Author Archives: hipacificreview

About hipacificreview

Hawaii Pacific Review is an online literary journal based at Hawaii Pacific University.

After Leaving

by Shannon McLeod

There’s a surrender and ease in being told what to do. It was something I never would have anticipated missing after leaving him.

Once I’ve settled in at the Best Western, I think of calling my sister, Astrid. I’d hate to disturb her, though. She’s recently given birth to twins. I don’t want to burden her. I’ll wait to talk until she asks me for help, I think. She may want a babysitter soon.

I decide I’ll take myself out for dinner. It’s been so many months since I’ve been out to a restaurant. Date nights dwindled after the early stage of our relationship. I suspect he didn’t feel proud of me anymore, didn’t feel I was worth showing off or spending money on. Continue reading

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Filed under Fiction

Stone

by Jackie K. White

Facing it, you debate being told how light
the unbreathing body is,

when her blood, how heavy, her bone, are
gone now to stone.

On one side: her name, dates, a hopeful
verse. On the blank side: Continue reading

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Filed under Poetry

Short Voicemail on the End of the Season

by Ellery Beck

I am sick of walking on the sidewalk with cicadas as they sing their last songs. I’m back on the way to class, late—was sitting with a raven, she seemed like she couldn’t fly. How could you expect me not to stay? The big leaves, the ones that swallow my hands when I hold them, are starting to fall. Continue reading

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Filed under Nonfiction

People Watching Along Kalākaua Avenue

by Normie Salvador

Dropped off by my dad, I walk Kalākaua
Avenue, the liminal line keeping beach
from park. I am conspicuous in Waikīkī
Aquarium yellow shirt, slacks, and Skechers. Continue reading

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Filed under Poetry

‘Da Pidgin Inferno: Canto 22

by Jeffrey J. Higa

TL;DR: Dante ’dem and the demons go holoholo but still in same place where get the tar in the round ditch. They see some more sinners that stay there. Then one, more akamai than the others, try for escape from the Demons. Later, the demons stay beefing.

 

When small kid time, down by Kailua side,

Get one Fourth of July parade, and always get Marines there,

Marching in their dress blues.

And Kam Day parade, down by Iolani Palace,

Get the marching band kine marines and army and navy. Continue reading

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Filed under Poetry