Hawaiʻi’s new poet laureate uplifts the Pidgin language to inspire diverse, local voices

Lee Tonouchi, widely known as “Da Pidgin Guerrilla,” hopes to promote Pidgin as a legitimate language for creative and academic expression while he serves in the prestigious role of Hawaiʻi’s poet laureate.

“I see my role as being able for empower people, for give ’em da tools dey need for be writers demselves so dey can represent their own communities and life experiences,” said Tonouchi, a graduate of ʻAiea High School on Oʻahu and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

The Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities and the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System announced his selection earlier this month for the three-year position.

The Hawaiʻi Poet Laureate program promotes an appreciation of poetry and literary life in Hawaiʻi while inspiring new writers from all walks of life. Nominees are required to have a decade of experience in poetry in Hawaiʻi and demonstrate a deep commitment to the state’s diverse communities and histories. They must also have a history of community service in advancing poetry and the ability to effectively and creatively engage with a public audience.

Tonouchi has been active in Hawaiʻi’s literary landscape as an editor and publisher since the 1990s.

In 1999, he founded the literary magazine “Hybolics,” which created a space for stories about Pidgin and aspects of local culture. He also developed the first college-level course devoted solely to Pidgin literature while teaching at Kapiʻolani Community College and Hawaiʻi Pacific University.

“Pidgin is seen as ‘broken English’ and local people are not taken seriously when dey use it,” Tonouchi said. “By using Pidgin in books and when I talk story, it shows that Pidgin is not the same as unintelligent, but is anoddah way to share.”

During his career as an educator, Tonouchi has published writings that explore themes of family, identity, culture and community. He often uses humor to address difficult topics. Five of his books, written in Pidgin, invite reflection on the language’s role in society.

His first book, “Da Word,” was a collection of his short stories, including one about his revelation that Pidgin is often not considered a language by many people since its words cannot be found in a dictionary.

Several of his works in Pidgin have received honors and awards. The book of poems “Significant Moments in da Life of Oriental Faddah and Son: One Hawaiʻi Okinawan Journal” won the Association for Asian American Studies Book Award, and the children’s picture book “Okinawan Princess: Da Legend of Hajichi Tattoos” won the Skipping Stones Honor Award.

Most recently, he wrote the play “Two Nails, One Love,” based on the novel by Alden Hayashi, which is now showing at the Kumu Kahua Theatre on Oʻahu.

In 2023, the American Association for Applied Linguistics awarded Tonouchi the Distinguished Public Service Award, which recognizes people raising public awareness of important social issues connected to language and contributing to promote multilingualism, linguistic social justice and language-related human rights.

Although he is well known for writing, Tonouchi also has dedicated his career to speaking at hundreds of college, high school, intermediate and elementary classrooms, bringing the tradition of talk story around the state.

“Through da technique of talk story, I believe everybody can find their poetic voice,” Tonouchi said. 

He also organizes literary readings and events featuring other writers. As a frequent book and story editor, he enjoys highlighting the beauty of others’ work.

In 2009, Bess Press published “Buss Laugh,” a collection of prose and poetry reflecting Hawaiʻi’s diversity and cultural representation, which was edited by Tonouchi. It features well-known and obscure local authors who depict the ethnographic makeup of Hawaiʻi through Pidgin.

“My poem, Pidgin on Trial, small kine background — in 1987, yeah, three local guys work at National Weather Service were denied promotion for their local accents, yeah,” Tonouchi said. “Three mainland guys got it and were less qualified. (The local guys) gonna sue, but lost the case, yeah. Even though the linguist from (the University of Hawaiʻi) testified that dey talk like the (government officials) at the time.”

As the poet laureate for Hawaiʻi, Tonouchi will continue his mission of raising awareness for language-related issues and promoting linguistic diversity, which has been at the forefront of his work since he started.

He hopes to uplift more local voices and make space for cultures and stories not being heard.

“I stay looking forward to serving da community as Hawai‘i’s Poet Laureate,” Tonouchi said. “For da past chree decades it’s been my mission to show local people that dey should be proud of their Pidgin. Da goal is for have one greater diversity of voices as part of Hawai‘i’s local literature.”

Tonouchi was selected by a volunteer panel of writers, publishers, educators, public programmers and librarians representing various communities across the islands.

“The selection process was difficult, which is a tribute to the strength of our local literary community and the many accomplished writers we have in Hawaiʻi,” State Librarian Stacey Aldrich said. “In the end, our panel felt we need a poet laureate who can encourage many people to feel empowered to share their voice and story, even those who think they don’t like writing or were told they can’t write.”

She added: “In today’s uncertain and divided society, poetry can help to heal and strengthen our community.”

As part of the poet laureate program, Tonouchi will receive an annual grant from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to carry out readings and workshops across the islands. He will serve in the role from February 2026 to February 2029.

For more information about upcoming Hawaiʻi Poet Laureate programming and events, visit the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities website.