Turning the page in Hawai'i publishing
By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Books Editor
A Hawaiian hero conquered. Many stones were overturned. A policeman told all — again. A bunch of Hawaiian souls made soup. A book club bid aloha. And a beloved storyteller's tale came to an end.
This was the year in Hawai'i books and publishing.
From my perspective as a reader and critic, it was not an exceptional year, except in the area of Hawaiian culture and Hawaiian language publications (see accompanying story). I can't recall a book published this year that riveted me, and made me want to hand it to friends with the imperative, "Read this!" (Last year, that book for me was Robert Barclay's "Melal," a novel set in the Marshall Islands, which this year received an Award of Excellence in the Ka Palapala Po'okela Hawai'i Book Publishers' Association awards.)
Memorable books from this year's worth of reviews almost all are histories or personal narratives, documenting past times or people:
• A hero. Though it was published in late 2002, the year's clear sales winner was Stuart Coleman's "Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero," (MindRaising Press, hardcover, $24.95). It sold well enough locally to be termed an "unexpected phenomenon" by bookseller Brian Melzack of Bestsellers stores. And it generated sufficient Mainland interest to snag a national publisher, St. Martin's Press, which has repackaged the book, renamed it "Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero and Pioneer of Big-Wave Surfing" and will re-release it Jan. 15. Random House has announced that an English-language international edition will go to press in the spring.
• Many stones. David Cheever came up with a very narrow slice of Hawai'i life to focus on: rocks. For "Pohaku: The Art & Architecture of Stonework in Hawai'i," (Editions Limited, oversize hardback, $39.95) he and his son, Scott, commissioned architects, historians and cultural experts to profile the place of stone in traditional culture, in Island architecture and in our everyday lives.
• Cop story. "Honolulu Homicide," by retired Honolulu police Maj. Gary A. Dias and his wife, Advertiser reporter Robbie Dingeman, is the sequel to his groundbreaking "Honolulu Cop," and appeared on local bestseller lists late in the year. Its appeal is obvious: Who can't resist getting the insider story from a member of a notoriously close-mouthed 'ohana —Êthe police fraternity. Dias' books work because he is willing to be honest and even critical. He also has a sense of humor, and shares some humorous stories on himself and his police brethren.
• Chicken soup. It was only a matter of time before there was a "Chicken Soup from the Soul of Hawai'i" (Health Communications Inc., paper, $12.95); every other sort of soul has contributed to this ever-expanding body of warm-hearted work. This smattering of essays from Islanders and frequent Island visitors was released in April. Editor Robin Rohr reports that proceeds from the book sales have been raising money for literacy and children's health programs. "The focus is on the Wai'anae population and we work through the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center," Rohr said.
• Book club. The Advertiser Book Club, which was born in June 2002, wrapped up in October 2003 after introducing Hawai'i readers to 13 books, hosting a standing-room-only visit with author Gail Tsukiyama last January and conducting several interesting discussions with local book clubs. As I told a group at the Hawaii Library Association conference earlier this month, one thing we learned was that readers may be too time-pressed to participate in a book discussion, but they're eager for ideas on what to read. We continue to get letters and e-mails asking "what was the name of that book you suggested?" (If there's one you missed and meant to get to, here are the book club selections: "Verbena" by Nanci Kincaid; "The Tender Land" by Kathleen Finneran; "Moloka'i" and "Ka'a'awa" by O.A. Bushnell; "The Territory of Men" by Joelle Fraser; "Middle Son" by Deborah Iida; "Carter Beats the Devil" by Glenn David Gold; "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett; "Peace Like a River" by Leif Enger; "The Samurai's Garden" by Gail Tsukiyama; "Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague" by Geraldine Brooks; "Makai" by Kathleen Tyau; "American Fuji" by Sara Backer.
• Lost stories. The Islands lost not only a skilled storyteller but a driving force in nurturing the art of storytelling and encouraging the recording of old stories and obscure history when Glen Grant died in June of cancer. In October, Grant, a historian, storyteller and teacher who published two books of ghost stories in his "Obake" series, was honored posthumously with the John Dominis Holt Award for lifelong contributions to local publishing.
