When You’re Right

It began one Saturday morning when his mother had been drinking coffee and reading the paper at the breakfast table. … More

Circus

As a child he’d attended the circus once, and once only.His parents, he imagined, must have seen it as a … More

Resolution

They were both art majors, both painters, a heavenly Art Department matchwho bought a home on ‘Ālewa Heights, and sectioned … More

Divination

His parents had raised him to be politically progressive.But over time, as their candidates lost again and again,his parents enthusiasm … More

Let’s play pretend, I say

They give me an odd look. Well okay then, I seemy knee in her back –the small of it, looks … More

Tourists Everywhere

This industry — I see it in my travels, the flood of tourists and their money,spreading out and sprawling shades, … More

Latte Days

She sells coffee as a living at 22 young years,this whip-smart barista with the green hairtoday, red hair yesterday, and … More

Anesthesia

“Mister Lee, are you awake?”        The thick, long blue curtains are pulled back, and light slips into the tiny room. … More

The Ending’s Beginning

This is the end of it, I think, standing stiff after 7 hours in the air,the snaking line of terminal … More

Traditional Change

It’s billed as A Match Made in Heaven, a revered traditional Korean love storycarried down from a bygone age to … More

War Story

On Jeju Island we travel rough backroads on our small bus,bumping along narrowly through perfectly planted fields,row on row of … More

How Everything Fades

In the evening as the sun slips down in the horizon line,I see myself glimmering in the airport window glass,a … More

Old Acquaintance

You surprise me, knocking on my door after 15 years,but I recognize that face behind the mask instantly.The last time … More

Blood

Are you a friends and family, or a family and friends type of person? Whenever I say it or write … More

Death Certificates

Kahi felt like an idiot. He’d seen this so many times on TV, read about it in stories. If you … More

Madison WI

I’ll be back next March 2023, aftera three-year hiatus has cost me time. It’s become a kindly drug that worksto … More

State Your Name and Your Business Here

I’m not used to such formality, and there’s the additional layerof being ordered to do this by a man wearing … More

All Those Miles

Taking hits between rehearsing scenes of Oliver!Smoking all the time during dances and concertsDriving home smashed Saturday nights from Wai‘alae Drive-InDrunk … More

A Hallmark Moment

My friend calls to tell me a co-worker,rushed to Queen’s Hospital the night before,had undergone an emergency quadruple-bypass. The others … More

Stay Away

I recall the manapua,my favorite steamed char siu buns,half-moons and pork hash.The box half full or half empty? When that … More