Michael "Ikaika" Soo's voice shakes only a teeny bit when he talks about how he will stand in front of a crowd tomorrow and say aloud the words he wrote, "Modern Day Papa Holua," at his first-ever literary reading.

Perhaps that's because he and his essay about connecting with a particular place have come a long way. When he turned in his first version of the assignment, it was returned by creative writing professor Lee Tonouchi with a giant X across it.

Then, blaring just as loudly, was a note by Tonouchi along the lines of: "Sounds like something out of an essay portion of a Miss America pageant."

Soo chuckled now, just as he did then.

"Some people might get offended, but I just laughed at it," he said. "I like that frank feedback. It's such a waste of time to dance around reality."

Soo's second version, written after hearing a fellow student talk about a favorite skateboarding spot in Portlock, not only improved dramatically but made the cut for his school's annual literary magazine.

Tonouchi works to get the best from his students for Ka Nani, the annual literary magazine produced by Kapi'olani Community College.

Last year, the surf issue earned plenty of shout-outs, even national props — or as the pidgin guerrilla himself said, "from da big bad Mainland, yeh?"

A SENSE OF PLACE

This edition, Tonouchi's fourth, focuses on a sense of place, featuring an interview with Kapulani Landgraf, the Native Hawaiian photographer who specializes in Island sites that hold tenuously to their natural state, and several pieces of her work.

With a striking cover illustration inked by Sakitsu Hayataro, the "Wea" magazine will be available at the reading as well as in select spots around the KCC campus.

It's actually set up not like a regular magazine, but calendar-style — Tonouchi's way of challenging the notion of people's sense of place.

"Our 'calendar' has more knowledge," said Tonouchi, his pidgin inflection in full force. "Dere's da positive consequence: People all excited, 'Free calendah!' And negative consequence: 'No need calendah.' "

As for the essay by Soo, who was born on O'ahu and raised on the Big Island, writing it was a chance to find his Hawaiian-ness.

He wrote about a particular form of Hawaiian sledding.

"I don't participate in much that connects me back to my roots, or so I thought, until I wrote this piece," he said. "I found that connection."

Soo said he won't be putting down the pen soon.

"It's the beginning of a long writing journey," he said.

OUT OF COMFORT ZONE

When student and professor got together at KCC one day last week for a photo op, the teasing quickly began. In rapid succession, Soo picked apart his teacher's attire: the signature baseball cap, the fanny pack ... and then he started on Tonouchi's sneakers: Were they purple or brown? Was that a strap or a shoelace?

Tonouchi took it all in good fun — because as Soo pointed out, the student was also dragged out of his comfort zone.

"But that helps people with growth," Soo admitted.

Participating in the literary reading took a little arguing, Soo said ... mostly with himself.

"At first I thought, I don't want to be part of it, but it can't hurt, and (may) help me with something in the future," he said.

Soo is studying business administration and works as a retail account executive for a large telecommunications company, so he knows how to present other people's ideas, but putting his own creative thoughts on the line felt different, he said.

However, he finally committed to trying his hand at the role of Author Reading From His Published Work, and consented to being "uncomfortable for a little while."