Half Empty Glass

That’s the way love goes sometimesA real rollercoasterHighs to lows to loop the loopsThen all flattening out at the end … More

A Searching of the Heart

I feel like a man whose memory functions glacier slow nowMy mind takes eons to piece together some semblance of … More

So I’m Guessing Earth Day’s Kind of Like

Happy Birthday to youHappy Birthday to youHappy Birthday Dear Ear-rthHappy Birthday to you If the Earth could speakI’d ask it … More

Just the Facts

She brushes his hand with a blood red nail as they both reach for their coffee cupsSits back on the … More

Iron Wrinkles

As I put on this aloha shirtI notice the collar’s not been ironed rightSomething my old eyes didn’t catch In … More

No Relief

Every night that it consumes youVariations hardly alter the hunt at allEven varied details wind you to the same endRandom … More

Provided I wake up tomorrow

Kicking and screaming I grieveAs I attack minimum payments posted to me in BordeauWine colored run on sheets of slice … More

A Self-Effacing Beauty

Not just another pretty faceOr boasting of looks other women should mimicTaught at a young age to value nothing by … More

Time Travel

I want to call herWith words I’d say hoping maybeAre warm enough to reachNow back to then and break the … More