I have come across this site/forum a number of times but hadn't thought about joining until recently. I had posted something on another site about a project I'm doing, and someone was nice enough to recommend this place to me. Being part Portagee and always wanting to "talk story", and me always being homesick, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to join this community and hopefully make some new friends and make some connections along the way.
A bit about me. I am originally from O'ahu, having lived in Ewa Beach and Nu'uanu, but I consider Pauoa my home. I went to Nu'uanu Elementary from 1975-1977, and Royal Elementary from 1977-1982. Went to Kawananakoa Intermediate from 1982-1984, before my mom moved us to the mainland, and it is Washington State where I still reside. My father had died in 1983, and my mom had felt it was time to move on to a new place. Yet even with that time away, I long to be back home, and those week-long vacations aren't enough.
I've always been a music nut, and I've always loved writing. I've combined the two and have been a music journalist for 21 years, becoming one of the original contributing editors to the "All Music Guide" in 1992, and getting Sunday Manoa into the book. I had been in a radio/TV production class in high school and was able to use that TV information to become a news producer for a local ABC affiliate, a position which I held for four years.
As a writer, I've been published in over 70 different publications, many of them small fanzines but I've made my way into a few major music magazines, including "Goldmine", "The Rocket", and "Discoveries". I've made a small presence on the internet with some of the websites and mailing lists I've done, including a section I had on my site called "Hawaiian Music Corner".
As a music artist, I create hip-hop/electronic music under the name Crut and have done so for 14 years. I'm currently working with a small label in Chicago towards an EP to be released later in the year, with an album to follow. Those who know me would prefer that I sing Hawaiian falsetto, and perhaps if I ever get the guts to move away from the computers and turntables, I will. I'm a fan of tangled wires, so for now I'll remain within.
Whether it's my music or my writing, I've always represented Hawai'i in everything I do, trying to shed light on my experiences back home when it has often felt like, outside of family, I'm the only one who knows what I'm talking about. At times it has always become a means of being political, to say "I'm Hawaiian and I'm proud", when there are those on the mainland who still ask how long it takes to drive to and from Hawai'i. They may know of the stereotypes, but not the truth and realities of what I grew up with. In terms of politics, I was the one responsible for letting people in Hawai'i know about the writer here in the Tri-Cities who, after 9/11, called Hawaiians unpatriotic and people who did nothing but climb trees and play 'ukulele all day.
Outside of that, I'm a fairly humble guy, kinda momona, single (and still looking), and always trying to discover new things.
As for family, I still have much ohana back home on my mom's and dad's side.
I am Hawaiian/Chinese/Portuguese/Filipino/German/Austrian, and had I stayed there for high school, I would've been a Roosevelt High grad.
I came here to talk about some of the book projects that I'm currently doing, which involve Hawai'i and Hawaiian things. I wanted to introduce myself before I do that, plus I don't only want to be here for that too. I'll get into the book projects down the line.
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I'm not sure when I'll be back home, I haven't been back since October 2000. With some of the things I'm doing now, I'd like to return later this year to meet with some people I've been wanting to meet for my books, unwind a bit, and "fill up the reserves".
I'll browse the boards again and get familiar with the format, topics, and the people.
A bit about me. I am originally from O'ahu, having lived in Ewa Beach and Nu'uanu, but I consider Pauoa my home. I went to Nu'uanu Elementary from 1975-1977, and Royal Elementary from 1977-1982. Went to Kawananakoa Intermediate from 1982-1984, before my mom moved us to the mainland, and it is Washington State where I still reside. My father had died in 1983, and my mom had felt it was time to move on to a new place. Yet even with that time away, I long to be back home, and those week-long vacations aren't enough.
I've always been a music nut, and I've always loved writing. I've combined the two and have been a music journalist for 21 years, becoming one of the original contributing editors to the "All Music Guide" in 1992, and getting Sunday Manoa into the book. I had been in a radio/TV production class in high school and was able to use that TV information to become a news producer for a local ABC affiliate, a position which I held for four years.
As a writer, I've been published in over 70 different publications, many of them small fanzines but I've made my way into a few major music magazines, including "Goldmine", "The Rocket", and "Discoveries". I've made a small presence on the internet with some of the websites and mailing lists I've done, including a section I had on my site called "Hawaiian Music Corner".
As a music artist, I create hip-hop/electronic music under the name Crut and have done so for 14 years. I'm currently working with a small label in Chicago towards an EP to be released later in the year, with an album to follow. Those who know me would prefer that I sing Hawaiian falsetto, and perhaps if I ever get the guts to move away from the computers and turntables, I will. I'm a fan of tangled wires, so for now I'll remain within.
Whether it's my music or my writing, I've always represented Hawai'i in everything I do, trying to shed light on my experiences back home when it has often felt like, outside of family, I'm the only one who knows what I'm talking about. At times it has always become a means of being political, to say "I'm Hawaiian and I'm proud", when there are those on the mainland who still ask how long it takes to drive to and from Hawai'i. They may know of the stereotypes, but not the truth and realities of what I grew up with. In terms of politics, I was the one responsible for letting people in Hawai'i know about the writer here in the Tri-Cities who, after 9/11, called Hawaiians unpatriotic and people who did nothing but climb trees and play 'ukulele all day.
Outside of that, I'm a fairly humble guy, kinda momona, single (and still looking), and always trying to discover new things.
As for family, I still have much ohana back home on my mom's and dad's side.
I am Hawaiian/Chinese/Portuguese/Filipino/German/Austrian, and had I stayed there for high school, I would've been a Roosevelt High grad.
I came here to talk about some of the book projects that I'm currently doing, which involve Hawai'i and Hawaiian things. I wanted to introduce myself before I do that, plus I don't only want to be here for that too. I'll get into the book projects down the line.
===
I'm not sure when I'll be back home, I haven't been back since October 2000. With some of the things I'm doing now, I'd like to return later this year to meet with some people I've been wanting to meet for my books, unwind a bit, and "fill up the reserves".
I'll browse the boards again and get familiar with the format, topics, and the people.
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