Lee Tonouchi

Lee A. Tonouchi (born circa 1972) is a Hawaii-born writer and editor, who calls himself "Da Pidgin Guerilla" because of his strong advocacy of the Hawaiian Pidgin language.

At the age of 2, Tonouchi survived a bus/car collision which claimed the life of his mother.[1] Tonouchi graduated from Aiea High School in 1990.

He promotes the idea that Hawaiian Pidgin is an appropriate language for both creative and academic writing.[2] He was inspired by the works of Eric Chock in the journal Bamboo Ridge.[3] All of his writing, including his Master's Thesis, is in Pidgin. He was an instructor of English at Kapiʻolani Community College in 2007.[4] He also taught at Hawaii Pacific University during 2005,[5] and later.[6] His works often address family relationship in a humorous way.[7]

Tonouchi's plays have been awarded among multiple categories of the annual Kumu Kahua playwrighting contest, the Hawaiʻi Prize, the Pacific Rim Prize, and the Resident Prize,[8] as well as numerous wins in the monthly short play contest in partnership with Bamboo Ridge.[9]

In February 2026, Tonouchi was named the 3rd Poet Laureate of Hawaii for a 3-year term running 2026–2029.[10]

His principal works:

  • Hybolics (1999), literary magazine in Hawaiian Pidgin (co-editor)[11]
  • Da Word (2001), a collection of short stories
  • Living Pidgin: Contemplations on Pidgin Culture (2002), a collection of poems and essays
  • Gone Feeshing (2004), a play first produced at Kumu Kahua Theatre
  • Da Kine Dictionary: Da Hawai'i Community Pidgin Dictionary Projeck (2005), a dictionary of Hawaiian Pidgin

References

  1. ^ https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/02/denby-fawcett-lee-tonouchi-hawaiis-new-poet-laureate/
  2. ^ Ryan Senaga (November 13, 2002). "Da Pidgin Guerrilla: Does the fate of Hawaiian Creole English lie in the hands of Lee Tonouchi?". Honolulu Weekly. Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  3. ^ "Heavy Lifting: The experimental journal Bamboo Ridge has survived 25 years, but its founders have realized promoting local literature is a Herculean task". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. March 6, 2003. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  4. ^ "Lee Tonouchi is Living Pidgin: Instructor preserves Pidgin through teaching and various works including a play". The Kapio Newspress. February 13, 2007. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  5. ^ "Local Writer Teaches Pidgin Literature Class at HPU". Hawaii Pacific University. Summer 2005. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  6. ^ "Texts and Culture courses". Hawaii Pacific University. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  7. ^ John Berger (May 19, 2004). "Brothers' rivalry runs as deep as the ocean". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  8. ^ https://www.kumukahua.org/playwritingcontest
  9. ^ https://www.kumukahua.org/gotryplaywrite
  10. ^ https://sfca.hawaii.gov/lee-a-tonouchi-announced-as-2026-2029-hawaii-poet-laureate/
  11. ^ Catherine E. Toth (July 13, 2001). "Hybolics 2 helps get 'da word' out". Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
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