- Lucky Come Hawaii: The Homecoming of a Maui Author
Nationally acclaimed author Jon Shirota returns to the islands in November for three public appearances and the opening of his latest play. Born on Maui and now living in California, Shirota is the author of the 1965 classic Lucky Come Hawaii, the first novel by an Asian American writer in Hawai‘i to become a national bestseller. He is also the author of several plays and has received awards from the John F. Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays and other organizations.On Thursday, Nov. 5, at 3 p.m. in Kuykendall Hall on the UH-Manoa campus, Shirota speaks about the Okinawan sense of place in his writing. Joining him are Joyce Chinen, professor of sociology at UH-West O‘ahu; Katsunori Yamazato, professor of American studies at the University of the Ryukyus; and Christine Yano, professor of anthropology at UH-Manoa. This free talk is an official Homecoming event for UH-Manoa alumni.
On Nov. 5 at 8 p.m., Kumu Kahua Theatre presents Shirota’s play Voices from Okinawa, which premiered last year at East West Players in Los Angeles. The play continues through Dec. 6. For more information, call the theatre box office at 536-4441.
On Monday, Nov. 9, at 5 p.m. in Kuhialoko Lanai (E-Building) at UH–West O‘ahu, Shirota gives a talk, “Akisamiyo! From a Pig Farmer to a Writer.” A reception will be held at 4 p.m. This event is part of the Chancellor’s Lecture Series and is cosponsored by the UH-Manoa Center for Okinawan Studies.
On Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. in the ‘Ohi‘a Building at Kapi‘olani Community College, “A Conversation with Jon Shirota” kicks off KCC’s International Education Week. Hosted by Chancellor Leon Richards, this free event celebrates Shirota’s literary achievements and contributions. Entertainment will be provided by noted Okinawan dance and sanshin performers in Hawai‘i.
Shirota’s appearances in Honolulu are sponsored by the Manoa Foundation with support from the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities and the “We the People” initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities; Kapi‘olani Community College; the University of Hawai‘i Foundation; the UH-Manoa English department; and Manoa: A Pacific Journal of International Writing.
Earlier this year, Manoa Journal and University of Hawai‘i Press published Voices from Okinawa: Featuring Three Plays by Jon Shirota. In December, they will issue a newly revised edition of Lucky Come Hawaii.
For more information, see Manoa's Okinawan blog.
- Talks and readings by Peter Cole, a poet, scholar, translator, publisher, and MacArthur Foundation fellow.
Translating War/Rendering Peace: Working with Poetry in the Middle East Thursday, Jan. 22, Korean Studies Center Auditorium• 5p Understanding History through Poetry: The Case of the Jews and Muslim Spain Friday, Jan. 23, History Forum, UHM History Dept. Library, Sakamaki Hall A201 • 12:30–2p Poetry as Prayer, or What Is and Isn't Inside Your Siddur Friday, Jan. 23, Talk at Temple Emanu-El • 7:30p Sponsors of these events included Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art; Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities, with additional support from the "We the People" initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities; Manoa: A Pacific Journal of International Writing; Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society; The Manoa Foundation; UHM College of Languages, Linguistics, and Literature; UHM Department of History; University of Hawaii Foundation; and University of Hawaii Fund for the Promotion of Jewish Life and Studies.
