Books
Friday, September 26, 1997
Author continues circle
By Catherine Kekoa Enomoto
of compassion, creativityStar-Bulletin
High on a Punchbowl slope, above the din of rumbling diesel buses, a storyteller's quiet charisma and slender, gesturing hands hold court. Patsy Sumie Saiki's compassionate voice is a pool in the serene oasis of her living room. "Mamenaka -- Are you well?
"Mama sameshiiyo -- Mama is lonely.
"Tokidoki kake -- Write sometimes."
Saiki is quoting from a brief letter that her mother Chise Okada Kawatachi had written in rough katakana (Japanese characters) more than four decades ago. Then 15, Saiki had taught her mother to write before leaving their Big Isle plantation town of Ahualoa to attend McKinley High School on Oahu. But Mama Chise never sent the humble missive.
Saiki's 1988 short story "A Letter to a Daughter" was based on this remembrance of Mama Chise. It is the first tale in "Early Immigrants in Hawaii," the fourth of Saiki's five books.
Now, the tale has come full circle, for Saiki is encouraging other writers, as her mother did so many years ago. Tonight she presents the first Patsy Sumie Saiki Short Story Competition awards at the inaugural "Hawai'i Fall Celebration of Writers & Writing."
The free, two-night event also showcases a dozen guest writers, receptions and a book fair. The writers do readings, discuss and answer questions.
"It's within them," Saiki says of writers. "They want to put the feelings they have down on paper."
She won the Charles Eugene Banks award for short story writing in 1952 as a University of Hawaii sophomore. The author/educator endowed the new awards to catalyze writers the way that first prize did 45 years ago. She went on to graduate with honors from UH and earn a doctorate in curriculum design at Teachers College of Columbia University.
Among her own literary prizes are two Wall Street Journal fellowship prizes and the 1996 Japanese Imperial Order of the Precious Crown. The latter prize pays tribute to the role of Saiki's writing in enhancing Japan/America understanding.
Her theme is the sacrifice and accomplishments of Hawaii's first- and second-generation immigrants. "You have to write what is in your heart," she says.
Mama Chise died of cancer before Saiki graduated from McKinley, but her legacy of words and compassion continues.
As Saiki ended the charming 10-page tale of her mother: "Then she whispered, 'Mama, this is your gift, your legacy to me. You showed me that we are never too old to learn. We are always to keep growing. Thank you for this letter. I will treasure this more than anything else you could have given me.' "
Hawaii's Fall Celebration
of Writers & WritingWhere: Honolulu Academy of Arts tonight; University of Hawaii architecture auditorium tomorrow
This listing of new books about Hawaii or by Hawaii writers is published on the last Friday of each month in the Star-Bulletin. ISLE PAGES
Mokes' best friend Booley is out to get revenge on a sailor. Mokes' dad, the chief of police, tells Mokes to be home. But Mokes has to "stand by his friend." Mokes has to make life-changing choices.
Collection of short stories, songs and poems by recipients of the Hawaii Award for Literature.
By using birthdates and/or the letters in a person's name, readers can find their talents and get tips on how to make their weak points become strong points.
LOCAL BEST SELLERS
August 1997 Favorites
1.The Goodnight Gecko Gil McBarnet, Ruwanga Trading (1)
2.Fishes of Hawaii Susan and Thomas Kelly, Bess Press
3.Beautiful Birds of Hawaii Patrick Ching, Bess Press
4.Keiki's First Books (series) Wren and Maile, Bess Press
5. Endangered Animals of Hawaii Patrick Ching, Bess Press
6. The Legend of the Laughing Gecko Bruce Hale, Geckostufs
7. Gecko Hide and Seek Gil McBarnet, Ruwanga Trading (7)
8. Exotic Animals in Hawaii Patrick Ching, Bess Press
9 The Best Hawaiian Style Mother Goose Ever! Kevin Sullivan, Hawaya
10Discover Hawaii's Volcanoes Katherine Orr, Island Heritage
1. Viewbook (series) Douglas Peebles, Hawaiian Resources (1)
2. Scenic Hawaii Series Island Heritage (2)
3. Maui on My Mind Rita Ariyoshi, Mutual Publishing
4. Island Travelogues (series of six books) Curt Sanburn, Jan TenBruggencate, and Ui and Steve Goldsberry, Mutual Publishing
5. 50th Anniversary Maui Cookbook various contributors, Maui Association for Family and Community Education (8)
6. From the Skies of Paradise (series) Glen Grant, Chris Cook, Tom Stevens and Douglas Peebles, Mutual Publishing (8)
7. Art of Hula Vol. 1 Ron Laes, Laes-Goldsmith Publishing Co.
8. Kauai, The Garden Island Allan Seiden, Island Heritage
9. Hawaii Blossoms Dorothy and Bob Hargreaves, Island Heritage (7)
10. Pidgin to Da Max Douglas Simonson, Pat Sasaki and Ken Sakata, Bess Press
1. Ka Lei Ha 'Aheo: Beginning Hawaiian Alberta Hopkins, University of Hawai'i Press (2)
2. Hawaiian Journey Joseph Mullins, Mutual Publishing (5)
3. Hawaiian Names English Names Eileen Root, Press Pacifica (4)
4. Fornander's Ancient History of the Hawaiian People Abraham Fornander, Mutual Publishing (9)
5. Obake Files Glen Grant, Mutual Publishing (6)
6. Obake -- Ghost Stories in Hawaii Glen Grant, Mutual Publishing
7. Shoal of Time Gavan Daws, University of Hawai'i Press
8. Pele -- Goddess of Hawaiian Volcanoes Herb Kane, Kane Press (7)
9. Holy Man: Father Damien of Molokai Gavan Daws, University of Hawai'i Press
10. Na Mele O Hawaii Nei Samuel Elbert and Noelani Mahoe, University of Hawai'i Press (8)
1. With Obligation To All George Ariyoshi, University of Hawai'i Press (1)
2. Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen Lydia Liliuokalani, Mutual Publishing
3. The Betrayal of Liliuokalani Helena G. Allen, Mutual Publishing
4. Potiki Patricia Grace, University of Hawai'i Press
5. Myths and Legends of Hawaii W.D. Westervelt, Mutual Publishing
6. Mark Twain's Letters From Hawaii Mark Twain, University of Hawai'i Press
7. Mark Twain in Hawaii Mark Twain, Mutual Publishing
8. Hawaiian Mythology Martha Beckwith, University of Hawai'i Press (5)
9. A Hawaiian Reader edited by A. Grove Day and Carl Stroven, Mutual Publishing
10. Remember Pearl Harbor! Blake Clark, Mutual Publishing
1. New Pocket Hawaiian Dictionary Mary Pukui and Samuel Elbert, University of Hawai'i Press (1)
2. Handy Hawaiian Dictionary Compiled by Henry P. Judd, Mary Kawena Pukui and John F.G. Stokes, Mutual Publishing (2)
3. Hawaii's Underwater Paradise John P. Hoover, Mutual Publishing (4)
4. Pocket Guide to Hawaii's Birds H. Douglas Pratt, Mutual Publishing (3)
5. Maui's Floral Splendor Angela Kay Kepler, Mutual Publishing
6. Atlas of Hawaii O.A. Bushnell, Gavan Daws and Andrew Berger, Island Heritage (7)
7. Hawaii's Fishes John Hoover, Mutual Publishing
8. Hawaii's Birds Hawaii Audubon Society, Island Heritage (6)
9. Pearl Harbor: The Way It Was Scott C.S. Stone, Island Heritage (8)
10. All Stings Considered: First Aid and Medical Treatment of Hawaii's Marine Injuries Craig Thomas and Susan Scott (9)
These are best-selling books in Hawaii during August 1997. Figures are courtesy of the Hawaii Book Publishers Association and Booklines distributors, and reflect sales by Hawaii-based publishers. A star ( See also our new books and Hawaii
bestseller lists in the Doi It! section online.
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