Books
Hawaii's literary scene
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Friday, July 19, 1996
Author signings
Meet Charlie and Lucy Wedemeyer and Arthur Suehiro at Honolulu Book Shops, Ala Moana, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Suehiro brought together old photographs and memories for his book "Honolulu Stadium: Where Hawaii Played." The autobiographical "Charlie's Victory" describes an athlete's triumph over Lou Gehrig's disease.
Lois Dement fulfills a promise to her father with an inspirational book about his life, "Infinity: A Journey Into the Light," noon Saturday at Borders, Ward Centre. She also visits Honolulu Book Shops at Pearlridge Center, Phase II, at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 3, and the Ala Moana Center store 1 p.m. Aug. 10.
Richard and Ruth Matsuura present their books for children, including "The King Who Wanted to See God," 2 p.m. Saturday at Borders, Ward Centre.
Vinny Marino tells of his struggle against drug addiction and his efforts to help others through Habilitat in the autobiographical "Journey From Hell," 2 p.m. Saturday at Waldenbooks, Windward Mall, and 8 p.m. July 26 at Barnes & Noble, Kahala.
Glen Grant, author of "Obake" and "Honolulu Mysteries," will visit Borders, Waikele, at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Discussion
The Alternative Reading Group talks about "Skinned Alive" and "Banana Rose" 10 a.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, Kahala.
Local words
Darrell Lum and Lois Ann Yamanaka share excerpts from their books and talk about the funny and painful aspects of growing up in Hawaii, 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Yukiyoshi Room, UH-Manoa's Krauss Hall. Free. Call 956-7866.
Hot report
Richard Preston will describe his research for "The Hot Zone" - the true story of the appearance of Ebola Zaire in Washington, D.C. - 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Manele Bay Hotel.
For "The Hot Zone," Preston spoke with U.S. Army officials and traveled to a jungle cave in Africa believed to be a source for the rare, deadly virus.
His books include "First Light," about astronomy, and "American Steel," about the Nucor Corporation. Admission is free. Call 565-7700, Lanai; for reservations, 800-321-4666.
Contests
Your funniest office jokes and memos may reap cash prizes in Knightraven's Third Annual International Joke Contest. Knightraven is the publisher of two volumes of the "250 Funniest Office Jokes, Memos & Cartoon Pinups."
Prizes of $250, $50 and $25 will be awarded to office jokes or memos in three categories: the funniest, the largest collection and the most original. Group submissions are welcome. Send entries to: Knightraven Books & Gifts, P.O. Box 100, Collinsville IL 62234. Or fax to 618-345-7436. Winners will be announced Oct. 1; contestants receive a free gift.
The joke books are available in bookstores for $12.95, or from the publisher for $6.50 plus $3 postage and handling. For information, call Wayne Reinagel at 314-725-1111 ext. 383.
Entries for a poetry competition with cash prizes are due Aug. 31. Send a poem of 20 lines or less, typed and double-spaced, to: International Poets Society, 1261-J N. Lakeview Ave. #503, Anaheim CA 92807.
Texas Poetry Alliance accepts poems for a contest with cash prizes through July 21. Send one poem, 21 lines or less, to: Poetry Contest, 1712 E. Riverside Drive, Suite 147, Austin TX 78741-1320.
Conference
The Maui Writers Conference will host John Saul, Jackie Collins, Sue Grafton, Ann Rule, Dan Millman and other best-selling authors Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 at the Grand Wailea Resort.
Saul will conduct a fiction workshop using the Top 10 manuscripts submitted for critique.
Among conference participants will be more than 30 agents and publishers. Registration is $425 through July 15; $495 after. For a free brochure, write to: MWC, P.O. Box 968, Kihei 96753. Or call 879-0061, Maui. The MWC website is http://www.maui.com/~sbdc/writers. E-mail address: mauicon@aol.com.
"Read All About It presents news in brief from Hawaii's literary scene. Send items - at least two weeks in advance of publication date - to Read All About It, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.
ISLE PAGES
THIS listing of new books about Hawaii or by Hawaii writers is published on the last Friday of each month in the Star-Bulletin.
Friday, June 28, 1996
"Lament for the Makers":W.S. Merwin; $15; 96 pages; Counterpoint
Anthology pays homage to 23 masters of modern poetry who inspired Merwin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet who resides in Hawaii. It begins with Merwin's poem, "Lament for the Makers," and continues with representative works, photographs and brief biographies of Dylan Thomas, Wallace Stevens, T.S. Eliot, Robert Lowell, Elizabeth Bishop, James Merrill and others.
"Journey From Hell": Vinny Marino; $12.95; 291 pages; Habilitat
This frank autobiography follows a man's first steps from "first-degree junkie" to recovering addict, and his mission to help others in need of rehabilitation.
The second half of the book tells of Marino's founding of the Habilitat addiction treatment program in Hawaii and his efforts to ensure its effectiveness and community standing - along the way recruiting such supporters as Gov. John Burns, Cec Heftel and fellow New Yorker Hal Lewis (a.k.a. "J. Akuhead Pu-pule").
Habilitat's program is described in an appendix.
Proceeds from book sales will go to Habilitat.
LOCAL BEST SELLERS
May 1996 Favorites
Children's
1. The Goodnight Gecko Gil McBarnet, Ruwanga Trading (2-tied)
2. Three Whales Who Won the Heart of the World Suzanne Kita, Island Heritage (1)
3. Muffin & the Lesson of Kokua Carmen Geshell, Island Heritage
4. Keiki's First Books (series) Wren and Maile, Bess Press (6)
5. Fishes of Hawaii Susan and Thomas Kelly, Bess Press (3)
6. Beautiful Birds of Hawaii Patrick Ching, Bess Press (2-tied)
7. Aloha Bear and the Meaning of Aloha Dick Adair, Island Heritage (4)
8. Endangered Animals of Hawaii Patrick Ching, Bess Press
9. Sand to Sea: Marine Life of Hawaii Stephanie Feeney and Ann Fielding, University of Hawai'i Press
10. Native Animals of Hawaii Patrick Ching, Bess Press (7)
Gift and Travel Books
1. Viewbook (series) Douglas Peebles, Hawaiian Resources (1)
2. Hawaii Blossoms Dorothy and Bob Hargreaves, Island Heritage (5)
3. Maui on My Mind Rita Ariyoshi, Mutual Publishing (4)
4. Islands of Hawaii Ray Helbig, Hawaiian Service
5. (tie) Kauai, A Many Splendored Island Ronn Ronck and Douglas Peebles, Mutual Publishing
5. (tie) Maui's Hana Highway Angela Kay Kepler, Mutual Publishing (8)
7. Flowers of Aloha Allan Seiden, Island Heritage
8. Kauai, The Garden Island Allan Seiden, Island Heritage (6)
9. From the Skies of Paradise (series) Glen Grant, Chris Cook, Tom Stevens and Douglas Peebles, Mutual Publishing (2)
10. Flowers of Hawaii Allan Seiden, Island Heritage (9)
Literature
1. Hawaiian Mythology Martha Beckwith, University of Hawai'i Press (7)
2. Legends and Myths of Hawaii David Kalakaua, Mutual Publishing 
(6)
3. Twilight Over Burma: My Life as a Shan Princess Inge Sargent, University of Hawai'i Press
4. Myths and Legends of Hawaii W.D. Westervelt, Mutual Publishing (3)
5. Mark Twain's Letters From Hawaii Mark Twain, University of Hawai'i Press
6. Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen Lydia Liliuokalani, Mutual Publishing (2)
7. Mark Twain in Hawaii Mark Twain, Mutual Publishing
8. All I Asking for Is My Body Milton Murayama, University of Hawai'i Press (1)
9. Stories of Hawaii Jack London, Mutual Publishing
10. A Hawaiian Reader edited by A. Grove Day and Carl Stroven, Mutual Publishing
Hawaiiana
1. Shoal of Time: A History of the Hawaiian Islands Gavan Daws, University of Hawai'i Press (2)
2. Hawaiian Journey Joseph Mullins, Mutual Publishing (1)
3. Hurricane Iniki Jim Borg, Mutual Publishing
4. Hawaiian Names English Names Eileen Root, Press Pacifica (5)
5. Na Mele O Hawaii Nei Samuel Elbert and Noelani Mahoe, University of Hawai'i Press (7)
6. Hawaii: Truth Stranger Than Fiction LaRue W. Piercy, Mutual Publishing
7. Hawaii This 'N That LaRue W. Piercy, Mutual Publishing (3)
8. Memories of Duke: The Legend Comes to Life Sandra Kimberley Hall and Greg Ambrose, Bess Press (4)
9. Pele - Goddess of Hawaiian Volcanoes Herb Kane, Kane Press (8)
10. Voices on the Wind Palani Vaughan, Mutual Publishing
Reference
1. The Backpackers Guide to Hawaii Stewart Ball, University of Hawai'i Press
2. New Pocket Hawaiian Dictionary Mary Pukui and Samuel Elbert, University of Hawai'i Press (1)
3. Tropical Trees of Hawaii Dorothy & Bob Hargreaves, Island Heritage (9)
4. Hawai'i: A Floral Paradise Douglas Peebles and Leland Miyano, Mutual Publishing (2)
5. Handy Hawaiian Dictionary Compiled by Henry P. Judd, Mary Kawena Pukui and John F.G. Stokes, Mutual Publishing (4)
6. Hawaii's Birds Hawaii Audubon Society, Hawaiian Service (6)
7. Pearl Harbor: The Way It Was Scott C.S. Stone, Island Heritage (3)
8. Atlas of Hawaii O.A. Bushnell, Gavan Daws and Andrew Berger, Island Heritage (7)
9. Welcoming the Japanese Visitor: Insights, Tips, Tactics Kazuo Nishiyama, University of Hawai'i Press
10. Trees of Hawaii Angela Kay Kepler, University of Hawai'i Press (10)
These are best-selling books in Hawaii during April 1996. Figures are courtesy of the Hawaii Book Publishers Association and Book-lines distributors, and reflect sales by Hawaii-based publishers. A star () denotes a title that has been on the market at least five years or more; a number in parenthesis indicates a title's previous ranking.
Write to Features, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, HI 96802 or send a fax to 523-8509 or E-mail at features@starbulletin.com. Please include your phone number.