Fall 2002
The next issue of Maka' Ikiu will be published whenevah
Mark's website http://www.marktroy.net
metroy@tamu.edu
The Maka' Ikiu Authors:
Victoria Heckman
Baron Birtcher
WHAT'S NEW
Pilikia Is My Business was nominated for a Shamus Award 2002 for Best First Private Eye Novel by the Private Eye Writers of America.
"Teed Off" was named one of the 50 best mystery stories of 2001 by Otto Penzler and James Ellroy, editors of Best American Mystery Stories of 2001.
Catch Mark on
January 10, 2003
Windhover-New Texas Writers' Festival
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Belton, TX
Short Stories by Mark
"Wahine O Ka Hoe" Murderous Intent Mystery Magazine, Spring 1998.
"Drop Dead Zone" Mystery Buff Magazine, April 1998.
"Kill Leader" Plots With Guns, Winter 1999/2000
"The Montressor Hit" Murderous Intent Mystery Magazine. Fall 1999
"Home Wreckers" Nefarious -- Tales of Mystery, December 1999
"The Big Dance With Death" Futures, June/July 2001
"Teed Off" in Fedora: Private Eyes and Tough Guys, Wildside Press, 2001
Fiction by Mark Troy
PILIKIA IS MY BUSINESS, LTDBooks, 2001. Trade paperback, $14.99, ebook $6.00.
Kalaupapa Settlement, one of the settings in PILIKIA.
The Kalaupapa Settlement. occupies a flatiron-shaped peninsula on the Island of Molokai at the base of the world's highest sea cliffs. A place of unsurpassed beauty, it is, historically, a place of relentless misery and testament to man's ignorance.
In the mid 1800's Hansen's disease, more commonly known as leprosy, was introduced into Hawaii from China. Because the disease had no known cure and because it spread so rapidly through the population, the only solution was to contain it through quarantine. Kalaupapa was chosen because of its isolation. It had no amenities, no buildings, no shelter, no potable water. The leprosy victims, arrived by ship and had to jump overboard to swim through the rough surf to land. The crew then threw the supplies and belongings overboard, relying on the currents to carry them ashore. When victims arrived, they were greeted with the words, "In this place, there is no law."
With the development of sulfone drugs in the 1940s, the disease was put in remission and the patients are no longer contagious. Since that time, they have been free to come and go, but many chose to remain to live out their lives. The peninsula is now a national park which tourists may visit. Children under 16 are not allowed.
Victoria Heckman is a writer, actor, director, and teacher with over 30 short stories and articles published. Her first mystery novel, K.O.'d in Honolulu, came out in 2001. K.O.'d in the Volcano, the second in the series, is out now. She is also working on Pearl Harbor Blues, a stand alone mystery.
Baron R. Birtcher lives in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. His novels are Roadhouse Blues and Goodbye Ruby Tuesday.
This Month's Hawaiian Word
wawahi hale--burglary from wawahi-tear down,
break into, demolish and hale, house.
aihue--steal, rob
aihue kanaka--kidnap
kanaka--person
To learn more Hawaiian, visit the Hawaiian Language Website
Da Kine Talk Hawaiian Pidgin English
http://www.e-hawaii.com/ fun/pidgin/default.asp
bumbai
(bum bye)
Definition: otherwise; or else
Used In A Sentence: You better shut up bum bai yo foddah gets
home and scolz you.
In English?: You better behave before I tell your father when he gets home.
chicken skin
(cheekin skeen)
Definition: goose bumps, especially when afraid or frightened
Used In A Sentence: Ho, I wen get all chicken skin when she
told us da story.
In English?: My my, that tale sure was frightening. I got goose bumps all over my arms.
Maka' Ikiu from the past:
Each issue will review a vintage mystery set in Hawaii or discuss a detective from the past
Book Review
Too Hot For Hawaii, by Thomas B. Dewey, Popular Library Eagle Books, 1960, 159 pages.
Pete Schofield is a private eye from California who arrives in Honolulu right before Hawaii joins the Union. When we first meet him he is tailing a gorgeous redhead down Kalakaua Avenue past the Moana and the Surfrider. The redhead is wearing a brief swimsuit, sunglasses and, would you believe--high heel pumps? For two full pages we get a leering account of every jiggle she makes. But then the surprise--the woman is Schofield's wife.
Schofield is one of the goofball detectives that were popular in the fifties and sixties. He's not very bright. It's not even clear if he's good with a gun. Despite his shortcomings, he manages to make himself attractive to the ladies, which only compounds his problems. The saucy missus Schofield is neither understanding nor forgiving when his attentions are directed elsewhere.
Diversion number one is a Chinese man who collapses in Schofield's hotel room and dies with a knife in his stomach. Diversion number two is the man's widow, a leggy, full-breasted Chinese dancer with a shady past.. Schofield could easily solve his marital problems by being more communicative with his wife. He isn't, however, and that leads to frustration all around.
The reader gets the six-night, seven-day tour in this story--Waikiki, Diamond Head, Chinatown and the Pali Lookout. Schofield's guide, and the reader's, is a wise-cracking, pidgin-speaking cab driver named Yoshi. Along the way we meet sinister Chinese villains, some suspicious Hawaiian cops, a tough-guy from Texas and, of course, two beautiful women. There is danger galore, but the real suspense is in wondering if Schofield and his wife will ever get together in the same bed.
Too Hot for Hawaii is fun, light-hearted fare. It is a trip back in time when Hawaii was still a territory and sex was only hinted at in mysteries. The cover, no doubt, got many an adolescent boy in trouble when Mom found it under the mattress; but those were simpler times before American readers lost their innocence.
Dewey is a fine writer who knows how to entertain. This is one to read at the beach with a Mai Tai.
Contest:
Did you know there are lyrics to the Hawaii Five-O theme? The first person to email the correct ones to me will receive a free ebook of Pilikia Is My Business.
Send it to metroy@tamu.edu. Include your mailing address.
http://www.mele.com/
Hawaiian slack key guitar (ki ho'alu) is truly one of the great acoustic guitar traditions in the world.
The most influential slack key guitarist in history was Gabby Pahinui [1921-1980].
http://www.mixed- plate.com/
Val Lyon's Waikiki.
Okay, so Waikiki's a tourist destination full of sunburnt people who can't even pronounce the name correctly. It is also a great beach, great surf, great shopping, great dining, and great entertainment. People live there for the excitement.
Click here to see why Val likes it there:
You know you're Hawaiian if:
1. You know what is lei day.
2. You know what "stink eye" is, and how to give it.
3. You can correctly pronouce Kalanianaole, Kalakaua and Aiea.
4. You know what "huli huli chicken" is
5. You eat mango with shoyu, vinegar, and pepper.
If strength was all, the lion would not fear the scorpion.
-- Charlie Chan