Much Mahalos
In this series, acclaimed author "Da Pidgin Guerrilla" Lee A. Tonouchi uses the language of Hawai‘i Creole, a.k.a. Pidgin, to talk story with accomplished and up-and coming Japanese/Okinawan Americans from Hawai‘i. Interviewees discuss their passions, their triumphs, as well as their struggles as they reflect and express their gratitude to those who have helped them on their journeys to success.
Stories from this series
“Da Okinawan Hammah” stay nailing it!—Brandon Ufugusuku Ing’s projects promote Okinawan language
Jan. 4, 2024 • Lee A. Tonouchi
“Da Okinawan Hammah” get one skill that not too many people get. Uchinaaguchi, da Okinawan language stay dying out and Hawai‘i-born yonsei Brandon Ufugusuku Ing stay doing everything in his powah for try help save ‘em. Whether it’s teaching Uchinaaguchi classes on Zoom, creating eju-ma-cational animated Uchinaaguchi music videos for childrens, making avant-garde Uchinaaguchi movies for film festivals, or just rocking out to his own original Uchinaaguchi songs, Braddah Brandon, one Castle High School 2001 grad, does it all in …
Kenny Kusaka’s Calling—How he chose stand-up comedy as his service
Dec. 5, 2023 • Lee A. Tonouchi
Leilehua class of 2013 grad, Kenny Kusaka wuz getting lotta leading roles in da Local theatre scene in Hawai‘i when he decided for switch gears and try his hand at stand-up comedy. For da past several years he been making one name for himself on top da stand-up circuit, refining his act all across da country. I caught up with him recently aftah his first time headlining his own show at The Blue Note, da Hawai‘i branch of da celebrated …
Artist Audra Furuichi Meets Her Match—How she created her nemu*nemu comic empire
Nov. 15, 2023 • Lee A. Tonouchi
Illustrator Audra Furuichi stay most well known for her web comic nemu*nemu dat she launched in 2006 with her partner Scott Yoshinaga. Da ting wuz one immediate hit. If you dunno, dis quirky strip stay about da misadventures of Nemu and Anpan, two magical stuff animal kine canines and their human beings, Kana and Anise. Those characters wen spawn one whole line of popular merchandise, like books, shirts, stickers, and of course stuffed pups. * * * * * What …
In it for da Long Haul: Grant Kagimoto Shares da Secret to Cane Haul Road's Longevity
Oct. 11, 2023 • Lee A. Tonouchi
Grant Kagimoto stay da creative genius behind Hawai‘i’s iconic T-shirt brand, Cane Haul Road. For almost 50 years he been coming up with clever graphic designs that comment on Hawai‘i’s unique Local culture. Sometimes he get designs das humorous like his Chinese cabbage design with da caption “won bok not much nowdays.” And oddah times his designs might be pure Hawai‘i nostalgia like his rendering of one big-wheel, hand-crank shave ice machine that takes da viewer back to one time …
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