As a young warrior, Kamehameha battles with the viscous niuhi shark. Blazing Stars and Shark Eyes is the third in a twelve-book series on the life of Kamehameha. Based on Hawaiian sources and years of research, the story sheds new light on people and places that nurtured Kamehameha in his youth. A [...]
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I was a kid in the 40’s and 50’s, a time when it still was not cool to be Hawaiian. Kamehameha, my school from seventh through twelfth grade, even though instituted for Hawaiian children, sought to make us thoroughly American. Which I was. Except for those “aboriginal twinges” and a gaping hole in my heart. I consciously—and self-consciously—pursued article assignments to learn about being Hawaiian as well as to write about specific topics. I learned about hula, heiau, the Hawaiian diet. I spent three days on Kaho‘olawe during January Makahiki ceremonies, addressed a personal health problem through lomilomi, sailed for an afternoon on the voyaging canoe Hōkūle‘a. Eventually I came to know dozens of people in the Hawaiian community. They all welcomed me, especially after I learned to approach any Hawaiian by placing myself in my family, school, and community. I think it is today’s version of what some have told me was the ancient recitation of genealogy between strangers until they came to a point of commonality. Never mind the journalism degrees and writing achievements. I am the younger Pierre Bowman’s older sister, Uncle Wright’s niece, Scotty’s cousin. I am KS ’58. I am Kailua, O‘ahu. Now we can talk.

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Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace is a harvest of creative, redemptive storytelling—nonfiction, fiction, and poetry—spanning five wars and written by those most profoundly affected by it. For more than fifteen years, National Book Award-winning author Maxine Hong Kingston has led writing-and- [...]
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