Hookupu Anthology: An Offering of Literature by Native Hawaiian Woman

by Jackie Pualani Johnson (editor), Miyoko Sugano (Editor)

Ho‘ An Offering of Literature by Native Hawaiian Women is the first commercially-published anthology to collect and present the writings of contemporary Native Hawaiian women. It combines the best of the submissions and showcases works in several genres. Here, na wahine o ke kai (the women of the sea) "plunge their paddles as one" into the sea of story and song (to use a metaphor from Jackie Pualani Johnson's poem "I Mua e Na Wahine") This book is structured as a ho‘okupu, wrapped in the beginning with a mele by Pualani Kanaka‘ole Kanahele and at the end with a mele by Nalanikanaka‘ole. (These authors are sisters, as well as kumu hula of Halau o Kekuhi.) Within it you will find chants, mele, poems, short stories, biographical accounts, and a play. The pieces are wahine ‘oiwi of various ages and backgrounds, living on O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i, and in the continental U.S. Some of the works weave in cultural practices such as Eleanor Ahuna's " Memories…," "A New House for the People" by Haunani Bernardino, and "Proper Offerings to Pele" by Tamara Wong-Morrison. Another is Doodie Cruz's laugh-out-loud play, "Whose Nose Dat?" You will also find delightful surprises, such as the first short story written by Pualani Kanahele ("Mohala Ka Pua" is the first chapter of her novel in progress) and a futuristic tale of generic modification in Hawai‘i ("Ho‘olu Lahui") by Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, better known for her plays. The anthology was edited by Miyoko Sugano, Emeritus Professor of English, and Jackie Pualani Johnson, Professor of Theatre Arts, both of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. After team teaching a course called "Hua ‘ A Taste of Local Literature," they decided to combine their interest in the works of Native Hawaiian women and love of sharing it with others in collaborating on this anthology.

108 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2009