High School Buddy (100 words)

Eugene Kanai, my old high-school classmate, had wanted to stop by the office to talk.  It’d been twenty-five years since we’d … More

No Clue (90 words)

I came this close.  That “in the very next breath” thing.  It took all he had to gesture, get me on my … More

Carousel of Time

The end of the carnival of light and soundthe summertime fairgroundof Ferris wheel and rollercoaster rideslaughter a million miles from … More

Books as old friends

I read you again, silent words and fading pagesturn them, weighing the paperthe memory of our first touchI close my … More

The Case of the Strong Swimmer, Chapter 2, Is It Me? (A Lieutenant David Chan Mystery)

With David vouching for me, I was released into his custody.  After I’d told him everything, he said, “Lanning, did anyone … More

All Hallows’ Eve

I started running when I moved back to Honolulu.  Running in Madison was difficult for me because it was always either … More

if her

would there and then the vast emptyacross the horizon your hand for mepass all yourself to here, your walkand stopto … More

Miss Bianca

“Let’s go to Auntie Ruthie’s house.” “By bus?” “No, let’s walk.” “Walk!  But it’s so far.” “No it’s not far.” “Yes … More

I know about first love

I’ve been there and I can tell youexactly what it’s like.  For sure youhoped she’d be someone special, the one, andwow … More

Prune Mui

When I was growing up, every neighborhood had someone like Mrs. Matayoshi.  If there were someone living near you who had … More

Elephant Santa

My neighbor has an elephant dressed like Santa up on his roof.  Every night when it gets dark, he plugs it … More

Cold Comfort

He fortifies himself against the cold journey ahead,this way too frigid life for a Kaua‘i boy,downing one last long sip … More

Turtle Logic

It was the coldest winter on record in Wisconsin.  David was glad to be back home in Hawai‘i for winter break.  Grad … More

The Case of the Strong Swimmer, Chapter One (A Lieutenant David Chan Mystery)

It was winter break, which is a funny term for it here in Hawai‘i.  I’d answered an ad in the Hawai‘i Star.  A … More

Never Ever Let You Go

The choice, a desperate grasp of great consequence,a hand, cramped with fisted frustration, fingers straining,reaching harder than hard burned bricks … More

The Earth Rolls On

She looks like she’ll be the oldest person in the theater tonight,yet she rolls down the aisle as if she … More

No Fall at Kōke‘e

It was that booming sound of rage, so thrillingto witness the angry sloshup of hydrologic forces,brimming froth and foam and … More

Movie Musing

He’s only a speck when he comes to town, before he grows larger, becomes recognized at the edge as a … More

Sometimes a love doesn’t seem hardly enough

to get me through this world whole Sometimes it’s just enough to get me out of bedbut by midday I’m … More

My corn grows high

in five large black plastic pots on my lānai,watering, and fertilized with care,I am satisfied, bearthe slight tremorin my hands … More