Several Punahou alumni and faculty have published books that span a variety of genres and subjects. Here’s a roundup of some of their work.
Emma Mieko Candon ’06
“Star Wars Visions: Ronin”
Drawn to tales of devouring ghosts, cursed linguistics and mediocre robots, Emma Mieko Candon ’06 has described this novel as a Japanese reimagining of the Star Wars mythos. In it, a mysterious former Sith wanders the galaxy, accompanied only by a faithful droid and the ghost of a less civilized age. As the galaxy’s cycle of violence interrupts his self-imposed exile, he is forced to duel an enigmatic bandit claiming the title of Sith.
Kayla Chun ’21
“Pete’s Journey Home”
Kayla Chun ’21 wrote and illustrated this children’s book to support sustainability as part of a Girl Scouts initiative and her senior capstone project at Punahou. In this tale, the main character, Pete, finds himself trapped in a trash can. He must journey far to make it to the place he is supposed to call home: the recycling bin.
Christopher Clarey ’82
“The Master: The Long Run and Beautiful Game of Roger Federer”
New York Times correspondent Christopher Clarey ’82 gained access to Roger Federer, his support team and other tennis legends like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick to write this account of arguably the greatest men’s tennis player in history. Considered one of the top international sportswriters, Clarey has covered Federer since the beginning of his professional career, witnessing many of his milestone matches.
Constance Hale ’75
“Imagine: Reflections on Peace”
Constance Hale ’75, a San Francisco–based journalist, co-edited this project in which the VII Foundation asked more than a dozen reporters and photojournalists to revisit countries that experienced brutal conflict, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, Colombia, Lebanon, Northern Ireland and Rwanda. The task was to see peace through the prism of their journalistic experience by connecting with those who had survived conflict or grown up in the postwar society. The VII Foundation also sought input from academics and peacemakers and asked citizens to offer personal narratives in their own voices.
Jessica Chun ’81 Williams
“Turkey Savvy”
Jessica Chun ’81 Williams has written a book with practical tools, tips, guidance and inspiration for those wanting to cook a classic turkey dinner for the holidays or any gathering. She includes 12 time-tested recipes, checklists
and more.
Vernon Woo ’60
“Paradise Dispute”
Judge Vernon Woo ’60 – a Harvard Law School graduate who specialized in real estate law while in private practice – tapped into his vast knowledge about the inner workings of high-end developers and investors for this novel, the second of a trilogy. (He published his first novel, “Paradise Pursuit” in 2018, and is now working on the third book of the trilogy.) “Paradise Dispute” follows the battle between those eager to profit from the development of Kaka‘ako.