Poetry Recs from the New Poet Laureate of Hawai‘i, Lee A. Tonouchi

We are so thrilled for “Da Pidgin Guerrilla” Lee A. Tonouchi, who was just named the new Poet Laureate of Hawai‘i! Selected by the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities and Hawai‘i State Public Library System, the Hawai‘i Poet Laureate is a three-year appointment that celebrates and engages the local poetry community, nurturing poets from all walks of life.

Photo: Lee A. Tonouchi

Tonouchi is a passionate advocate for Pidgin in literature and the creative arts and has made significant contributions to linguistic social justice in Hawai‘i and beyond. In celebration of his new appointment and in the spirit of National Poetry Month, we asked Tonouchi to recommend his favorite books of poetry (and some prose too!) that you need to have on your shelves.

SEE ALSO: Talk Story with Hawai‘i Poet Laureate Lee A. Tonouchi

Photo: Lee A. Tonouchi

The Best of Bamboo Ridge

edited by Eric Chock and Darrell H.Y. Lum

Dis da book that started ‘em all for me. In dis Local literature collection, get da poem “Tutu on da Curb” by Eric Chock. Wuz my first time seeing Pidgin in writing. Eric Chock made me wanna try see if I could write some Pidgin too!

*Note: While The Best of Bamboo Ridge is currently out of print, Da Shop stocks recent issues of the journal for interested readers!

Gary Soto: New and Selected Poems

by Gary Soto

Gary Soto’s poem “Magnets” really made one impact on me. It kinda wen inspire me for start my own poetic exploration into themes of family and death. Da poem “Magnets” wen inspire me for write “Batteries,” one poem das very meaningful to me from my poetry collection Significant Moments in da Life of Oriental Faddah and Son.

Photo: Lee A. Tonouchi

Pidgin Eye

by Joe Balaz

Da collection Joe Balaz fans wuz waiting forevah and a day for! I only wish da book had one intro for tell hakum he stay such one important Hawai‘i poet. Dis book get his seminal poem “Da Mainland to Me” along with da first Joe Balaz poem I eva read, da hilarious “Anyting You Kill You Gaddah Eat.”

Photo: Lee A. Tonouchi

It’s OK If You Eat Lots of Rice

by Wayne Westlake

I love books, so I gotta include one rare find from 1979. In da 90s, I wen write to da publisher on top da continent asking if dey had copies of dis chapbook still available. I bought one dozen for give as gifts to all my writing friends. Back den, most my friends nevah know who Wayne Westlake wuz. But nowdays tanks to his UH Press collection Westlake and tanks to today’s filmmakers, his work stay finding one new generation of fans.

*Note: While It’s OK If You Eat Lots of Rice is currently out of print, we’re happy to stock Westlake: Poems by Wayne Kaumualii Westlake!

Photo: Lee A. Tonouchi

The Nanjing Massacre: Poems

by Wing Tek Lum

I wuz so moved by dis collection das about da brutal Japanese occupation of China in 1937. I re-re-re-reading ‘em for try learn how Wing Tek wen manage for capture so much with so little words. Da ting stay epic in scale, but yet manages for capture so many stories of personal tragedy. I wen cry how many times, brah.

Ho‘omaika‘i, Lee A. Tonouchi! We are so proud of you and excited for the three years ahead!

SEE ALSO: Behind the Book with Kelsie Dayna, Illustrator of From Aloha to Zippy’s

Da Shop: Books + Curiosities, 3565 Harding Ave., Kaimukī, open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., (808) 421-9460, dashophnl.com, @dashophnl