Several Punahou alumni and faculty have published books in the past two years that span a variety of genres and subjects. Here’s a roundup of some of their work.
Michael Baughman ’55
“American Pie”
This novel is rooted in truth about its subjects: greed, bigotry, cruelty, friendship, love and compassion, hypocrisy and politics – a grim, satirical, sometimes comic allegory speaking to our troubled world’s past, present, and seemingly inevitable future.
Wing Tek Lum ’64
“The Oldtimers”
Wing Tek Lum’s third collection of poetry, “The Oldtimers,” imagines life in Honolulu Chinatown circa 1900. Lum gives voice to the forgotten pioneer generation of sojourners and settlers, detailing the trials and temptations of this bachelor society living far from their homeland – their hard work, their diversions, their challenges, and, even amidst the notorious plague and fire, their perseverance.
Nelson Foster ’69
“Storehouse of Treasures: Recovering the Riches of Chan and Zen”
The book unearths wise and beautiful elements of Chan and Zen Buddhism still little known in the West, revealing unexpected aspects of the tradition and new implications for practice.
Jane Marshall Goodsill ’71
“Voices of Hawai‘i: More Untold Stories of the Aloha State Volume 3”
In this third volume of her unique anthology of the Islands, Jane Marshall Goodsill shares more of Hawai‘i’s stories – dramatic and heartwarming tales of preserving history and living off the grid, of big-wave surfers and open-ocean sailors, of artists and entrepreneurs and so many others. Taken together, these rich anecdotes offer an inside look at the history and culture of a special place.
Bill Leary ’72
“Noodle’s Notes: On Fifty Years of Sailing in the Hawaiian Islands”
A contemporary sailing guide to the Hawaiian Islands based on the author’s 50 years of experience racing and cruising in these waters. Includes discussions on 40 favorite anchorages and harbors. Also addresses discussions on cruising itineraries, anchoring and fishing regulations, winds, waves, and currents.
Sara Ackerman ’84
“The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West”
Olivia “Livy” West is a fearless young pilot with a love of adventure. She yearns to cross oceans and travel the skies. When she learns of the Dole Air Race – a high-stakes contest to be the first to make the 2,400 mile Pacific crossing from the West Coast to Hawai‘i – she sets her sights on qualifying. But it soon becomes clear that only men will make the cut. In a last-ditch effort to take part, Livy manages to be picked as a navigator for one of the pilots, before setting out on a harrowing journey that some will not survive.
Virginia Loo ’92 – Director of Analytics and Planning
“How to B”
When an uber-competent Hawai‘i-based globe-trotting epidemiologist decides that she wants a child and no partner is on the horizon, she embarks on a long, strange trip through the Byzantine maze of finding a donor, resorting to IVF and trying not to be the “weird kid” in her birthing class. Mistaking childbirth for the hard part, she finds herself in the exhausting, anxious world of the single mother, living at home for the first year and quasi co-parenting with her Chinese mom. Witty, honest, and laugh-out-loud hilarious, this memoir is for everyone who ever had a baby – or thought about it.
David Nakayama ’97
“The Marvel Art of David Nakayama”
David Nakayama is known for his many X-MEN, DEADPOOL and SPIDER-MAN covers, highlighting his fun and colorful take on Marvel’s iconic characters. After winning a talent contest to break into comics, he soon went into the video game industry, before returning to comic books at Marvel and gaining popularity as a cover artist with his exuberant and beautiful style gracing the likes of Scarlet Witch and Spider-Gwen to the White Queen.
Carissa Moore ’10
“Hawai‘i Gold: A Celebration of Surfing”
Carissa Moore brought joy and pride to the Islands when she won the first-ever, gold medal in surfing’s Olympic debut. Here she shares her story and her personal perspective, alongside contributions from many of her fellow Hawaiian surf legends, on what it means to be a surfer from Hawai‘i.
Kelly Murashige ’16
“The Lost Souls of Benzaiten”
This heartfelt and quirky young adult fantasy debut follows a young outcast on a journey of transformation … into a robot vacuum cleaner. It provides a fresh twist on Japanese mythology that doubles as a deep, honest dive into mental health.
David Del Rocco — Former Social Studies faculty member
Illustrated by Storm Kano
“Mary Kawena Pukui: Knowledge is Life”
This book is about Hawaiian educator, scholar, composer, and author Mary Kawena Pukui, who spent her life documenting, preserving, and teaching ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i and Hawaiian history, culture, and traditions for future generations.
“Patsy Mink: Hawai‘i’s Champion for Women’s Rights”
This book is about Patsy Mink, the mother of Title IX who stood up against racism and sexism and fought for the health and well-being of Hawai‘i’s women and children, the environment, and gender equality.
Andrew Nelson — Punahou Outdoor Education Coordinator
“22 — A Guide for Young Athletes: Built by Athletes. For Athletes”
We’re all responsible for determining who we want to be and putting in the work needed to get there. This book doesn’t attempt to provide a shortcut but does shed light on mistakes to avoid and choices you can make that will help set yourself apart. The goal is to equip and empower athletes with the skills and perspective needed to help in the pursuit of being an elite athlete and an athlete of character. You can and should pursue both.