Randall M. L. Yee, first vice chairman of the Board of Education, recommends John Grisham’s The Broker. “I found the book to be very enjoyable.” Powerful lawyer Joel Backman finds sanctuary in his prison sentence after attempting to sell access to a satellite surveillance system. He must evade the international agencies, as well as his own country’s CIA, which is after his secret. “I have enjoyed many of [Grisham’s] novels in the past. By his own admission, this is his first attempt in writing a spy novel.” Doubleday, 2005.

MOVIE

“Mystic River is an extraordinary movie that will take a high emotional toll on viewers,” says Roosevelt High School principal Dennis Hokama. The film follows Jimmy (Sean Penn) and his childhood friends in the days after his daughter’s murder. “The key to this movie is the exceptional characterizations, especially by tough guy Sean Penn and Tim Robbins.” Warner Bros. Pictures, 2003.

CD

Byron Yasui, professor of composition and theory at the University of Hawaii, recommends Kupaianaha by Manuakepa, featuring guitar by Patrick Cockett, vocals by Manulele Dudoit and Pancho Graham on the string bass. “[The group] has to be Kauai’s biggest musical secret. The CD is most refreshing because of the imaginative arrangements with innovative harmonic turns. Standouts are Lokelani Blossoms,’ Kipahulu Zephyr’ and Love Chant’ (a new take on the Hawaiian War Chant,’ complete with some protest lyrics).” Puana Records, 2005.

This article appears in the May 2005 issue of HONOLULU Magazine.