KILLAHAOLE DAY

by Kirby Michael Wright

In sixth grade, Iʼd witnessed the Killahaole Day fight between Ben and Rickyʼs gang. Theyʼd trapped him on the gravel road behind the thrift shop. The shop was closed. At first it didnʼt seem serious—just a group of Catholic boys in white button-downs and khaki pants going through a ritual that would amount to nothing more than name calling and idle threats. Ricky pushed Ben. Ben pushed Ricky back. A boy named Freitas and his friend Mits began pelting Ben with gravel. The sun was below the roof of the convent and only a few cars were in the parking lot. A Hawaiian kid we all called “Da Destroya” walked out from behind the thrift shop.
His sleeves were rolled over his biceps and he was wielding a Louisville Slugger.

11 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 12, 2010

About the author

Kirby Wright is an American writer best known for his coming of age island novel PUNAHOU BLUES and the epic novel MOLOKA'I NUI AHINA, which is based on the life and times of Wright's paniolo grandmother. Both novels deal with the racial tensions between haoles (whites) and the indigenous Hawaiians, and illustrate the challenge for characters who, as the product of mixed-race marriages, must try to bridge the two cultures and overcome prejudice from both camps.
Wright's work is primarily concerned with the complexities of multicultural Hawaii, Killahaole Day, prejudices against (and within) island high schools, and the tricky matter of interracial dating. He incorporates the local creole language into his novels and was the first author to document the pidgin English spoken by the paniolo cowboys on the east end of Molokai.

Reviews

[Kirby Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing take on locals vs. haoles in the honolulu school system. Highly recommended for island readers and well as those on the mainland.