Hawaii Island Writers Association

Left to right: Sharon Olson (Past-Secretary), Cindy Wicks (Director), Valerie Green (President), Linda Lanterman (Director)

HIWA seeks to nurture the development and growth of all writers by encouraging and supporting writers in any genre and at any level of their craft, facilitating their networking with other writers and publishers, and providing other opportunities for enrichment and growth. HIWA also seeks to provide significant social and economic benefits to our community through resolving and healing social problems, restoring the excitement of learning in Hawai’i Island to students and instilling the effectiveness of critical thinking.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a published author or still learning the ropes. HIWA can connect you with others who share the same interests and experiences at our workshops, conferences and readings.

Ms. Susanna Nordlund and Mr. Melvin G. Mason, Jr. are new board members for HIWA.  Both will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to kokua an organization like HIWA.  Ms. Nordlund has volunteered to serve as the secretary for the coming year.

HIWA General Membership Meeting for 2010 will be held on June 5th, 2010 at the Parker School in Waimea from 10am to noon.  A workshop will be held immediately after the membership meeting by Ms. Kim Tait.  There will be a $20 fee for this workshop, that will focus on getting your work published.

The slate of officers for HIWA year 2010-2011 are:

President:  Valerie Green

Vice President:  Don Green

Secretary:  Susanna Nordlund

Treasurer:  Alan Okinaka

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Workshop by Kim Tait:

This week’s workshop will be an hour and a half session on where to start on publishing your writing.  We will begin with an open forum Q & A about writing, publishing and getting an agent for screen/stage/print.  We will share print and Internet resources for all of these things, and we will spend some time devising cover letters/queries, so that by the time we leave, everyone will have a draft of their first point of contact in their publishing endeavor!

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Ms. Phyllida Alcantar was elected to the Hawai’i Island Writers Association Board at the January 31st, 2010 board of director’s meeting.  Ms. Alcantar is a writer and she resides in Kailua-Kona.  Welcome Phyllida.

Writing Workshop on February 20, 2010 (Saturday), 8am – 12 Noon, W. Hawaii Community College in Kealakekua, Bldg 2, Room A-1.  Cost: $30.00 for members, $35.00 for non-members.

Kim Cope Tait, a widely published poet and essayist, will hold a HIWA writing workshop.  With Kim’s guidance, the group will explore what Wallace Stevens called our ‘dreaming place,’ engage in a variety of generative exercises, consider and discuss topics around philosophy and craft, and share and respond to work in a constructive way.  Please bring lots of lined paper or a journal and your trusty pen.  Also bring a photograph you took or one that you are in.  And, if you like, bring a published poem or short fiction excerpt (up to 3 paragraphs) by your favorite writer.

Note:  Space limited to 20 participants.  Please send reservation requests to writershawaii@yahoo.com.  Mahalo.

On the last Sunday of August and September 2009, HIWA hosted Writers in the Park at the Old Airport pavilion.  Although the turn out for these events was modest, the enthusiasm and interest expressed by the attendees was very encouraging.  It was very obvious that the Big Island environment encourages many people to express themselves using the written word.

We would like to hear from everyone whether this kind of venue to encourage and support writing should be continued and sponsored by HIWA.

HIWA is planning to hold several writing workshops and seminars in 2010 with accomplished Big Island writers.  Past workshops have been very successful and members have expressed a need to continue with this program.  Details will be announced in the near future through emails and this website.