‘Evoking Islands’ event celebrates Hawaiʻi song, poetry and prose | Asian American Press

Look, our poetry reading is in Asian American Press! With photographs!

As the event took place on the day after 33 Native Hawaiian elders were arrested on Mauna Kea for protesting the proposed construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), the protectors and the sacred mountain were on the artists’ and audience’s minds, as reflected in their poems, stories, and songs.

‘Evoking Islands’ event celebrates Hawaiʻi song, poetry and prose | Asian American Press

Winter Coat drive for Protectors of Mauna Kea

From my friend Susan to Michigan folks: Would you please consider making a donation of your winter gear to the Kia'i (Protectors) on Mauna Kea who are in the second week of what is likely to be a long haul.  They are in alpine dessert conditions above the treeline and are exposed to extreme conditions all times of the day and night, when the temps drop below freezing.  It is not uncommon for there to be snow in the summer.  Mahalo for taking the time!  This is one way folks in Michigan can provide support in a big way. 

Teaching in Volcano and Hilo next July 2020

I was just asked to teach an all-day writing workshop intensive again next summer at Volcano Art Center, "Writing from the Heart," Sat., July 11, 2020, 9:30-3:30. Also confirmed a literary reading Thurs July 16 and a short half-day writing workshop "Writing your Hawai'i Story," Sat July 18, 2020 at Mokupapapa Discovery Center! And something at Basically Books sometime too. Yay! Start making your summer plans and come write with me. 

We win AAJA Award 2019 Leadership in Diversity

Congratulations to us! Yay NBC Asian America! Thanks Asian American Journalists Assn. for this award: 2019 Leadership in Diversity

AAJAHQ Award NBCAsian America

outrigger rowing island championships

Big Island outrigger rowing island championships (omg so many muscles everywhere)

A woman's greatest enemy? A lack of time to herself | Brigid Schulte | Opinion | The Guardian

"Women’s time has been interrupted and fragmented throughout history, the rhythms of their days circumscribed by the sisyphean tasks of housework, childcare and kin work – keeping family and community ties strong. If what it takes to create are long stretches of uninterrupted, concentrated time, time you can choose to do with as you will, time that you can control, that’s something women have never had the luxury to expect, at least not without getting slammed for unseemly selfishness."
A woman's greatest enemy? A lack of time to herself | Brigid Schulte | Opinion | The Guardian

and not just writers in olden times, but today too. After reading this article re ishiguro, I joked w my students, who are mostly women, that all we need is a wife (not a huz not a partner, but a "wife" to do all the work of managing life), so we have to become our own wives to take care of ourselves in a way that makes writing happen. https://www.theguardian.com/.../kazuo-ishiguro-the...

Now carried at Basically Books in Hilo!

My chapbook, "Where the Lava Meets the Sea" is now carried at Basically Books in Hilo! on the Big Island of Hawaii (in addition to Lyman Museum in Hilo, Kona Stories in Kona, Bookbound in Ann Arbor, and Blacklava.net everywhere!)

I am also in talks with Basically Books to do a writing workshop there next summer. Yay!

Event: Evoking Islands: An evening of Hawaiʻi song, poetry and prose at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

Thanks to everyone who came out to join us tonight for Evoking Islands: An evening of Hawaiʻi song, poetry and prose at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center on the Big Island of Hawaii! What a great night of poetry, story, and song at Mokupapapa Discovery Center (and the biggest audience they have ever had--we counted 112!). Thanks Patrick Landeza for coming out to join us on Big Island! Looking forward to talking story with you again soon xoxo Leomi Bergknut, Tom Peek, Catherine Robbins

Next year's date already set--third Thursday of July or July 16, 2020, with a workshop that Saturday, July 18, 2020.

Summer Mom Update: Printer Printing

I sent a file to my mom's printer (from another room) and startled her, "I didn't know what that noise was. I thought it was robbers knocking on the door"

Mokupapapa Discovery Center is getting ready for us

Mokupapapa Discovery Center is getting ready for us! Patrick Landeza, Tom Peek, Leomi Bergknut, Catherine Robbins, and I will be performing poetry, prose, and song at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center this Thursday, July 18, 5;30-7:00pm, Hilo, Big Island More at https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2019/07/12/entertainment/mokupapapa-hosts-evening-of-music-verse-and-story/

Rising Voices of Asian American Families Community Convos

Michigan Asian American women and families and friends -- check out these community conversations coming up! 

If you've been following the political and policy issues and wanting to connect with others to chat and find out how to take action, have ideas for the new organization, or simply want to come and hang out, Rising Voices of Asian American Families would love to see you in Troy 7/19, Hamtramck 7/27, or Ann Arbor 8/17 at these events! free food too! (of course)  

EVENTS COMING UP! Rising Voices of Asian American Families is hosting three community conversations in the next few weeks and invite Asian American women & families to join us. Come and share your thoughts about issues facing Asian American women and families ... and help brainstorm ideas for action!

***OAKLAND COUNTY***
Friday, July 19, 6 - 8 p.m. @ Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois, Troy, MI
FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/431771374090326/

***DETROIT/HAMTRAMCK***
Saturday, July 27, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. in Hamtramck – address provided upon RSVP (yoga studio)
FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/498400434237207/

***WASHTENAW COUNTY***
Saturday, August 17, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. in Ann Arbor – residential address provided upon RSVP
FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/652880098542287/

--> Please RSVP at http://bit.ly/RVcommunityconvo <-- p="">

About the community conversations:

Asian American women and youth have continued to be excluded from leadership positions in our communities, and Rising Voices is filling that gap by taking different and varied approaches. As Asian American women, we routinely witness or experience a variety of barriers in political representation, economic security, and sustained well-being. These barriers include, but are not limited to, racism, discrimination, religious intolerance, limited economic opportunities, and lack of access to mental and physical health resources. Furthermore, cultural barriers such as entrenched gendered ideas about women's roles continue to impede women and youth participation in leadership and community organizing. Rising Voices is taking a holistic approach to addressing these barriers through relational organizing, developing organizing tools and organizers, and building out a progressive civic engagement plan focusing on developing Asian American women and centering our voices and our families’ most important issues.

Join Rising Voices to share your thoughts about issues facing Asian American women and families ... and help brainstorm ideas for action!

FOOD PROVIDED AND CHILDREN WELCOME! :

Summer Mom Update: Out of Rice

My mom ran out of rice. I offered to buy more rice for her at the store. "No, you'll just do it wrong." Glad to see my mom is back to her normal self!

Writing from the Heart with Frances Kai-Hwa Wang | Volcano Art Center

Today! with me today at Volcano Art Center! One day writing intensive, "Writing from the Heart," Saturday, July 13, 2019, 9:30-4:00

Writing from the Heart

The most powerful writing comes from the heart. What do you care about? What inspires you? What is special in your life? Frances Kai-Hwa Wang will offer the “Writing from the Heart” workshop on Saturday, July 13, 2019 from 9:30am – 4pm at Volcano Art Center Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.
Write about the people, places, and memories that matter to you. Write to touch, inspire, move, persuade, and provoke readers. Write with emotion, write with spirit. Write from your own truest self to help others find theirs. This course explores the kind of writing that changes people, oneself included. And it begins honestly, one word, one day at a time.
Class fee is $75/$65 for VAC members. Bring a notebook, pen, and lunch.

Writing from the Heart with Frances Kai-Hwa Wang | Volcano Art Center

Calendar for July 13 - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Today! Writing from the Heart at Volcano Art Center

WRITING FROM THE HEART WITH FRANCES KAI-HWA WANG
Where: Volcano Art Center, Niaulani Campus, 19-4074 Old Volcano Road, Volcano
When: 9:30 a.m. today
Details: This course explores the kind of writing that changes people, oneself included. And it begins honestly, one word, one day at a time. Cost is $75, or $65 for VAC members. Bring a notebook, pen and lunch.
Contact: Alyssa Johnasen, 967-8222, workshops@volcanoartcenter.org

Calendar for July 13 - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

More details at http://volcanoartcenter.org/event/writing-from-the-heart-with-frances-kai-hwa-wang-2/?instance_id=11823

Mokupapapa hosts evening of music, verse and story - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

We're in the local paper paper! So old school! Check out our beautiful pictures!

A diverse group of storytellers will come together from 5:30-7 p.m. July 18 in downtown Hilo for an enchanting celebration of words and music in “Evoking Islands: An evening of Hawai‘i Song, Poetry and Prose” at Mokupapapa Discovery Center.
The program is inspired by Hawaii’s talk story heritage and the deep relationship to the archipelago’s natural wonders and enduring cultural traditions.

Four unique voices will evoke the islands:
• Patrick Kahakauwila Kamaholelani Landeza, award-winning slack key artist, author of “From The Island Of Berkeley, Memoirs From A California-Born Hawaiian” and winner of the 2019 Na Hoku Hanohano Kiho‘alu Legacy Award.
• Leomi Bergknut, a Hilo-born writer whose poetry and short stories reflect the strong women of her Hawaiian, Japanese and Korean ancestry.
• Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, Keaau poet and essayist, UH-Hilo creative writing lecturer and author of the chapbook “Where the Lava Meets the Sea.”
• Tom Peek, Volcano writer, former eruption ranger and author of the award winning Hawai’i novel “Daughters of Fire.”
This event is part of the center’s Third Thursday by the Bay. Admission is free.

For more information, contact Clayton Watkins at 933-8184 or clayton.watkins@noaa.gov.
The Mokupapapa Discover Center is located at 76 Kamehameha Ave.

Mokupapapa hosts evening of music, verse and story - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

UHH writing classes begin today

University of Hawaii Hilo Summer 2019 classes begin today! I'll be teaching "Finding the Writer Within" on Tuesdays in July and "Storytelling Workshop: From Talk Story to Beyond" on Thursdays in July (with a special field trip to our literary reading at Mokupapapa July 18)
https://hilo.hawaii.edu/cce/classes/ 

Plus a one day class at Volcano Art Center on July 13, 2019, "Writing from the Heart," link and details coming soon.

VAC workshop: Writing from the Heart - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Writing from the Heart at Volcano Art Center -- in the local paper paper always makes me smile

The most powerful writing comes from the heart. What do you care about? What inspires you? What is special in your life?
Write about the people, places and memories that matter to you. Write to touch, inspire, move, persuade and provoke readers. Write with emotion; write with spirit. Write from your own truest self to help others find theirs.
This course explores the kind of writing that changes people, oneself included. And it begins honestly, one word, one day at a time.
When: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 13
Where: Volcano Art Center Niaulani Campus, 19-4074 Old Volcano Road, Volcano Village
Instructor: Frances Kai-Hwa Wang is a journalist, essayist, speaker, educator, and poet focused on issues of diversity, race, culture and the arts. For more information about the instructor, visit franceskaihwawang.com
Cost: $75, or $65 for VAC members. Bring a notebook, pen and lunch.
For more info or to register: Call VAC at 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

VAC workshop: Writing from the Heart - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Adventures with the Haircut Aunties

Told the haircut aunties that a monk told my mom that I'm going to get married soon. They sprung into action and wrote my full name and contact info into their book in case they come across any good leads. They asked what my criteria were, so I gave them a long list, but the only thing they wrote down was 35-65 yo. Lol