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Home > Past Events

Past Events 2013

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  Author Event with Keahi Felix
  A Quiet Woman
  April 20th

  On April 20th we welcomed local author event Keahi Felix to sign and read from her new book, A Quiet Woman. This collection of poems speaks to the legacy of Keahi's life following the theme in the title. Most of the poems were written along life's way. New ones were added while creating this book make the work forever young. A Quiet Woman continues the trend of giving voice to women started in the author's 2010 Wahine Noa: for the life of my country.

  Keahi was greeted at Basically Books by a supportive and attentive group of listeners. She read several poems from A Quiet Woman, and answered questions about her work. Keahi's first major publication, Wahine Noa, was an unpredictable, multi–genre work, which the author uncomplainingly attributes to some kind of genie in her make–up that prompts her to find various ways to walk a straight line. Her latest work, A Quiet Woman, further showcases her talents and unique mind.

  Mahalo to Keahi, and to everyone who attended this event!

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  Author Event with Stewart Blackburn
  The Skills of Pleasure
  March 23rd

  On March 23rd we hosted a great event with local author Stewart Blackburn! Stewart stopped by Basically Books to sign and discuss his book, The Skills of Pleasure. We all want more pleasure in our lives. But there's more to pleasure and enjoying life than just pursuing happiness. There are things to learn and skills to master if we are going to get really good at feeling great. The Skills of Pleasure is your ticket into the deeper mysteries of this common experience. Here you will learn seven important skills for getting more pleasure out of life as well as how to use the power of pleasure to craft the experiences you desire.

  Stewart Blackburn has been seriously studying pleasure for as long as he can remember. He is a professional chef, an ordained minister, a spiritual counselor, and a writer. While he holds a Master's Degree in Food Science, his real passion is in helping other people increase their levels of joy. He credits three primary influences on his practice: Tantra, Shamanism, and Chocolate. In fact, at our event Stewart led us through a wonderful meditation on a piece of Dove dark chocolate. Delicious and mind expanding. Thanks to Stewart and everyone who attended this event!

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  Author Event with John Stickler and Soma Han
  Maya and the Turtle: A Korean Fairy Tale
  March 16th

  On March 16th we welcomed local authors John Stickler and Soma Han to Basically Books for a booksigning event. Stickler and Han were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd, and delighted us all with a reading from their latest collaboration, an authentic Korean fairytale entitled Maya and the Turtle. This keiki book features a generous heroine with a glorious destiny that she has yet to fulfill. When her father falls ill, Maya is determined to cure him. With the help of her lucky turtle friend, she faces the evil centipede that haunts a neighboring village to get the supplies she needs to help her father. Engaging illustrations and facts about Korean culture sprinkled throughout make the book a treat for readers of any age. Maya and the Turtle is dedicated to Soma's mother, who heard the story at her mother's knee during the reign of King Kojong and passed it along to Soma when she was a little girl.

  Thanks to John, Soma, and everyone who attended this wonderful event.

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  Author Event with Benjamin Marantz and Samantha Sunshine
  AcroSage Inversion Therapy
  March 2nd

  On March 2nd we hosted a fun and fascinating event with Benjamin Marantz and Samantha Sunshine, co–authors of AcroSage Inversion Therepy. Floating in a pool of nothingness; flying weightless on the hands and feet of another person is an experience like no other! Through hanging upside down, the spine instantly lengthens, and the human body experiences altered states of consciousness. AcroSage is a playful, powerful and partner–inspired tool for creating overall health and peace of mind. The best part is that the method is mutually beneficial for all involved. Come witness an AcroSage treatment, sing your heart out with Benjamin, and check out the book to start your own unique flying journey.

  Benjamin Marantz is a long–time clown, acrobat, 6–foot unicyclist and fire juggler whose life took a sharp turn toward the alternative medicine industry after a severe back injury. After learning to listen to his own body and experiencing amazing changes in his personal health, Benjamin became an avid practitioner and advocate for the benefits of inversion therapy. Samantha Sunshine is a passionate yoga teacher and practitioner of AcroSage, and co–wrote the teaching instructions for the technique. Our event with these two was fantastic! They are both knowledgable and full of aloha, and were happy to answer many questions about AcroSage. Benjamin even gave a demonstration of AcroSage techniques!

  Thanks to Benjamin, Sunshine, and everyone who attended this fun event.

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  Author Event with
  John N. Powers
  Bean Camp to Briar Patch: Life in the POW Camps of Korea and Vietnam
  February 23rd

  On February 23rd we welcomed author John N. Powers, who stopped by to sign and discuss his book, Bean Camp to Briar Patch: Life in the POW Camps of Korea and Vietnam. This fascinating volume offers a unique look at all the major POW camps from both the Korean and Vietnam wars. The majority of former POWs will not talk freely about their experiences in these camps, resulting in many family members knowing little about the prisoner of war experiences of their fathers and grandfathers or, in a few cases, their mothers and grandmothers. Bean Camp to Briar Patch is written specifically for those family members, and for the POWs themselves, a humble group often hurt by the apathy of the public toward their experience. Powers found researching the POW experience difficult; there were thousands of prisoners during the two wars and over thirty major sites at which they were held. Conditions varied from camp to camp and even within sections of a single camp. The information in Bean Camp to Briar Patch was gathered from eighty different sources. The book includes over thirty maps, photos, and diagrams.

  Our event with John N. Powers was interesting and engaging. A group of eager attendees listened intently as John gave a fascinating talk on the process of researching and writing his book. John was a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force, serving in Intelligence Operations in Vietnam and Europe, and is very knowledgable about his subject.

  Mahalo to John N. Powers, and to everyone who attended this event.

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  Author Event with Mike Bond
  Saving Paradise
  January 5th

  For our first Basically Books author event of 2013, we welcomed local novelist Mike Bond, who stopped by to sign and discuss his latest novel, Saving Paradise. When a beautiful journalist drowns mysteriously off Waikiki, former Special Forces veteran Pono Hawkins, now a well–known Hawaii surfer and international correspondent for surfing magazines, soon gets embroiled in trying to find why she died. What he learns quickly makes him a target for murder or life in prison as a cabal of powerful corporations, foreign killers and crooked politicians turns the blame on him. Haunted by memories of Afghanistan, and determined to protect the Hawaii he loves from dirty politics tied to huge destructive energy developments, Pono turns to Special Forces buddies and his own skills to fight his deadly enemies, trying both to save himself and find the journalist's killers. Alive with the sights, sounds and history of Hawaii, Saving Paradise is also a deeply rich portrait of what Pono calls "the seamy side of paradise," and an exciting thriller of politics, lies and remorseless murder.

  A bestselling novelist, international energy expert, war and human rights correspondent and award–winning poet, Mike Bond has worked in many dangerous, remote and war–torn regions of the world. He currently lives on Molokai. Our event with Mike featured a rousing discussion about the book, and about the energy and sustainability crisis facing our islands and the world. Thank you Mike, for sharing your knowledge and your words!

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• Past Events 2012
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