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About hipacificreview

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

Sunny’s Last Game

by Ruvanee Pietersz Vilhauer

On the day of the last game, Sunny climbed into the car with a black eye. The discoloration was barely noticeable on his skin, which was only a couple of shades lighter than mine, but I could not miss the bruise because of the puffiness of his right eyelid.

I pretended nonchalance, although there was a compressed sensation in my chest. Sunny tried to heave his backpack onto the back seat, panting, his breath smelling of orange soda. It took seven attempts because the pack was heavy and almost as big as his torso, and because he had to contend with his coordination skills. I gripped the steering wheel to curb my urge to help. Continue reading

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The Creaking Gate

by Jim Daniels

Across the alley from my grandfather
lived the Callahan’s, who lost Joe Jr.
in WWII. Early on Sundays, Mrs. C
opened the gate and slipped through
his yard, a shortcut to St. Rose.
Rusty squeak, then the soft clock of her heels
against cement, toward God. Continue reading

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Filed under Poetry

furcula

by Teresa Mei Chuc

these tiny bones
sternum
clavicle
coracoid
scapula Continue reading

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I Wonder If

by Teresa Mei Chuc

I wonder if
my grandma
turns the color
of cherry blossoms
when she blushes
and how the wide
sleeves of her kimono
are wings. Continue reading

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Filed under Poetry

Curves

by Mitzi McMahon

I watch my friend from the doorway and think this was a mistake. I should be at home working on my marriage or at the dry cleaners or at the grocery store, anywhere but here. But Claire called, crying. Said she didn’t want to be alone while her ex-fiancé is tying the knot. I didn’t think it was a good idea for me to come, not now with my own shit so messed up, but I couldn’t say no.

Claire stands in front of the full-length mirror, a shot of whiskey in her hand. I take in the rumpled bed covers, the discarded t-shirts and argyle vests and jeans heaped on a chair, the costume jewelry scattered along the dresser top, and sigh. Continue reading

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Filed under Fiction