Author Archives: hipacificreview

hipacificreview's avatar

About hipacificreview

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

The Blinding of Emmy Lou Ketchum

by Mark Conkling

There are many paths to a full-blown narcissistic personality. Jeff’s journey was unique because it began at such an early age, on his second birthday. His morning featured a steady stream of poopy diapers, the sour smell of milk, and yet another bowl of lumpy oatmeal. In the late afternoon, Jeff’s one-month-old wailing sister was the only guest for his celebration. Mom tried to make the party nice, but after burying his hands in the cake, Jeff smeared pink frosting on his face and ears, licked his lips and hands, climbed down from the high chair, and tottered into his bedroom, clearly disinterested, aloof. Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Fiction

Albatross

by Joseph Stanton

Higher rhythms are for them an easy joy.
Because they are so wide of wing
(a seven pound bird has a seven foot wingspan)

they glide, lovely at top of sky
or just above the waves,
seeking squid for eating. Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under Poetry

The Ugly Woman

by Leah Jane Esau

They said there were faces so ugly that “only a mother could love.” But there were faces even uglier than that apparently. For when the nurse put the baby in Bria’s arms, she frowned.

“This isn’t my baby.”

“It is,” the nurse said.

“This can’t be my baby. Where is my baby?”

Bria’s husband, Michael, pulled the doctor aside. Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Fiction

Names of the Chumash

by Paul Willis

Just when you think the Indians
of the central coast of California
have disappeared out to sea,
their names keep washing up
on the beaches, dunes, and promontories:
Pismo, Nipomo, Jalama.
Hueneme, Mugu, Malibu.
The peaks stand up and word themselves: Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under Poetry

Purge

by Daniel Garcia

It is 10:00. You are in Dr. Caneen’s English 2500 class and it is, thus far, your least favorite class of your major. You will never understand why you were required to take this course, instead of the intro to your concentration, which is Creative Writing, not Literary fucking Analysis. Regardless, she is lecturing today, but only part of you is listening, because you have a chicken biscuit in front of you, you have dipped it in barbecue sauce and, Christ, does it look divine. Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Nonfiction