Ode To Winter

The first time I came home for a Christmas breakHaving endured a frigid Midwest fall semesterThe coldest on record, my … More

The Friendly Stranger in the 1974 Black Mercury Marquis

When he stepped out of his carI stood still in Mānoa Shopping CenterI thought he was Tom SelleckBut on second … 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

Mo’ Bettah

In Hawai‘i we might say“This one mo’ bettah than that one” for, say, a flavor of shave ice,and perhaps, “This … More

Honolulu Passing

My city takes place before meEvery day of my lifeA show me and tell meI have a hard time rememberingCan’t … More

Football Season

The biggest bag of popcorn availableFathomless fancy for itCollege football season has begunPass, run, and kick into my heartPopcorn all … More

Growing Up Local (August 6, 2023)

“Make sure to watch the credits all the way to the end.” My friend, Bill Teter, was on his way … More

The Gift

You could not read the name of the store. It had been painted, who knew how long ago, in white … More

Dream

And then for the tourists’s dream vacationit snows like hell in Hawai‘i, for goodness sake.Waikīkī’s transformed into White-kiki,and surf’s down … More

Heritage Song

We Koreans converge on Hawai‘i Theatre tonight,all bows and the scent of garlic-laced dinners, lots of quick head nods and Annyeong … More

Of Fall and Winter

Of Fall and Winter All is vivid green here today, the sustained rainsheeting its clear wrapped folds down all around … More

Aloha Shirt Man

I’m sure I don’t have the largest collection of Aloha shirts in the world, but I do have the largest … More

And this, too, is Paradise

Here in paradise they’ll paytake me to Hawai‘i neiHome of Diamond Headpearly shells from the oceanTourists negotiate the poornight and … More

Flight

We’re off now, I guess, with your leaving here,since I’m pretty sure that ends whatever this was.O‘ahu is too small … More

Enlightenment 

CAST Old McGann (MCGANN): A smart old cockroach who has learned all the survival techniques passed down over the last … More

E komo/kipa mai?

It’s fuckin fucked up ovah here Everybody coming not jes for play tourist But fo fuckin live, permanent kine, like … More

An Old Salt

“Look,” my wife says, “they don’t go all the way under.” I see but am not relieved. “They lock you … More

A City That Is Very Dear

Frances Silverwood and David Lindemanused my home, Pacific Heights,in their 1919 song, “Honolulu I Am Coming Back Again.” Commissioned to … More

The Homecoming (Part Six)

He and Mel had been out drinking with the gang, but everyone else had pooped out and gone home.  Tomorrow … More

The Homecoming (Part Five)

In this post-pandemic world, travel had become trickier.  On top of the health layers, people didn’t act the way they … More