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Several residents of Kalaupapa are huhu over a first time author's use of their personal stories in his biography about life in Kalaupapa. The residents are claiming that the author fabricated or plagerized some of his book's content, but he and his publishers are holding fast to their story.
"...A book by a Mainland author about the history of Kalaupapa has angered some former leprosy patients who say they were duped by the writer’s intentions or never gave him permission to tell their stories in the first place.
“I feel betrayed,” said Olivia Breitha, 89, herself an author. “He stole from my book, and then he put his own spin on it. I wish Hawaii would ban this book.”
Breitha and two other Kalaupapa residents who are featured in Scribner’s “The Colony: The True Harrowing Story of the Exiles of Molokai” have pleaded for months that all words about them be removed, but to no avail. The book by first-time author John Tayman hit stores around the nation earlier this month.
“They have done us all a great disservice,” wrote Sen. Daniel Inouye in a letter to the Kalaupapa community two weeks ago, explaining how he had tried to convince the publishers to delete any reference to Breitha, Bernard Punikai’a and Makia Malo.
Tayman – and the attorneys at Scribner’s parent company, Simon & Schuster – stand by the book and claim that everyone quoted either cooperated with him or that no consent was needed because they have previously been written about. Officials for the New York publishing giant also insist that “The Colony” is told with the utmost respect for the residents of Kalaupapa...."
I respect the people of Kalaupapa; if they say they don't want to be included in a haole's book, then I think their stories should have been deleted. Now with all this huhu, MORE people will read it out of curiosity. Meanwhile the 2 residents are feeling humiliated and upset that their trust has been violated by an author and publisher whose only goal apparently is to make money.
If you respect the residents of Kalaupapa and the hardships they have endured all their lives, please do not buy this book. Mahalos.
Miulang
"...A book by a Mainland author about the history of Kalaupapa has angered some former leprosy patients who say they were duped by the writer’s intentions or never gave him permission to tell their stories in the first place.
“I feel betrayed,” said Olivia Breitha, 89, herself an author. “He stole from my book, and then he put his own spin on it. I wish Hawaii would ban this book.”
Breitha and two other Kalaupapa residents who are featured in Scribner’s “The Colony: The True Harrowing Story of the Exiles of Molokai” have pleaded for months that all words about them be removed, but to no avail. The book by first-time author John Tayman hit stores around the nation earlier this month.
“They have done us all a great disservice,” wrote Sen. Daniel Inouye in a letter to the Kalaupapa community two weeks ago, explaining how he had tried to convince the publishers to delete any reference to Breitha, Bernard Punikai’a and Makia Malo.
Tayman – and the attorneys at Scribner’s parent company, Simon & Schuster – stand by the book and claim that everyone quoted either cooperated with him or that no consent was needed because they have previously been written about. Officials for the New York publishing giant also insist that “The Colony” is told with the utmost respect for the residents of Kalaupapa...."
I respect the people of Kalaupapa; if they say they don't want to be included in a haole's book, then I think their stories should have been deleted. Now with all this huhu, MORE people will read it out of curiosity. Meanwhile the 2 residents are feeling humiliated and upset that their trust has been violated by an author and publisher whose only goal apparently is to make money.
If you respect the residents of Kalaupapa and the hardships they have endured all their lives, please do not buy this book. Mahalos.
Miulang
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