GET together with BOOKS

Books take a stand—especially locally written or content driven titles. Native Books and Nā Mea Hawai‘i have been organizing “get together with books” events for the past few months, and the gatherings continue with the newest locally published titles. These gatherings are held outside of Native Books/Nā Mea Hawai‘i at the corner of Ward Avenue and Ala Moana Blvd, ‘ewa end of Ward Warehouse, under the old spaghetti factory. Parking is free, and all GET together with BOOKS’ are always open to the public. The December and January events are as follows:

• Sunday, December 4, 2011, 2pm to 4pm. Launch Celebration and signing for "The Queen and I: A Story of Dispossessions and Reconnections in Hawai’i" Written by Sydney L. Iaukea

In this expose, Sydney L. Iaukea ties personal memories to newly procured political information about Hawai’i’s crucial territorial era. Spurred by questions surrounding intergenerational property disputres in her immediate family, she delves into Hawai’i’s torical archives. There she discovers the central role played by her great great grandfather in the politics of late nineteenth and early twentieth century Hawai’i—in particular Curtis P. Iaukea’s trusted position with the Hawaiian Kingdom’s last ruling monarch, Queen Lilioukalani.

• Wednesday, December 7, 6 to 7:30pm. Launch Celebration and reading of "Kapoho: Memoirs of a Modern Pompeii" Written by Frances Kakugawa

Once There Was a Kapoho… From the wartime drama of “The Enemy Wore My Face” to the sweet poignancy of “A One- Chopstick Marriage,” Frances H. Kakugawa weaves a coming-of-age memoir of life in a Hawaiian plantation village—now buried beneath a blanket of lava. “Kakugawa’s amazing recall of details helps remind us of the beautiful innocence and naivete of youth and the realities of growing up poor in Hawai‘i—all too cognizant of the ethnic, linguistic and cultural barriers she would have to overcome to realize her literary dreams,“ says Guy Aoki, Founding President, Media Action Network for Asian Americans. Author Charles Pellegrino calls it “a rare poetic history that will make you think, laugh and cry.”

• Sunday, December 11, 2pm to 4pm. Launch Celebration, Reading and Signing of "Up Among The Stars" Written by Matthew Kaopio Jr.

Matthew Kaopio Jr.’s Up Among the Stars follows Ikau’s journey as an adolescent doing his best to live a normal life while homeless, never fading in his will to do good and help others. Perhaps what he longs for, a family and home, remain as distant as the stars, but his courage and strength to never give up on himself leads him to a future brighter than he could have ever imagined.

• Saturday, December 17 @ 2pm to 4pm Reading and Signing of "Plenty Saimin" Written by Feng Feng Hutchins

For everyone who loves to eat saimin - this book is for you. Birthday boy, Ah Kee, couldn't wait for his long life noodles. On his way to the market with Ma he invites friend after friend to join him for noodles. Will Ma have enough to feed everyone he's invited? As the noodles are being prepared one by one each guest brings an ingredient to add to the pot. Not too much, just what they can offer. Soon all gather to celebrate Ah Kee's birthday. This book is a tribute to the late 1950's rural life style here in Hawaii. A time when folks farmed the land and took care of one another so naturally. Something we'd like to always remember, continue to practice and pass on to youngsters.

• Sunday, December 18, 3pm to 5pm Launch Celebration, reading and signing of "Georgia O’Keeffe’s Hawai’i" Written Patricia Jennings

For three months in 1939, Georgia O'Keeffe visited Hawai'i and painted the Islands' tropical plants and landscapes, capturing their essence and beauty. During two weeks on Maui, 12-year-old Patricia Jennings served as O'Keeffe's guide and companion showing her lush valleys and hills of Wailuku and the plunging waterfalls, lava bridges and black sand beaches of Hana. The bond formed between the pre-teen and the American icon lasted a life-time. O'Keeffe's letters and paintings give us a view of the Islands through the lens of the great American artist. Georgia O’Keeffe’s Hawai‘i sheds light on a transitional period in O’Keeffe’s art and life, and shares for the first time this inspiring coming-of-age story.

Located in the breezeway outside of Nā Mea Hawai’i, in front of an original Solomon Enos fast-kine mural, these gatherings bring a mix of great elements together, music, food, learners and lovers of the written word, enjoying the camaraderie that comes with good books in good company. The authors are always present, as are local publishers, family and friends. Native Books has been presenting these kinds of events for over twenty years in community, join us in celebrating what only Hawai‘i nei has to offer, the best books about our Island home, and the people that live here.

For more information, please contact:
Mathias Maas 597-8967
Maile Meyer 783-2786