The Life and Death of a Modern Hawaiian Warrior

“Big Happiness: The Life and Death of a Modern Hawaiian Warrior is extremely important to our community. Mark Panek’s biography of Percy Kipapa speaks to the consequences of the destruction of Hawai‘i’s rural neighborhoods, unchecked development, the ice epidemic, the failures of government, sumo, intricate family and neighbor relationships, and more. What is most impressive is Panek’s ability to weave all of these complex topics together in a seamless narrative that connects all the dots. Part mystery, part investigative journalism, part poignant Island portrait, this work contains an emotional element that binds the reader to the subjects in a dignified yet touching way, showing compassion and even affection for people while revealing their flaws and shortcomings. This book will resonate with an Island audience and with anyone interested in Hawai‘i.” —Victoria Kneubuhl, Hawai‘i writer and playwright

A Latitude 20 Book
February 2011 / ISBN 978-0-8248-3468-5 / $18.99 (PAPER)

UH Press Now a Worldwide Distributor of Cornell East Asia Series

Beginning March 1, 2011, UH Press will distribute worldwide the Cornell East Asia Series (CEAS), published by the Cornell University East Asia Program. To view all of the CEAS titles the Press currently distributes, please click here.

The Price of Paradise and The Value of Hawaii: A Debate and Comparison

Monday, February 28, 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Art Auditorium, UH Manoa campus
Free and open to the public

Join contributors to The Price of Paradise (1992, 1993) and the more recent The Value of Hawai‘i (2010) for a lively debate and comparison of these two influential publications.

Speakers include UH Press authors from both books: David Callies, Randall Roth, Susan Chandler, and Jon Osorio. For brief bios, see the website at http://www.hawaii.edu/calendar/manoa/2011/02/28/14594.html. The event will be moderated by Civil Beat Associate Editor Sara Lin, and livestreamed at http://www.civilbeat.com. Books will be available for sale through UH Press.

Co-sponsored by Civil Beat, The Center for Biographical Research, and Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities. For more information: http://thevalueofhawaii.com.

Learning Japanese for Real

Concise descriptions of grammar, use, and genres make Learning Japanese for Real: A Guide to Grammar, Use, and Genres of the Nihongo World, by Senko K. Maynard, indispensable for adult learners of the language. The volume presents a holistic view of the knowledge required for proficiency in Japanese. Following introductory chapters on the language’s background, sound system and scripts, word types, and grammatical categories, it introduces readers to simple then complex sentences. A chapter on emotive expressions contains highly useful entries on attitudinal adverbs, exclamatory phrases, interjections, and rhetorical questions—all of which carry emotive meanings. Learning Japanese for Real then goes beyond grammar to discuss how the language is used in interaction.

February 2011 / ISBN 978-0-8248-3540-8 / $30.00 (PAPER)

New York Times on Independent Chinese Film

Yesterday’s New York Times features an article by Larry Rohter on five Chinese directors whose films will be shown at the Museum of Modern Arts’ Documentary Fortnight festival. The article includes a quote from Hsiu-Chuang Deppman, the author of Adapted for the Screen: The Cultural Politics of Modern Chinese Fiction and Film, published by UH Press.

New Look for KLEAR Web Site

The KLEAR (Korean Language Education and Research) Center web site has been completely redesigned and updated to include the latest information on the entire Integrated Korean series of textbooks, workbooks, and accompanying audio, including the new (2nd) editions of Integrated Korean Beginning 1 and Beginning 2.

The KLEAR series is published by University of Hawaii Press with the support of the Korea Foundation. Schools currently using Integrated Korean texts in their classrooms include: University of California, Los Angeles; University of Maryland, Baltimore; Columbia University; De Anza College; Troy University; New York University; Arizona State University; University of Minnesota; University of California, Riverside; University of Hawai‘i; Georgia State University; University of California, San Diego.