About the Books

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Description

Even though my father and I were close, I realized after his passing that there was a lot about his life that I didn’t know, particularly his career. I decided to fill in my knowledge gaps by talking to people who knew him.

It was fulfilling to learn about him, but even more thrilling to engage with people of his generation. I was privileged to hear history from people who actually participated in the destiny of Hawai`i.

I learned about the old days, who did what during WWII, the challenges of living in a racial melting pot, issues relating to land reform, law, local art and literature, and changes in Hawai’i over time.

This book is a gift to all those who shared their hearts with me.

Volume Two of Voices of Hawai`i showcases those who have served to keep the culture of the Aloha State alive.

Being more of a humanist than a historian, my stories often highlight people’s experiences over events or places. My interviews bear witness to the arc of each person’s life, then I select moments within each interview that touch the heart.

The result is stories about local humor, craftsmanship, horticulture, modern and ancient warriors, the hospitality industry, the golden age of Waikiki, boot-strap stories, the creation of local stringed instruments, voices of wisdom and more.

Selecting the people in my books is more instinct than reason. I hardly ever seek a story, instead preferring stories to come to me. In the long run it is less of an art to find people to interview than it is to decide what to do with the voluminous amount of data I collect. The challenge is how to present my material in an appealing, entertaining way. I look for common themes among the speakers and create chapters around clusters of similar topics. Finally, I deconstruct the interviews, putting them into different chapters.

In this third volume Voices of Hawai’i are dramatic and heartwarming tales of living off the grid, of creative types, of big-wave surfers and lifeguards, and entrepreneurs choosing to work together. From Queen Emma’s court to the computer age, these stories offer an inside look at the history and culture of a special place.