Amanda Allison, a specialist at ‘Imi Hale Native Hawaiian Cancer Network and at Papa Ola Lōkahi, is the author of the short story, Becoming Papa David.  She enjoys taking classes at Leeward CC, including creative writing, to improve her skills. One of her goals is to find a way to incorporate daily writing back into her schedule.

Like many non-Hawaiians who have made Hawaiʻi their home, Amanda has come to love the ʻāina and the people. She writes:

I have now spent more than half my life in Hawai’i. I credit my first kumu, the late Olga Kalama, with teaching me to see things in a Hawaiian way. Through her I have made many connections and had a blossoming of understanding – as much as a haole from the continent can. Long and close connection with friends have helped me observe some of the frustrations and wonders of being Hawaiian today. The tension of conflicting expectations of the different worlds in which Hawaiian keiki, ‘opio, makua and kupuna must now operate is the focus of much of my writing.

I know that as an outsider, I can never truly know what it is like to be Hawaiian. But hopefully readers will find my stories empathetic and enjoyable.

We certainly do.  Mahalo, Amanda, for sharing your writing with Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa.

Credits: Bio photo by Karen Renard, post feature photo courtesy of Kamalani Hurley