Something that stands out to us is that there are always ancestors. We have learned so much from our kumu and friends about what it means to be a writer, to be a teacher, to be a part of a writing community. When we first discussed creating an online journal, we thought of bringing together established writers and up-and-coming writers in Hawaiʻi, and from there it grew into these wonderful pairings - kumu, haumana, friends, colleagues, and more. The submissions that we’ve received are gifts, and we’ve been blown away by the writing and the way that the writers have supported each other. 

In the process of creating this journal, our community suffered the loss of Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard. The tragedy is inconceivable and we share in grief. She was a beloved writer, poet, teacher, and friend. Sina mentored and supported students generously and tenderly across the many years of her service at UH Mānoa. We would like to honor her by dedicating this project to her memory.