One of the most important writers to come out of the Asian American community, Jon Shirota will be in Hawai‘i for four events in November 2009:
“An Okinawan Sense of Place,” a talk and discussion, Thursday, Nov. 5, 3–4:30 p.m., room 410, Kuykendall Hall (English department), UH Manoa campus.
Opening of his play Voices from Okinawa. Thursday, Nov. 5, Kumu Kahua Theatre, 46 Merchant St., downtown Honolulu.
“Akisamiyo! From a Pig Farmer to a Writer,” a talk at UH-West Oahu, Monday, Nov. 9, 5–6:30 p.m., beginning with a reception at 4 p.m. This free event is part of the Chancellor’s Lecture Series and is co-sponsored by the UHM Center for Okinawan Studies.
A Celebration of Jon Shirota, Friday, Nov. 13, 7:00-9:00pm at Kapiolani Community College Ohia Cafeteria. Event & Parking are FREE!
WHAT? A Conversation with and Celebration of Jon Shirota!!
WHERE? KapiolaniCC Ohia Cafeteria – http://www.kcc.hawaii.edu/object/ohiamap.html
WHY? This is an opportunity for the Uchinanchu community to come out and honor Jon Shirota, something we have not yet done. If not now, then when?!?
7:00 pm: A Conversation w/ Jon Shirota, followed by Q&A
8:00 pm: A Celebration of Jon Shirota
The Okinawan community will be thanking and honoring Jon with music and dance.
We’ll have Norman Kaneshiro, Jimpu Kai U.S.A. Kin Ryosho Ryukyu Geino Kenkyusho, Okinawa Minyo Kyokai Wakugawa Dojo Derek Ichiro Shiroma Kenkyusho, Tamagusuku Ryu Senjukai Frances Nakachi Ryubu Dojo and a Shishimai performed by Jon Itomura and Eric Nitta.
9:00 pm, Jon will be signing books. Bring your old copies of Lucky Come Hawaii or the new Voices from Okinawa book to get them autographed.
Copies of Voices from Okinawa ($20) will be on sale that night. UH Press printed around 1,000 copies of this and are not planning on printing more! Make sure you get a copy of this wonderful book before it is too late (and get it signed by Jon Shirota and editor Frank Stewart!). More info at: http://manoaokinawaissue.wordpress.com/
FOOD OPTION: You can pre-order a bento and water from Off the Wall (cost $8). Please provide your full name, order and phone number via pigsfromthesea@gmail.com or 734.9562 by the close of Wednesday 11.11 to place an order.
About Jon Shirota
Shirota was born in Peahi, Maui, in 1928. His father immigrated to Hawai‘i from Ginoza Village, Okinawa, in 1907, and his mother immigrated from Kanna Village in 1910. Upon graduating from Brigham Young University in Utah, he worked as a U.S. Treasury agent. In 1963, he was invited to the Handy Writers’ Colony, where he completed Lucky Come Hawaii, the first of his three published novels. His plays have been produced in Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and Tokyo. He has received awards from the Rockefeller Foundation, the American College Theater Festival, the Los Angeles Actors Theater Festival of One Acts, the Los Angeles County Cultural Affairs Department, and the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission and National Endowment for the Arts.
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