Asian American Pacific Islander Month: 5 Books to Broaden Your Horizons

Because we often support local writers and diverse stories from near and far, it feels like every month is AAPI Month at da Shop. In honor of May’s designation as the month to celebrate the rich heritage and voices of Asian American and Pacific Islanders, we recommend these literary gems that are off the written path. They offer intriguing, even surprising perspectives. Both historical and personal, these AAPI books showcase the vast array of experiences that can be found within our ethnic communities.

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Midnight in Broad Daylight

by Pamela Rotner Sakamoto

What happens when a family has members on both sides of the world and opposing sides of a war? Meticulously researched and beautifully written, this account of a Japanese American family’s experiences in World War II will open many readers’ eyes to the complexity of such an aftermath. While WWII has been well-documented to date, especially surrounding Japan-U.S. relations post-Pearl Harbor and the infamous atomic bombings, Sakamoto’s compilation offers rare insight into how one family was affected because of their bi-cultural experiences.

As a historian and educator, Sakamoto presents a holistic perspective on both a global and human scale, exposing the nuanced, dichotomous layers of issues, including racism, patriotism, allies and enemies—and for this family of three brothers—national identity and personal choices. This riveting piece of nonfiction almost reads like a novel and makes history come alive with its lyrical language and deep analysis of the personal impacts of countries at war.

—Lani Lee, book curator

MEET THE AUTHOR: Pamela Rotner Sakamoto will be joined by fellow writer Claire Chao, author of Remembering Shanghai, at da Shop on Saturday, May 13, at 2 p.m., where they’ll discuss Rotner Sakamoto’s newest book and other topics.

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Char Siu

by Scott Kikkawa

Honolulu Police Department homicide detective Frankie “The Sheik” Yoshikawa is finally back, noir to the core and attracting all the trouble in the world. Char Siu drops you right into a seedy part of 1950s Chinatown—you’ll hear it, smell it, taste it—and it’s thrilling to tail the detective along familiar Honolulu streets wondering which dark alleyways you’ve hurried past and which buildings still exist and what’s in them now.

Those readers new to this series can easily jump in with Char Siu, but I guarantee you’ll want to read the author’s other titles, Kona Winds and Red Dirt. Kikkawa does a ton of research, especially on Japanese Americans in postwar Hawai‘i, and his writing makes you feel like you were there. You’ll pick up some history without even realizing it.

—Mariko Merritt, bookseller

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Chiburu: Anthology of Hawai‘i Okinawan Literature

edited by Lee A. Tonouchi

This collection feels big-hearted and welcoming to me, and I marvel at the diversity of the contributors (their superhero bios are great fun). Through this exploration of what it means to be Okinawan and what it means to be local, I feel a connection despite not having any Okinawan heritage. I am a huge fan of editor Tonouchi’s expanded definition of “literature” and all the different forms of storytelling that he chooses to include: chants, illustrations and interviews alongside short stories and poems. I recommend reading absolutely EVERYTHING in this anthology. Don’t skip the play, “A Cage of Fireflies.” It may seem long and uneventful, but I promise you, it’s so worth it.

—Mariko Merritt, bookseller

SEE ALSO: 5 Must-Read Local Books to Dive Into

Photo: Courtesy of da Shop: Books + Curiosities

Vā: Stories by Women of the Moana

edited by Sisilia Etefuti and Lani Young

This collection is fluid, dynamic and life-giving. It showcases the immensely diverse passion and talent that thrives in our moana. A testament to the multifaceted identity of Pacific women, Vā is an overflow of stunning prose, touching poetry and lyrical fiction. One of my favorite pieces in this collection is “A-wake-(e)nd” by Audrey Brown-Pereira. I am continuously in awe of these stories and pieces and encouraged by the ways famalåo’an tasi (women belonging to the sea) are honoring genealogy, sanctifying stories and moving into spaces of creation for our communities. Biba famalåo’an!

—Alyssa Chau, bookseller

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Sweat and Salt Water

by Teresia Teaiwa

“We sweat and cry salt water, so we know that the ocean is truly in our blood.” -Teresia Teaiwa

The legacy of Teresia Teaiwa is evident in our classrooms, our poems and views on Pacific realness. Her contributions to Pacific Studies continue to shape a generation of students who recognize the salt in their bodies. This collection approaches militarism, indigeneity, Pacific studies and gender from a decolonial lens that prompts us to consider the ways in which we move against Indigenous erasure. For myself, Teresia’s work serves as a loving reminder that I must honor the salt in my body, embrace the dynamics of Pacific identity and press forward to dismantle colonial spaces.

—Alyssa Chau, bookseller

Da Shop: Books + Curiosities, 3565 Harding Ave., open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (808) 421-9460, dashophnl.com, @dashophnl