LIHU‘E — Members of the community and visitors are invited to the upcoming “Back to School” meetings of the Live Poets’ Soc. (LPS) and the UN-Memoir Workshops (UN-Mem) founded and facilitated by Kauai poet and writer Dawn Fraser Kawahara, with the sponsorship of the Lihue Public Library.
Membership is free and open to high school age people and older.
The UN-Mem group will meet as usual on the first Thursday, Aug. 3, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Lihue Library, 4344 Hardy St.
The UN-Mem workshops are for anyone who would like to focus on setting down thoughts and/or memories in letter or simple essay style.
There is no editing or critique, only suggestions and help when requested.
“The idea is to coax and coach people’s stories with a monthly prompt–personal anecdotes that will not be lost and forgotten, but set down and shared only as each person wishes,” Kawahara said.
Those who attend should bring writing materials.
Members of the LPS will be meeting on Monday, Aug. 7, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom, with a link to be provided upon sign-up and referral at the library (808) 241-3222. A near-future “live” meeting is planned to mark the group’s fifth anniversary.
LPS members also work with a monthly prompt, “a suggestion to kick-start poem ideas,” according to Kawahara, who explained the work in progress is read, and usually constructive criticism is sought and received.
The LPS group was formed with the support of the Lihue Library to encourage people who write and enjoy reading poetry to attend and sharpen both writing and listening skills.
Besides that main mission, members also perform publicly at times, taking poetry forward for public enjoyment. Currently, a LPS committee is at work on a first publication.
Also, members have been interviewed on local radio and have read original poems over the air.
“New members are welcome in both or either group,” Kawahara said.
Kawahara has authored and edited several notable memoirs, books of poems, and book of children’s stories. Her books are available on island at Talk Story BookStore, Hanapepe, the Kauai Museum Shop and in libraries. They are also available through popular internet sources.
