Lika’s Log

I don’t remember ever writing a book review but as long as I lived and written, I’m thinking I must of. I guess its CRSS Disease as why. Can’t Remember Shit Sometimes.

The author of PUNAHOU BLUES blogs here. It was here that I read about the release of his book and also about people giving him flack about da pidgin in his book. I responded to his blog, letting him know that there are some Pidgin Snobs out there. That sounds oxymoronic to me, prolly cause I can be moronic la dat. But Pidgin isn’t exacting and some people don’t have anything betta to do. I toldem’ if he need help wit da Pidgin I could kokua.

I offered to reveiw da Pidgin stuff and let him know wot da huhu might be. He asked me if I wanted a book. I was like “oh hell yeah” ……. cause I’m a Redneck woman….oh excuse me dats a C&W song.

So I received an autographed copy of PUNAHOU BLUES. How sweet is dat? My first thought reading da note was “a lefty with nice readable handwriting.” I read a few chapters and skimmed over some of the pidgin dialog thru out the book.

When I think of Pidgin English, I think of MY pidgin; which is old school plantation days, a little or maybe alot hardcore since Pidgin was/is my first language. I was 20ish+ wen I could talk straight, or think I could talk standard English. So wen I was reading PUNAHOU BLUES I was like, maybe readers would not “hear” that this was from a Haole point of view OR maybe they do and dats wot boddah’s dem.

Some of the Hawaiian trew me off but maybe thats because I ain’t been around da aina regularly. I have always heard the word “Akua” in reference to God. So to hear it referred to as “ghost” kinda thru me, but I think that has to do with context. Also I think of Mo’o as lizard and Mano as shark.

There’s a chapter entiled “Killahaole Day.” OMG I had flashbacks. No, eh I neva beef or notting. But my HaoleBruh Gary from South Carolina at our last class reunion said “KillHaole Day nobody bodda me, I’m wit da football team, man.” Anden Portagee Bruh says “Somebody forgot to tell Gary he Haole az why.” Anden dey started talking about KillJap Day and asking “Eh, where’s Goon?” Den all dese guys of anykind nationalities including Japanees started talking about “rememba da time…..” One of does only in Hawaii scenes, yeah.

You cannot talk about Punahou wit out talking about Punahou Carnival yeah. I think some people only know Punahou as one carnival. Most Hawaii carnivals is da same yeah wit EK Fernandez rides, tilt-a-whirl, da games and da food. Espeically malasadas! WHO does not love malasadas? And wen I think malasada kisses…….hhmmmm how sweet is dat? oh yeah, dats wot I’m talkin’bout! Da Malasadas truck was at every carnival I eva went to. Reading about malasadas just made me yearn. Leonards Malasadas not mock malasadas. *L*

Language and linguistics aside this is an important book that chronicles the experience of da Haole in Hawaii. It reminds us of how we use to be and how we still are, as people of Hawaii.

My short & sweet review posted at Amazon.com:

PUNAHOU BLUES captures the Haole experience of growing up on Oahu with sweet sour turbulance and malasadas kisses. With its racially profiled truths, it brings out a longing and makes you ono for Hawaii.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 18th, 2005 at 5:28 pm and is filed under Da Kine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.