Hawaii Books

The Typhoon of War preserves important information about a people at a time that has received little attention from historians or anthropologist. For me it has opened doors I never even knew were there. As a kid living in Micronesia right after World War II, I didn't conceive that the "natives" would be anything other than eternally grateful for the American presence. I recognized differences between the people of Guam and Truk but it was mainly that some spoke better English, or were darker, and some lived in better houses. That some of them might actually look back to Japanese times as "better" was unthinkable. As I grew older, I began to perceive that perhaps we could have done a better job as saviors/colonizers than we did. Now in retirement I collect books about Micronesia and occasionally travel there. I guess I'm still trying to understand better this place I've been. The Typhoon of War is the book I've been waiting for to do just that.

And why should you read this book if you have no interest in Micronesians. It's thick, dense and won't keep you up all night. Here's why; to help you understand how we in America deal with other places (Viet Nam, Bosnia, Africa) and how we might improve our success by actually trying to understand what the people living there think.

The three authors of The Typhoon Of War, Poyer, Falgout, and Carrucci, have done an excellent job of researching and writing a wonderful piece of seamless historiography. Not only that, but they have written on a subject that has been left relatively untouched for too long, the role of Micronesians in World War II, on whose land the Japanese, the Americans, and their allies fought their war in the Pacific.

A multitude of books have been written on the subject of World War II in the Pacific, and new volumes continue to be produced every year. Yet, few of these hundreds of books have ever devoted more than a paragraph or two, if that, to what happened to the native people who have inhabited this far flung universe of islands for thousands of years. The Typhoon Of War, has corrected that oversight. For those readers, both professional and lay, who are constantly looking for new insights into the greatest and bloodiest conflict in the history of man will find more here than they might in the multitude of generic texts that have reproduced the same general chronology, ad nauseam, over the past fifty years.

I don't know any of the authors, but I am familiar with some of their individual earlier works from which I assume sprang this collective effort. Their bibliography is likewise impressive. They have bypassed little that has gone before them in what up until now has been a rather obscure area of research for all but a few academics. Having lived in the Mariana Islands for five years myself, and having done my own research in the area of World War II oral history amongst the islanders, I see that the authors have also used a variety of unpublished, yet valuable sources, such as the collection of oral histories collected in the 1980s and early 1990s by researchers at the University of Guam, Dr. Dirk Ballendorf, Dr. Don Shuster, and Wakako Higuchi.

Much of what I have read in The Typhoon Of War has confirmed what I have concluded from my own research, primarily, that the typhoon of war that swept the islands of Micronesia was the most defining experience of these people since the cataclysmic coming of the Spanish more than 350 years ago.

One of the few texts translated into English from a Taoist master who pursued celestial immortality. Students of Taoism who internally steam their sexual energy in an attempt to give birth to the spirit often wish that they could compare notes with a master of a by-gone era. This is their opportunity! One must ignore the commentary beneath each verse, however, as it is provided years later by a Taoist Scholar who either doesn't have a clue as to the meaning of the verses of Chang Po-Tuan, or wishes to protect the information they contain. While talking in code, Chang Po-Tuan's work IS decipherable if one knows the actual physical and energetic practices. This knowledge is often labeled as the "Kan & Li work" by modern Taoists and can be learned from such contemporary masters as Mantak Chia.

"The body is just a lodging; the innkeepers name is Illuminator. The Illuminator neither comes nor goes, so we know it has no birth or death. If you ask what the Illuminator is like, any description is wrong; every act and everything we see is neither the same nor different. Seeing the acts and things, each one is a Buddha and a disciple." P.174

This book is a guide for those experiencing the Tao as illuminator; it tells you what can happen along The Way by using highly poetic language, leaving you to sort out the meaning through your personal experience of the Tao. If none of that makes sense, this might not be the book for you, but then again ...

If you value highly imaginative Asian poetry, you will enjoy the Chang Po-tuan text. "Quiet and clamor, speech and silence, are originally the same thing - Why bother to talk of a dream in a dream?" You might want to read his stuff first; it's spelled out in all CAPITAL LETTERS. The commentary by Liu I-ming was excellent, but it was sometimes jarring to read him right after Po-tuan's poetry.

Jungians will find this book an interesting addition to their study of Alchemy, finding somewhat similar to The Secret of the Golden Flower. The Po-tuan text is rich will Alchemical poetry.

Mahalo to the University of Hawaii Press for publishing this book, and special thanks to Tom Cleary for providing us with this translation.

Vagabond's House is wonderful! If you want to relax some evening, read this work of poetry by S. California's poet, Don Blanding from the past. His work will send you on a dream vacation!!

Vagabond's House is a nostalgic collection of poetry set in the exotic locale of pre-statehood Hawaii and the South Seas. The central theme is wanderlust and the joys (and sorrows) of vagabondage. Those who normally dislike poetry may take a liking to this simply written verse which appeals to the everyday man. The book is full of pen and ink illustrations, which are supurbly rendered by the author. This wonderful book has been so popular since it was first published in 1928, that there have been over sixty printings. To find out more about Don Blanding, vagabond poet, please visit www.don-blanding.com

Description from back of book -- "Computer networking has created dramatic new possibilities for connecting language learners in a single classroom or across the globe. This collection of activities and projects makes use of e-mail, the World Wide Web, computer conferencing, and other forms of computer-mediated communication for the foreign and second language classrooms at any level of instruction. Teachers from around the world submitted the activities compiled in this volume -- activities that they have used successfully in their own classrooms."

I found this book to be very helpful. I am a homeschooling parent who is always looking for ways to make lessons both easier and more enjoyable for my children. This book fulfilled both purposes!

As a teacher of English, I am interested in incorporating Internet activities into my classroom but I didn't know how to do it right. This book turned out to be extremely helpful. It provides a teacher with many ideas and proposals, which you feel will also work in your classroom.

This was the first zach files book I read to my then-6 year old. When we got to the part with the Goddess we were both laughing so hard that the rest of the family thought we went nuts. Since then we have read a bunch of other Zach books. They are all great. The most amazing thing is the Greenburg can introduce concepts (in this book ecofriendly tourism?), parallel universes and reincarnation so naturally that kids can really understand as if they've always known. I think Zach files jump started my son's love of reading.

Great, funny book. My grandson 7 years old was traveling with us to Hawaii, this book was perfect. It was all about the misadventures of a little boy traveling with his Dad on his first trip to Hawaii. Not only was my grandson laughing and laughing but so was I. He couldn't wait to finish the book as we read it waiting in the airport and then on a interisland flight.
My Grandson made sure when he left Hawaii that he didn't have any
lava rock with him after reading the book. He wants more of the Zack file adventures.

I agree completely with the reviewer below. This is a thoroughly enjoyable collection, gripping at times, the social and political issues never forced or didactic (and certainly never manichean), but integrated critically and astutely into the fabric of the stories themselves. Some of the stories share an affinity with the magic realists, but ultimately, Gary Pak's stories offer a fresh voice and perspective, and a much necessary one. Definitely excited to read his new collection.

Gary Pak is an awesome writer, who captures a range of political and cultural positions in Hawa'i with care and tact: he offers, in this collection as in his recent novel with U of Hawai'i Press, a multi-voiced and situated portrayal of local Hawai'i today in all its complexity and struggle. Highly recommended for ordinary readers, college and high school courses, but maybe not for tourists looking for exotica on the beach.

Emergency physician and martial arts practitioner Anthony L. Schmieg presents Watching Your Back: Chinese Martial Arts and Traditional Medicine, explores the symbiosis of traditional Chinese medicine and the martial arts. Chapters reflect on how the martial arts grew out of the need for survival, their history and intent, the distinction between martial and military disciplines, the influence of Daoism upon the evolution of an ancient system, and much more. Watching Your Back debunks common myths such as misinterpretations of the yin/yang dichotomy, and over-emphasis on the role of Shaolin temples in the genesis of Chinese martial arts (the Shaolin temples reflected Buddhist culture specifically and isolated their warrior-monks from Chinese society, and therefore could not be prototypical of Chinese martial arts). An articulate, well-thought-out philosophical treatise revealing the far-reaching depths of Chinese martial arts, reflecting meaningfully on their purpose and greatness in human history.

I found this to be, from the first paragraphs of the Preface, a delightful book. Dr. Schmieg does as he says and tells us the story his experiences with the "high" Chinese martial arts and his Sifu, Dr. Xia. As Dr. Schmieg points out in the Preface this is a "why" book not a "how to" Book. In my experience, "how to" books about the martial arts are a waste of time unless you are already experienced in one or more forms. "Why" books are much more interesting because they allow me to compare my own experience with that of others.

This is the intensely personal journey of one person with a traditional Chinese Sifu. Schmeig's explanation of the sifu-tuer relationship opened new horizions for me. This is not simply and explanation of an explanation of Daoism and martial arts, but rather the story of Dr. Schmeig's personal journey through the high chinese martial arts and Daoism.

Dr. Schmieg does place his personal story within the much larger context of the history of martial arts in Chinese, South East Asia and its more recent impacts in Europe and North America. However, the point of the book is to introduce the reader, martial artist or not, to the inside world of "high" Chinese martial arts through one lineage. While this is not a scholarly work intended to place Dr. Schmieg's lineage within some larger context, it is a wonderfully personal work.

I particularly enjoyed D. Schmieg's writing style and his frequent use of personal anecdote. I felt very much like I was in a conversation with Dr. Schmieg. This particular style allowed me to continuously compare my personal journey and experiences with Dr. Schmeig's in what I found to be a non-threatening manner. For all practitioners of martial arts this book is a necessary read.

I did find some of Dr. Schmieg's comments about Taijiquan and Qi to be incongruent with my personal experience. Someday I hope to have the opportunity to speak with him directly about this seeming incongruity.

Dr. Schmieg's attempts to put his personal experiences in the context of the history of Chinese martial arts are very well done. His grasp of the broad scope of Chinese history certainly matches my own and may be much better. There may be some readers who take exception to his debunking of some mythological aspects of the martial arts. That is only to be expected given his premise of the differences between high and low practitioners.

I feel compelled to note that this book will undoubtedly receive many adverse reviews. Dr. Schmieg's personal experience and the experience of Dr. Xia, which he reports, are certain to offend many traditional martial artists. That is a good part of the strength of this book. Again, given the premise of the high and low aspects of Chinese martial arts as explicated herein, it is inevitable that the book will receive adverse reviews from those who are unable to apprehend the message, for whatever reason.

I know of no other books that deal with this particular subject in this precise manner and I suspect that this makes book unique. However, in the realm of `Why " books I would include John Lash - "The Tai Chi Journey"; Margaret Schorre _ "How to grasp bird's tail, if you don't speak Chinese; Deng Ming Dao - "Chronicles of the Dao. In my opinion Dr. Schmieg's book is the equal of these books.

The book is well written and easily read by both martial artists and non-martial artists. To the best of my knowledge and experience the material is accurate.

The work is important because it provides a uniquely personal view of a particular lineage of Chinese martial arts that is little known outside of China.

The audience is anyone with a background or interest in martial arts or classical Chinese culture.

The writing style is very clear and the presentation was delightful. I laughed out loud on more than one occasion as I read.

Being born and raised in Hawaii and tasted the delicious local food growing up, I found this book to be one of the best cookbooks of local, Hawaii-style cooking. The recipes were easy to follow and the color photos brought back many fond memories. If you ever ate the 'ono' local food in Hawaii, be sure to add this cookbook to your library!

From Shoyu Hot Dogs to Lamb Wellington "Indianne" with Tropical Fruit Chutney, two local authors have hit the nail on the head with their new cookbook, What Hawaii Likes to Eat.
A collection of 130 recipes submitted by readers of a Honolulu daily newspaper, the range of dishes and tastes are as varied as the multi-cultural and chop suey residents of Hawaii.
If there is one thing that all people like to do is eat, and with so many influences in the Crossroads of the Pacific, it would be impossible for even the most finicky of eaters not to discover something in this book that would make their mouths water.
Cookbook writer and editor Muriel Miura teamed with the newspaper's food editor Betty Shimabukuro and asked the professional cooks and chefs along with the experts -- the eaters -- What do Hawaii folks like to eat?
After months of reading, testing and eating, the result is this spiral-bound cookbook -- with the required color photos needed for any amateur Pacific Rim food preparer to serve a mouth-watering dish.
What Hawaii likes to eat will provide comfort food for those who grew up on the plantation: Chicken Hekka, Musubi and Mango Seed; for those townies who were raised in Honolulu or Hilo: Loco Moco, Hamburger Steak and Chicken Katsu; for those who love luau food: Chicken Long Rice, Laulau, Lomi Salmon and Haupia; and for those who appreciate the ambiance as much as the meal: Cavalier Restaurant's Lobster Thermidor, Hiroshi Eurasian Tapas' Garlic Shichimi Ahi with Ponzu Vinagrette and Kahala Resort and Hotel's Roasted Garlic Rack of Lamb with Garlic and Herbs.
For poi dog palates, try Napua Steven's Taro Biscuits, Arare Cookies and Sam Choy's Hawaiian Pulehu Tri-Tip Steak.
The kamaaina baby boomers and their parents may remember Jolly Roger's Orange Bread, Queen's Surf Chicken Kamaaina and Little George's Shrimp Scampi. The Stewart's Pharmacy Corn Bread would bring a tear to the eye of anyone who frequented the once-popular Waikiki establishment.
But for all the fancy Lavosh, Orange Souffle, Golden Phoenix Claws and Scalloped Potatoes that are in this book, perhaps the most intriguing recipe is the first -- and possibly the simplest -- the "Oki Dog," an American, Mexican, Tex-Mex and Okinawan Fusion creation, which is a bright red, crispy Redondo hot dog, Zippy's chili, shoyu pork and iceberg lettuce all wrapped up in a tortilla.
The delicacy was actually first served on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood by Sakai "Jimmy" Sueyoshi, an Okinawa native who got rich selling his "Oki Dogs," and brought to Hawaii by one of the organizers of the Okinawan Festival who replaced the shredded pastrami that Sueyoshi used with the shoyu pork.
Onolicious.

As with the 2nd volume, this first work is a much welcomed western academic publication of Nichiren Shonin's writings. Few sources of this quality are available in English, and I hope to see similar works in the future.

The two main works found in this volume are the Rissho Ankoku-ron and Senji-sho, both of which are foundational texts to Nichiren Buddhist doctrine. The book itself is very attractive, easy to use, has introductory comments for each letter, and includes a comprehensive glossary. Another attractive element is that footnotes are kept on the low side, and there is little editorial intrusion upon the body of the texts.

This is an excellent volume in the ongoing translation project at the University of Hawaii. I understand that it will eventually be seven volumes. It is an excellent introduction to Nichiren's writings and his world. I found it well written, well translated, with a helpful glossary of terms and phrases peculiar to Nichiren's writings, and a good index.

Nichiren is one of the most influential Buddhist teachers in Japanese History. The largest group of Buddhists in the West follow one or more of the many Nichiren traditions. His teachings have a broad appeal across cultural and class lines. Those interested in Nichiren, Japanese Buddhism, and why this form appeals to so many westerners, will find this volume, and the rest from the U. of H. helpful in understanding this great Sage's comprehensive views of the Buddhadharma.

Dharmajim

BETWEEN ZEN AND WESTERN THOUGHT. MASAO ABE TRULY DESERVES READING.
A FANTASTIC EXPOSURE OF A VERY WELL PREPARED SCHOLAR ON BOTH AREAS. THE
WESTERN WORLD MEETS EAST. VERY GOOD READING!

Fabulous book. I read it when I was sixteen and it was my second book on philosophy. I had to keep a dictionary beside me as I read it because the vocabulary was esoteric, but it made me want to read it more. It changed the way I thought about things and helped me see relationships between events and ideas that at first glance might seem unrelated. In seeking to understand this book, I exposed myself to a way of thinking very alien to my experience up until that point. It was very rewarding. I highly recommend it if you want to glimpse something greater of yourself. Doing nothing else unusual except reading 2/3 of this book and praying, my SAT scores leaped from 1150 to 1350. It is the best book of its kind. Truly. After reading it, most autobiographical works of modern WEstern Zen practitioners will seem flat and trite. If nothing else, you will better be able to discern what is crap in Zen literature.