Much Mahalos
In this series, acclaimed author "Da Pidgin Guerrilla" Lee A. Tonouchi uses the language of Hawai‘i Creole, a.k.a. Pidgin, to talk story with accomplished and up-and coming Japanese/Okinawan Americans from Hawai‘i. Interviewees discuss their passions, their triumphs, as well as their struggles as they reflect and express their gratitude to those who have helped them on their journeys to success.
Stories from this series
Wea You Stay! Laurel Nakanishi on da importance of da poetry of place
March 29, 2024 • Lee A. Tonouchi
Waimea Valley IV We enter the valley silently, without shaking the branches. We enter without startling. Alae ‘ula watches us from the estuary remembering the pitch nights when the fire lived only in her. We followed the pig trails listening for the rustle grunt of Kamapua‘a. In the quiet, our thoughts are small gods. They fly above the earth. —Poem from Laurel Nakanishi's collection Ashore As I stay da outgoing Tony Quagliano poetry award champion, da Hawai‘i Council for the …
Big in Hawai‘i—Artist Kris Goto shares how she levels up
Feb. 29, 2024 • Lee A. Tonouchi
She nevah really thought about ‘em, but artist Kris Goto, 36, she been living in Hawai‘i half her life now. She wuz born in Kagoshima, Japan, den she wen live in New Zealand and Hong Kong before she wen finally settle down in Hawai‘i in 2006. She been featured in art exhibits in Japan, in California, and at various galleries all ova Hawai‘i. In recent years mo and mo of her murals have been popping up and mo and mo …
Why You Should Talk to Strangers—Crafting celebrity Joy Shimabukuro says chance ‘em
Feb. 6, 2024 • Lee A. Tonouchi
Local people in Hawai‘i might not know her last name, but mostly everybody recognizes her face and her first name that has become synonymous with crafting. When dey see her in public dey go up to her and tell, “Eh, you Joy...Of Crafting, yeah?” First name—Joy. Last name—Of Crafting. Lol. About for film her 483rd episode, Joy Shimabukuro’s television show Joy of Crafting has been running continuously in Hawai‘i since 2002. Painfully shy as one kid, Joy nevah imagined she …
“Da Okinawan Hammah” stay nailing it!—Brandon Ufugusuku Ing’s projects promote Okinawan language
Jan. 4, 2024 • Lee A. Tonouchi
“Da Okinawan Hammah” get one skill that not too many people get. Uchinaaguchi, da Okinawan language stay dying out and Hawai‘i-born yonsei Brandon Ufugusuku Ing stay doing everything in his powah for try help save ‘em. Whether it’s teaching Uchinaaguchi classes on Zoom, creating eju-ma-cational animated Uchinaaguchi music videos for childrens, making avant-garde Uchinaaguchi movies for film festivals, or just rocking out to his own original Uchinaaguchi songs, Braddah Brandon, one Castle High School 2001 grad, does it all in …
Kenny Kusaka’s Calling—How he chose stand-up comedy as his service
Dec. 5, 2023 • Lee A. Tonouchi
Leilehua class of 2013 grad, Kenny Kusaka wuz getting lotta leading roles in da Local theatre scene in Hawai‘i when he decided for switch gears and try his hand at stand-up comedy. For da past several years he been making one name for himself on top da stand-up circuit, refining his act all across da country. I caught up with him recently aftah his first time headlining his own show at The Blue Note, da Hawai‘i branch of da celebrated …
Artist Audra Furuichi Meets Her Match—How she created her nemu*nemu comic empire
Nov. 15, 2023 • Lee A. Tonouchi
Illustrator Audra Furuichi stay most well known for her web comic nemu*nemu dat she launched in 2006 with her partner Scott Yoshinaga. Da ting wuz one immediate hit. If you dunno, dis quirky strip stay about da misadventures of Nemu and Anpan, two magical stuff animal kine canines and their human beings, Kana and Anise. Those characters wen spawn one whole line of popular merchandise, like books, shirts, stickers, and of course stuffed pups. * * * * * What …
