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To order volumes of Pacific Voices Talk Story
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More about Pacific Voices Talk Story
Read a sample from the book. |
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While tourists head to the Islands for vacation, thousands of Islanders head for the mainland every year to stay. But despite this large and growing population of Polynesian, Micronesian, and Melanesian transplants in the contiguous US, little is known about how we’re doing and what we’re doing here. From generations in quiet villages to our multitasking realities today, Pacific Voices Talk Story: Conversations of American Experience asks the question, “What’s going on?”
Worlds away from our roots and a majority of faces that look like our own, we’ve had to adapt to new currents of being upsetting every aspect of who we once were. Sadly, there’s no time to wonder about what’s pulling and pushing us along this American wave. Work, kids in school, classes for ourselves, food on the table, roof over our heads, etc. etc. We call these immediacies “taking care of business” because everyday survival here is a matter of money. It’s quite stressful. And the taro patch has been traded in for the nicotine patch.
Once admired for our vigor and physiques, obesity and diabetes afflict Islanders widely, young and old. Once thriving in communal interdependence, many of our relatives have become habituated to public assistance, demanding entitlements as a way of life. Once honoring our ancestors’ knowledge through the vigilance of talk story, we now barely know how to speak to each other. Once liberal with relationships and love, sin is in, and everything is sin.
As an Islander speaking only in English, it’s embarrassing and isolating being among our bilingual communities who know they’re better than me by default. It’s a good joke. And Islanders love to laugh their bellies full of mocking arrogance. I’m used to it. I consider it part of the culture I’m trying to outrun.
Coming to the mainland, we’ve gone through changes, good and bad. What are they? Is paradise here or “back there”? What does the future hold? Who will we be? Who am I? Who are you?
Our stories of transition and transformation have yet to be told … by us. Can we talk? You bet … We talk more than we read. Apparently, Pacific Americans are under-represented as coeds, teachers, professors, researchers, professionals. Why? We talk more than we read.
Pacific Voices Talk Story invites Pacific Americans to record their hearts and minds to be turned into pages not only Pacific Americans want to read, but our neighbors up the street. We’ve much to learn about ourselves, other Islanders here, and the diversity of America. If we’re not talking to each other now, reading Pacific Voices Talk Story will tell you that tribalism and village mentalities followed us to the mainland.
What do you think about that? Read and join the dialogue of Pacific Americans claiming new identities and finding a place in the mainland that trumps their nostalgic past.
To order volumes of Pacific Voices Talk Story and pay by check or money order, please use the order form provided. To pay by credit card, click on the “GO” button at the left column.
Your purchase from Tui Communications is the funding source for the Pacific Voices Talk Story book series. Thank you!
margo king lenson, owner/publisher
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PHOTOS (left–right by row): margo, “nature child” of Northern California redwoods (Malcolm Lenson); early Samoan virgins (antique postcard); Apia, Samoa marketplace; Oceanic Arts, Whittier, CA; moon over Poloa, Am. Samoa (N.F. King); New York sun; Kauai coast; Big Island-Hawaii; Hearn Museum, Phoenix, AZ; Kauai path; Puna Kitty & Tuicom bamboo in Vacaville, CA; moai in Salmon Creek, CA; Aloha Expo, Santa Fe Springs, CA; Pacific Islander Festival, San Diego, CA; Akaka Falls, Hawaii; Big Island-Hawaii; luau Fairfield, CA; Malcolm as camper; Salesi Vakalahi’s pool in Tracy, CA; tree canopy, Big Island; Angel Island, Bay Area, CA with Malcolm as pilot; Ann King Sossamon’s ashes off Catalina Island; Pomona, CA street; Poloa, Am. Samoa sunset. (Photos by mkl unless noted.)
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