Happy Asian PACIFIC ISLANDER month!
By Nova Teriiteanau Ross
Happy May everyone! For those of you who might not know, May is Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage month and here at Hinton, we’re working to highlight Pacific Islanders in literature. But first, a little introduction!
My name is Nova, and I’m an intern here at Hinton Publishing. At the start of my internship here, I was asked to come up with some sort of project that I was passionate about and could use to create an impact in our community. When brainstorming ideas for my project and running through the list of various things I care about, I decided that I wanted to do something in connection with my Polynesian heritage. As someone who has spent most of her life living on the mainland of the US, I’ve recognized the lack of Pacific Islander presence and recognition in mainstream media and culture. While there are certainly vibrant communities throughout the US, it seems more often than not that we aren’t being highlighted, even during AAPI month.
When it comes to literature, this gap becomes even more apparent. During AAPI month in previous years, I’ve started to notice that when people have set out displays to celebrate, there hasn’t been much PI inclusion. For example, last year, I saw a display at the public library in my hometown with 20 books, and only 2 out of the 20 were written by an author of Pacific Islander heritage. Additionally, both books were written by the same author. As I applaud those that have made the steps to create an impact in the world of literature, there are many questions that come up when examining PI authors, or lack thereof. Can this lack be attributed to colonization and the impact it had on cultural expression? Perhaps, people truly just aren’t interested in writing? Additionally, for those who wish to write but haven’t found outlets, how can we help get them into a comfortable setting to be able to get their work out into the world?
I wanted my project to focus specifically on authors who might want to get their works out there, but haven’t had the resources to do so. You can keep watch for further details on Hinton’s website and social media accounts, as plans are still in the works. I can say that we are looking for a few authors of Pacific Islander descent to share previously unpublished works in a sort of open mic setting. If you’re interested at all or know people who might be, contact us today!
Pacific Islander culture is vibrant and beautiful, and our history has helped us become who we are today, and to be able to hear those voices in literature seems incredibly important to me. Whether it’s novels, historical writing, poetry, or an autobiography, any sort of literature is deserving of attention and this is why I felt that we should really focus on giving those who want the opportunity a chance to do so. In case you’re interested in previously existing works by Pacific Islander authors, here are a few recommendations:
Frangipani by Célestine Hitiura Vaite (First book in the series)
Breadfruit by Célestine Hitiura Vaite (Second book in the series)
Tiare in Bloom by Célestine Hitiura Vaite (Third book in the series)
If you love literature and are looking for a good way to celebrate May and the beautiful heritage of the Pacific, then I urge you to check one of these books out. Also, don’t forget, May isn’t the only month for Pacific Islander appreciation, these books are good year round. Following that note, stay tuned and subscribe to our newsletter for updates on upcoming events, I can’t wait to share this experience with you all!