Islands Linked by Ocean

by Lisa Linn Kanae

From the author of SISTA TONGUE come stories written with humor and compassion that give voice to characters who find themselves at crossroad moments where past informs present, young teach old, and love can mean holding on or letting go. In “The Steersman,” a novice paddler shares her tempestuous yet life-affirming introduction to the tradition of outrigger canoe paddling: “…in the canoe, we were nameless. We were numbers, and when we weren’t numbers, we were random expletives—scrub, donkey, idiot, stupid, jackass, lame ass, dumb ass....” In “Born Again Hawaiian,” a young husband discovers how the personal impacts the political when his activist wife shows him how he must fight for what he loves most. And what happens when three local women take in the opera? “Dat suckah Pavarotti—he get um.”

The stories in this collection are familiar, like family. And like the father and daughter in the title story, the stories in ISLANDS LINKED BY OCEAN are “told and retold until the words swim through the listener’s veins and turn into blood.”

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

142 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Celeste Noelani McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had been surrounded by writers like Lisa Linn Kanae when I was a young girl struggling to find myself between my parents' townhouse in Kāneʻohe and my cousin's flower shop in Kapahulu, I would have been a little less confounded. A little more at home in my hapa-girl body and island home in the middle of the Pacific. What I mean is that I have been looking for stories like this my entire life and I am thrilled to have found them at last. I may be forty instead of fourteen but still, self reflection and personal growth are welcome at any age.

Kanae's writing about Hawaiʻi and her people should definitely be ready by people from and of the Islands, but also given to those from abroad who have bought the tourism board's tired marketing schemes and believe themselves in love with our ʻaina. These stories are ripe with tales of average people and their Islander lives instead of tropes and fantasies of accommodating Natives and backdrop paradise. Sometimes dirty and messy, sometimes wistful and elegant, Kanae's stories are filled with revelatory moments surfacing in an otherwise ordinary existence.

Not to say that the stories themselves are ordinary. These stories are deeply intimate with searing truths dropped in as casually as people drop them in conversation. Her characters are simultaneously lost and deeply grounded, searching for some kind of solace or development that comes as quietly as a moonrise over Lēʻahi (Diamond Head) or as slippery as cupcake ornaments in a garbage can. Her stories involve no dragons or werewolves, no invaders from another planet, but still you can feel in them the weight of the whole world shifting, even if for just one person. And each time, I felt a little something shift inside me, too.

In short, two things: READ THIS BOOK and Lisa Linn Kanae is a treasure of Hawaiʻi literature. The end.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually a fan of short stories, but I don't think this book would have been as effective any other way. The short vignettes offer a brief glimpse into very different lives, offering just enough to satisfy. I'm currently into Hawaiiana in order to get a better feel for my new home--this book certainly hit the spot and I'll be keeping an eye out for others from this publisher.

[Eliot Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The varied voices that come through in this collection of stories are truthful. It's so easy to feel like each character encapsulates a real person. From the world-class steersman of a Hawaiian canoe to the uneasy parents of a blind kindergartner--and many more in between--I heard Hawaii sing. Through different means, perspectives, they all have a strong ability to relish in Hawiian life with a longing for or imbibing of everything that means.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

HAW Lit book

[Natalie]

Read for school

[Brandy Silvers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a beautiful slice of life in Hawaii. It was filled with places in Honolulu and Oahu, phrases and feelings that were like a homecoming. For a moment I felt that I had returned.

[Jennifer Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Islands Linked by Ocean" is by far one of the best anthologies of not only Pacific short-fiction, but short-fiction is general, that I have read to date. Lisa Linn Kanae takes story telling to another level by providing her point of view, as a Hawaiian, within each of these stories. Not only does she share her ideas of the Pacific, but she includes concepts of the family values, social struggles, and day to day issues of not only a Pacific Islander, but of anyone of any background. She includes stories like "Born Again Hawaiian", to write about one of the key issues with Hawaiians today; their lack of identity and stance as a Kanaka Maoli. Similarly, she also has stories about losing and trying to revive the Hawaiian Culture, living in today's society as a Hawaiian or Pacifc Islander, and much more. With her insight as someone of the Pacific and her sense of humor, Lisa was able to create this amazing collection of stories that will resonate with not only Pacific Islanders but people all over the world. I would definitely read this book again and again, and I reccomend this to anyone who enjoys humor, controversy, and Pacific literature!
-Jenn P.

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories will make you laugh and cry. Lisa Linn Kanae has a heart for stories and such a funny sense of humor. She spoke at Kapolei Public Library and read some of her work and talked a little about the writing process. Her stories have also been read, several times on HPR's Aloha Shorts produced by Bamboo Ridge. I really loved the stories in this book, especailly the Steersman (everyone's favorite) and the story about the young couple with the deaf child. But my favorite is Java Junkie.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing collection of short stories that are small slices of life on the islands. Compelling, sometimes tender, sometimes humorous. I read the whole book on a 5 hour flight from Maui to Los Angeles. I was coming home from a week on Maui taking care of my mother's final tasks as she had passed a few days prior on this island that had captivated her spirit, so these stories all took on personal meaning for me. As the plane touched down in L.A., I was reading the final story and bawling. This is a beautiful collection of short stories.

[Kanani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking through the KCC class catalogs these past few semesters, I've considered taking a class or two from this author. Found this book while browsing the public library shelves. Loved this. Many of these stories take place in my neighborhood-- reading her walk down Kapahulu Ave, I can envision the landmarks she names. Her characters speak to me in a way that hasn't happened with any of the other local authors I've read, and the stories are moving. Great read.

[Joshua Demello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Islands Linked by Ocean is a collection of local Hawaii stories that will resonate with anyone, not just Kamaaina. The themes of the stories, from long friendships to relationships are universal. It is well-written, even the pidgin parts, and an easy read.

I must not read much short stories as reading through it was confusing me that the stories were mostly snapshots of events rather than a traditional beginning-middle-end. Reflecting back, I guess it was, but more subtle, making you think. A couple of the stories went in deep with the characters making me want to read more about them; others were just quick glimpses that I didn't get a real feel for. That was too bad because one of those was the paddling one, which I enjoyed and understand, but was too much of an overview for me, unlike the wedding reception one that felt more complete and betfer developed.

Overall, I enjoyed all of the stories and was glad the wife picked up the book and shared it. I am more happy to have found another local author to read and look forfuture books.