Poetry

Poet and activist Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner discusses her identity and her work as a poet and as climate envoy for the Marshall Islands.

Newly named State Poet Laureate Lee Tonouchi discusses his passion for poetry and Pidgin, and how he aims to use his voice to uplift marginalized voices.

Maj. Gen. Lance A. Okamura discusses the military's partnership with Oʻahu officials to ensure Kolekole Pass can serve as an evacuation route; Hawaiʻi's new state poet laureate Lee Tonouchi says he plans to use his role to uplift marginalized voices

Poet and essayist Jonathon Medeiros will be one of the featured authors at next week’s Kauai Writers Conference.

Pádraig Ó Tuama, an Irish poet and conflict resolution specialist, recently arrived on Maui for a summer residency at The Merwin Conservancy and is to give readings and talks on Maui and Oʻahu this week.

Jordyn Imig of Hanalani Schools will be among more than 160,000 students nationwide to compete in this year's poetry recitation contest. Her delivery of Dana Gioia's "Becoming a Redwood" dubbed Imig the 2024 Hawaiʻi Poetry Out Loud champion. HPR's Cassie Ordonio reports.

Hawai’i poet Joseph Stanton spoke with The Conversation about his latest book, “Lifeline: Poems for Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper.”

Guam native Craig Santos Perez is the first Pacific Islander to win the prestigious National Book Award for Poetry — and the first Pacific Islander to win in any category. The Conversation's Catherine Cruz talked to the author about what that win meant not just to him as a Chamorro, but to a culture often overlooked.

We hana hou recent interviews with local authors and writers with Hawaiʻi ties who have made it on our fall reading list: environmental lawyer Julian Aguon's No Country for 8 Spot Butterflies; Hawaiʻi state poet laureate Brandy Nālani McDougall's ʻĀina Hānau, Birth Land; Big Island native Jasmin Iolani Hakes' Hula; and keiki author Kaylin George's Aloha Everything

Brandy Nālani McDougall from Maui is the first woman selected for the two-year term. The Conversation’s Stephanie Han sat down with McDougall to talk about her plans as the new poet laureate and how poetry is a way to heal.