Hawaiʻi

Hauoli Makahiki Hou, everyone! I love the start of a shiny new year. We also celebrate Chinese New Year around here. Kung Hee Fat Choy! 

What better way to start a new year but with talented Native Hawaiian and Hawaiʻi based writers and creators!

Meet the wonderful Dru Santiago, Hawaiʻi based illustrator and the 2021 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Narrative Art award.

First of all, congrats, Dru! For those who haven’t met you, could you please tell us a little about yourself?

Hello! My name is Druscilla Santiago, and I draw pictures for kids and grown ups. I’m from Waipahu, but I live in town with my husband and our son, now. These days, I mostly work on illustrating kids books, but I also do private commissions and graphic design/illustration work for local businesses and non-profits.

Where did you grow up? What high school did you grad from? 

I love this question! I lived on the mainland for a while in my twenties, and every time I ran into someone from Oahu, we’d always be like, “What high school you grad?” Without fail. And I’m proud to say I graduated from Leilehua High School in Wahiawa. Go mules!

Indeed! My husband, Tim, is a proud Leilehua grad, too. Why did you become an illustrator? Did you always know you could create art?

I think I’ve always been an illustrator even though I didn’t know to call it that. I’ve loved to draw since I was a kid. My mom went to art school when I was very young, and I used to watch her draw and get into her expensive art supplies and draw my own little pictures alongside her. From there, my love of picture books, cartoons, and comics sort of lead me to this career.

That’s so cool. What do you enjoy most about illustrating? What are some of your greatest challenges?

Ooh. So, I kind of live in my head and drawing is the best way to express myself. You know? It’s like talking. So in a way, what I like specifically about illustrating is that I can tell a story without having to say words.  And I think the greatest challenge of being an illustrator is taking this love of drawing and making it a job. Because my mind wanders, and it’s important to stay on task. So maybe the real challenge is staying focused? Yeah, that’s it. 

What are your hopes and dreams for the year and beyond in terms of your artistic career and what you would like to see published in the future?

I’m just getting started, so my hope and dream is to keep going!

Do you have a website? Are you on  social media?

Yes, my website is adventurefun.club, and my instagram handle is @adventurefunclub. I’m on instagram more than I should be, and while I enjoy engaging on social media, the best way to contact me is via email. Don’t get lost in the DMs! 🙂 

What advice would you give an aspiring illustrator?

I would say, what I tell myself all the time, there is no “right” way to achieve your goals. Keep working at your craft, and you will get there. For real. And if any aspiring illustrator reading this is particularly interested in Picture Books? Join Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators! Seriously, click this link: https://www.scbwi.org/  Joining SCBWI and attending a national conference was incredibly helpful and enlightening for me. 

Can you share a bit of your current work?

I’d love to! I am currently working on a Hands-On Science series by Lola Schaefer. It’s my first picture book project, and I am loving it. The first book in the series, called MATTER, is set to be released this summer 2023. The other two books in the series will be about Geology and Motion. 

We love STEM picture books! Can you share a bit about what you’re working on next?

Not really next, but in addition to the Science series, I am working on a wonderful book called A HAT FOR A HOUSE by Audrey Perrott. I’m not sure how much I can say about it, but it’s exciting! 

It is! Mahalo, Dru! We’re looking forward to your upcoming books! To learn more about Dru Santiago and view a gallery of her sketches,  visit her website and blog, Adventure Club. 

As 2022 ends, I look back with aloha and gratitude to the many people who have made such a difference in my writing life.

Mahalo nunui to the wonderful writers and artists who shared their manaʻo here on my blog this past year — their hopes and accomplishments continue to inspire us.

To the many wonderful writing friends I’ve made, especially at Writing Barn’s CtC community, my aloha always. You are a source of encouragement and wisdom I know I can count on.

Thank you, Brandi Uyemura, for letting me bounce ideas off of you and for sharing your wonderful writing with me. 

Mahalo to my agent, James MacGowan, for believing in me. Team James all the way!

I look forward to sharing good news in the coming year about my debut picture book as well as a new website focusing on Native Hawaiian and Polynesian creators! Aloha from my ʻohana to yours! See you in 2023!

Our ongoing series of interviews with Native Hawaiian and local Hawaiʻi writers continues this week with Caren Loebel-Fried, the talented award-winning author/illustrator. 

Aloha, Caren. For those who haven’t met you, could you please tell us a little about yourself?

Aloha, Kamalani. I’m an artist and author from Volcano, on Hawai’i’s Big Island. My favorite things are exploring wild places, watching and learning about birds, making art and telling stories about these things.

Where did you grow up? 

I grew up on the New Jersey shore, going to the beach in the summer.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My husband encourages and cheers me on, and sometimes joins me on my research adventures. Many biologists, cultural practitioners, teachers, and librarians also support my work, and help me get the story right.

Why did you become a writer/illustrator?

My mom is an artist and still is my greatest inspiration. I was always drawn to making art. And my art has always told stories. When I had the opportunity to create books, I worked to be a better writer. Now I tell stories with words AND pictures.

What inspired you to write for children?

Picture books were a natural fit for me. But I have to admit, I create my books for all ages — keiki and the adults who read to them, and anyone who enjoys a compelling story. I’ve always loved reading books written for all ages, and I collect art-filled books that inspire me, no matter what age they are intended for. 

What do you enjoy most about creating for kids?

I love sharing with a curious audience, and most keiki are open and curious.

What are some of your greatest challenges?

My aim is to be a voice for wildlife. My greatest challenge is persuading people to care about and want to help native species. I try to do this in a fun way, by creating engaging stories and art that capture the spirit and personality of the individual animal (including human!), plant, the natural elements and environmental features that are my subjects… I aim to make art that is colorful, engaging, alive. I am also interested in culture and how we humans live in our world, interact with our environment, and our connection to place. Many of us have lost a feeling of connection to the natural world. I try to awaken or reawaken that connection.

What are your hopes and dreams for the year and beyond in terms of your writing/artistic career?

This year, I’ll be working on my next book with University of Hawai’i Press. This story is about Makani, a young Hawaiian girl named after the wind that seabirds depend on. Makani adores ʻuaʻu, the Hawaiian petrels that her biologist mom works with. Seabirds are so cool! But their lives are completely hidden from us. They live over the ocean and only come to land to breed, flying in the dark of night, and nesting in burrows underground. I’ll be telling their amazing story through the experience of Makani. I hope this book inspires readers, especially girls, to explore science, art, and storytelling. There are many ways to help wildlife! We can all find our own way to help preserve wildlife and wild places.

Do you have a website? 

I do: https://www.carenloebelfried.com/. And I have a YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNgbp1m6lsf6d4w89oV6ung. 

What advice would you give an aspiring writer/illustrator?

Keep creating! Discover the things that are important to you and tell about them in your work!

Which characters do you relate with easily? Why?

My last book, Manu, The Boy Who Loved Birds, is about a young boy named after an extinct Hawaiian forest bird. I relate to Manu desperately wanting to know the meaning of his name, and leaving no stone unturned in his journey of discovery… and also his difficulty in believing that extinction is forever. I also relate to Manu’s parents, who won’t just give Manu answers, but instead give him the opportunities to make discoveries himself. I tried to do this with my own son when he was growing up, and now I do it with my readers and my books!

Thatʻs a beautiful book. What beliefs are your books challenging?

It’s hard to hear, learn, believe that things we do may be unintentionally hurting wildlife. I try to present the facts, for people to know for themselves. But I also present ways that people can help. I try to write hopeful, inspiring stories and give people the tools to be an active part of the solution.

Where do you get your ideas and inspirations?

I see something cool out in nature almost everywhere and think, Wow- THAT would make a great storybook!

Mahalo, Caren, for allowing me to interview you and for sharing your manaʻo! To learn more about Caren, and to see a gallery of art pieces and to contact Caren Loebel-Fried, please visit Carenʻs website.

Our ongoing series on Native Hawaiian and local Hawaiʻi writers continues this week with Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp, the talented Native Hawaiian writer and blogger. If you’re a regular reader of Ka Wai Ola O OHA, then you’ve no doubt read Adam’s wonderfully interesting, well-researched articles about the history and culture of our people.

I’m a huge fan of your writing, Adam. But for those who haven’t met you, could you please tell us a little about yourself?

The homelands of my ancestors are Hawai’i and the Philippines. My grandmother grew up in Honokaʻa while my mother and I grew up in Kewalo within Papakōlea Hawaiian Homestead. My ʻiewe and piko are literally buried at Papakōlea. I also spent a chunk of my life in the Philippines. As far as my research background is mostly in history and anthropology.

Where did you grow up? What high school did you grad from?

I grew up within Papakōlea and am a product of Hawaiʻi’s public school system. I graduated from Roosevelt High School.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My husband. He’s been with me from the very beginning when I was getting my master’s in counseling psychology and veered off course to be a freelance writer. The latter and marrying him were the best decisions I made (besides having kids)!

That’s awesome. Why did you become a writer? What inspired you to write for children?

In general, my ancestors. But my mother always encouraged me to write.

Why did you become a writer? What inspires you to write y0our posts and articles? 

I have always liked to write. The first time that a piece of mine was published was in the ʻŌʻiwi Literary Journal, and I was graduating high school. The late Māhealani Dudoit had discovered me through a long email chain where I was talking about the importance of King Kalākaua’s world tour of 1881. I was very self-conscious because ofbeing māhū, neurodiverse, and having English as my second language—Hawaiian was my first. Māhealani said she loved how unique my voice was and encouraged me to keep writing.  It took me a long time to realize that what I told in school were my weaknesses are actually my strengths.

Then some eight years ago, I began writing posts on social media and recently my other pieces and some of my research have appeared in Civil Beat, Ka Wai Ola o OHA, NatGeo, etc.

What do you enjoy most about writing? What are some of your greatest challenges in writing your articles and posts?

When I write posts, I think of them as love letters to my ancestors and to my culture. I do not have a social media calendar or plan things out. I write because something inspires me to and I found a particular topic interesting. I also write in honor of my grandmother and mother who used to constantly fill my thoughts with stories of their times and the times of the ancestors. I know many Kānaka Maoli who read my posts may not have their kūpuna around or have been scattered throughout Turtle Island, and so I would hope some of my posts may be a small light to remind them of where they came from.

Social media can bring so much positive attention to indigenous peoples but social media can also be challenging. Some folx are on social media platforms simply for clout or to attack people behind a wall of anonymity. I try not to focus on those people but to focus on the folx out there who are searching for manaʻo and want to engage in aloha.

I always learn something new from your posts. What are your hopes and dreams for the year and beyond in terms of your writing career and what you would like to see published in the future?

I have a couple of articles coming out this year including pieces on Kaomi. The pandemic sort of made me rethink my career and what I want to write about. I would want to write more local Filipino and queer histories as well as more on Hawaiian struggles from a historical point of view. I would like to also write more fictional short stories.

I always ask the following of the writers I interview: There are not a lot of stories for local kids by local writers. Why do you think that is? What do you think we can do to change that?

I think in general there aren’t a lot of works for children by BIPOC writers in general. A lot I believe is the lack of access to publishers as well as economic factors. There are a lot of creative Kānaka Maoli out there that I know of but due to the cost of living and other expenses, some see being creative as a side hassle as they feel that being creative cannot sustain them financially. I myself would not know how to get started in that field.

Do you have a website? Are you on social media? Do social media play a role for you as an author? Do your readers contact you? What do they say?

My linktree is linktr.ee/adamkeawe That features links to some of my work and my blog. I got on Facebook about eight years ago, and on there I am admin for the Hawaiian History and Culture group, which has 34,000+ members. Instagram I got on right before the pandemic and that is where I am more active. I also have Twitter but am not too active on there. All of my handles for my social media accounts are: adamkeawe.

In general readers are supportive and engage in discussions.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

If your naʻau keeps pushing you to tell a story, youʻre a writer. Never be discouraged nor base your self-worth and your writing on how many likes of followers you have. In the end, you will connect with who you need to connect with.

Can you share a bit of your current work?

I have two pieces coming out soon. One is about Kaomi and another is about my motherʻs best friend who was a transwoman in the 1970s.

What beliefs are your stories challenging?

Patriarchy, settler colonialism, homophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism.

Where do you get your inspirations?

I draw a lot of my inspiration from my ancestors and talking to other Kānaka Maoli. But I also read other writers from various genres including Joy Harjo, Ninotsche Rosca, Noam Chomsky, Langston Hughes, Audre Lorde, Stephen King, and so many others. Science fiction such as The Expanse, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Babylon 5 inspires me as well.

Your articles and posts demonstrate a lot of research. Whatʻs your research process like? How long is your research for a typical article?

Normally I have at least three sources per article. In social media posts, minimum two.  Before I begin a major writing assignment, I chant “E hōmai…” and ask to be guided. I do the same privately before entering a library or archives. I am mindful that research is ceremony and methodology is ritual, and I try to bring that into whatever I am working on.

Have you ever considered writing a longer work, like a book or screenplay?

Yes. I would rather collaborate though because of the time that it takes.

Can you share a bit about what you are working on next?

I am collaborating with Kumu Lua Michelle Manu on a book about women warriors.

Women warriors? I look forward to that. Adam, mahalo nui for sharing your manaʻo! To learn more about Adam Keawe, visit his LinkTree.