In my fantasy world, I’m sitting on the beach with a cocktail, waves lapping at my toes. It’s the perfect setting to sit and read all day long. Would that be considered Paradise? Today we’re discussing a more specific paradise: Hawaii. Our first book club selection for August is This Is Paradise, a collection of short stories by Kristiana Kahakauwila.
Told from the voice of native Hawaiians, Kahakauwila’s stories give a different point of view of paradise. Take a look at what From Left to Write members thought about our book in their posts inspired by This Is Paradise:
- For Rebecca of Life of An Army Wife, locals and Army families stick together.
- Michelle from Honest & Truly! wonders how we define our heritage, or do we even care?
- Heading “home” to the land of her ancestors, Ariane at The Force Expansive considers what home is, and what price paradise.
- Ashley Bunker from Memoirs of a Modern Day Wife talks about what its like to live in a tourist attraction hot spot.
- Meghan of Crazy Casa K recognizes the strength of family connections, no matter what.
- Bay from Queen Mother Blog wonders when she will get to visit Hawaii
- Jennifer Wolfe at mamawolfe reflects on the idea of returning home, as her daughter prepares for the college decision making process.
- Janaki of More Than Four Sides is reminded of visiting Sri Lanka, the island home of her father.
- Michelle from Mkokopelli talks about her grandmother’s death and how it compares to Hawaiian grief.
- Robin (noteverstill) of The Not-Ever-Still Life ponders the various forms of grieving.
- Lisa from Hannemaniacs is renovating a house to become a home.
- Thien-Kim at I’m Not the Nanny dreams of serenity in her own beach house.
- Cindy Fey of We All Fall Down considers her own forgotten paradise.
- Melanie from tales from the crib considers where she’s from.
- Nae at I Choose the Sun vacations as a local
Paradise has different meanings for different people. What’s your paradise?
Learn more about Kristiana Kahakauwila on her website and on her Facebook page.
Mahalo for your blog posts and for allowing THIS IS PARADISE to inspire you. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts. I loved how the idea of family was interwoven into each post, whether by honoring grandmothers or celebrating children or pulling together as a community for a neighbor. The way these ideas interconnected no matter the blog theme or geographical location seemed to me an important and wonderful aspect of the responses to the book.
Right now I’m writing from Hawai`i. (The time difference makes this post come a little late). I’ve been here for two months visiting with my family and friends, and I am about to fly back to the mainland. I find that when I’m here I am reminded of how much I miss it. My heart is happy near the ocean, in the pikake-scented air, with my `ohana. But the mainland is home, too, and when I’m there it feels just as familiar, just as right. I suppose this is the nature of having more than one home, and perhaps the nature of being bi-cultural.
I appreciate that my book spurred such lovely thoughts from all of you, and that your posts have helped me reflect on Hawai`i in new ways, especially as my summertime here draws to a close. Send me an email via my website if you plan a trip; I LOVE sharing tips for restaurants and beaches.
Aloha nui loa.