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Westlake: Poems by Wayne Kaumualii Westlake (1947-1984)
In an all-too-brief life and literary career, Wayne Kaumualii Westlake (1947–1984) produced a substantial body of poetry. He broke new ground as a poet, translated Taoist classical literature and Japanese haiku, interwove perspectives from his Hawaiian heritage into his writing and art, and published his work locally, regionally, and internationally.
Westlake was born on Maui and raised on the island of O‘ahu, where he attended Punahou School, and later the University of Oregon. He earned his B.A. in Chinese studies at the University of Hawai‘i. At the time of his tragic death in 1984, Westlake was at the height of his poetic career. Unfortunately, the only collection of his poems available at the time was a 32-page, limited edition chapbook independently published by a small press. The present volume, long overdue, includes nearly two hundred of Westlake’s poems―most unavailable to the public or never before published.
Westlake was born on Maui and raised on the island of O‘ahu, where he attended Punahou School, and later the University of Oregon. He earned his B.A. in Chinese studies at the University of Hawai‘i. At the time of his tragic death in 1984, Westlake was at the height of his poetic career. Unfortunately, the only collection of his poems available at the time was a 32-page, limited edition chapbook independently published by a small press. The present volume, long overdue, includes nearly two hundred of Westlake’s poems―most unavailable to the public or never before published.
- GenresPoetry
302 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 22, 2024
Made me giggle and made me think. My two favorite things!
more sad / then the cherry / blossoms blown / in the spring wind—/ a poet / dying young
A beautiful homage by friends and loved ones to a beautiful poet who passed too young. Troy lent me this and he will not be getting it back!!
more sad / then the cherry / blossoms blown / in the spring wind—/ a poet / dying young
A beautiful homage by friends and loved ones to a beautiful poet who passed too young. Troy lent me this and he will not be getting it back!!
March 10, 2023
Concrete poetry that can resist bombs.
August 20, 2021
This book was gifted to me by someone after I told them I had gone to a bookstore in Ala Moana, Honolulu and asked for books by Hawaiian writers. They gave me a stack of books by non-native Hawaiian writers who were citizens of the State of Hawaii. I suppose I should have been more specific in my request.
But my friend understood, and both she (who has now passed away) and the native Hawaiian poet Westlake's poetry are incredible gifts. The poetry in the book appears to be so simple, and yet it is so incredibly challenging, nuanced, and complex - like all the greatest works. You could spend a whole day just meditating on one of Westlake's mostly empty pages: the few words written there stand out like the last trees on a clearcut hillside.
I especially love the idea that poetry is not precious, even though (maybe because) it requires incredible effort of mind, heart, and being.
I highly recommend this book, especially to poets.
But my friend understood, and both she (who has now passed away) and the native Hawaiian poet Westlake's poetry are incredible gifts. The poetry in the book appears to be so simple, and yet it is so incredibly challenging, nuanced, and complex - like all the greatest works. You could spend a whole day just meditating on one of Westlake's mostly empty pages: the few words written there stand out like the last trees on a clearcut hillside.
I especially love the idea that poetry is not precious, even though (maybe because) it requires incredible effort of mind, heart, and being.
I highly recommend this book, especially to poets.
March 5, 2024
One of my reading goals for 2024 is to read more local Hawaii authors. To the end, I select Poems by Wayne Westlake.
Westlake died in 1984. He was known in his time for his work as a Hawaiian activist. His friend, Richard Hamasaki, along with Westlake's partner, Mei-Li Siy, gathered his surviving written work to put this collection together.
I am not particularly good at reading poetry, but many of Westlake's poems feel deeply personal for me. in the introduction, he says that his poetry is autobiographical of fleeting things he observes. Since I grew up in Hawaii and still live here, there are things that I recognize. His series of Waikiki poems are startling relevant so the words don't feel like they locked in amber. There is an unavoidable melancholy as well since it is a finite collection which makes it even more precious.
Mileage may vary for other readers but for me, this is a solid 5 star.
Westlake died in 1984. He was known in his time for his work as a Hawaiian activist. His friend, Richard Hamasaki, along with Westlake's partner, Mei-Li Siy, gathered his surviving written work to put this collection together.
I am not particularly good at reading poetry, but many of Westlake's poems feel deeply personal for me. in the introduction, he says that his poetry is autobiographical of fleeting things he observes. Since I grew up in Hawaii and still live here, there are things that I recognize. His series of Waikiki poems are startling relevant so the words don't feel like they locked in amber. There is an unavoidable melancholy as well since it is a finite collection which makes it even more precious.
Mileage may vary for other readers but for me, this is a solid 5 star.
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August 22, 2021Trying to read more Hawaiian literature and poetry, I found this after reading Westlake's Statehood poem.
Westlake has his own style from all his different influences, eastern, local, Hawaiian, and others. His poetry wasn't for me, but I'm sure there are others who will find something in here.
My favorite poem in here was The Tourist:
the tourist
walks
makai—
straight
towards the mountains
This poem is the best example of irony I could imagine, especially here in Hawaii. I showed my middle school students this poem and they didn't understand it because they didn't understand what makai meant. The work of Westlake and his contemporaries and those who survived him and continue to write is still essential and needed, and I hope more poets from Hawaii follow the path he walked, in poetry and other fields.
Westlake has his own style from all his different influences, eastern, local, Hawaiian, and others. His poetry wasn't for me, but I'm sure there are others who will find something in here.
My favorite poem in here was The Tourist:
the tourist
walks
makai—
straight
towards the mountains
This poem is the best example of irony I could imagine, especially here in Hawaii. I showed my middle school students this poem and they didn't understand it because they didn't understand what makai meant. The work of Westlake and his contemporaries and those who survived him and continue to write is still essential and needed, and I hope more poets from Hawaii follow the path he walked, in poetry and other fields.
August 20, 2024
A valiant effort to compile what must have been a difficult collection to organize. I was surprised and delighted by some really wonderful Eastern-style poetry, among many other things.
It was especially captivating to read the "down on the sidewalk in Waikiki" collection during the bus commute to and from my job in Waikiki. Still very real and fresh.
It was especially captivating to read the "down on the sidewalk in Waikiki" collection during the bus commute to and from my job in Waikiki. Still very real and fresh.
June 12, 2022
now one of my all time favorites
February 17, 2025
incredible. thinking about these poems everytime I walk down waikiki.
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September 9, 2011I hope that Hamasaki’s afterword, footnotes, bibliography, and catalog of the unpublished manuscripts encourage people to study and publish on Westlake’s work. More importantly, I hope that Westlake inspires people to live joyfully and to write, write, write!
My reaction to this strong, exuberant collection: “Ho!”
Read the complete review: http://www.hawaiibookblog.com/article...
My reaction to this strong, exuberant collection: “Ho!”
Read the complete review: http://www.hawaiibookblog.com/article...
April 4, 2010
Wonderful...the poetry is sometimes a straight celebration of life, sometimes concerning cultural or life issues...always something enjoyable, though: clever, thought-provoking, funny, joyful, wise, etc. Great free verse with Taoist and Hawaiian influences!
"Stars, then clouds
stars, then clouds
all night long."
"Stars, then clouds
stars, then clouds
all night long."
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews