A sacred tribute to survival, resistance and unbreakable bonds amongst Indigenous women and queer kanaka ‘oiwi (Native Hawaiians) envelop a newly published poetry collection authored by a creative writing assistant professor at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
In her debut book “Ask the Brindled” award-winning poet No‘u Revilla casts a spotlight on themes of desire and intergenerational healing through the cultural figure of Hawaiian mo‘o, or shapeshifting water protectors.
Revilla is the first openly queer ‘Oiwi woman to have a full-length collection of poetry published by a leader in the industry.
“To see my family’s name on the cover of this book sparks my na‘au (gut) every time,” Revilla expressed. “Recently, both my father and sister asked me to read them poems from the book, poems I wrote for them. To have read poems out loud for my father and sister on Maui, where I was born and raised, and to see them cry because they recognized themselves in my words, because they felt the aloha I poured into each poem…that is a singular kind of rooted joy.”
Last September, Milkweed Editions, one of the country’s finest independent publishers, offered Revilla a book deal after she topped more than 1,600 other poets in the 2021 National Poetry Series open competition. The Wai‘ehu, Maui native’s first book of poetry is based on her dissertation which explores how aloha is possible in the face of colonization and sexual violence.
Written primarily in English, Revilla’s 141-page poetry collection also features ‘olelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language), which at times, better expresses some of her deepest thoughts and feelings.
In 2019, Revilla earned a PhD from the UH Manoa English department and went on to teach creative writing with an emphasis on ‘Oiwi literature. She is immensely inspired by the late UH Manoa Professor Emerita Haunani-Kay Trask who was a celebrated Indigenous author and poet. In her book, Revilla dedicated the poem, “Recovery, Waikiki” to the iconic Native Hawaiian scholar who helped mentor the budding ‘Oiwi writer in college.
“Poetry helps me to reflect on and metabolize heartbreak, especially as an ‘Oiwi wahine who loves and will always struggle for my ‘aina (land),” Revilla said. “Poetry helps me to recenter in aloha, which in a very real way means poetry helps me to listen to my kupuna (elders) better.”
