News
"Kwanzaa is a celebratory period of seven days from December 26 - January 1 that acknowledges spirit, the
ancestors, and seven principles for living more harmoniously in a ritual that is popular with many African
Americans. It celebrates certain values to be embraced by the community, the family, and the individual to
help create better, more productive, and fulfi lled lives. Although the African American community is small in
the Hawaiian Islands, resident groups of African Americans and their friends and families gather together in
a tradition to celebrate the 7 principles of Kwanzaa at the end of each year. The principles are: umoja, ujima,
ujamaa, kujuchagulia, nia, kuumba, and imani. Dr. Ayin M. Adams has put together this delightfully creative
and informative book to share the philosophical values, cultural poetry, recipes, and photographs of the unique
beauty of the Hawaiian Islands and enhance the meaning, scope, depth, and intimate ritual of Kwanzaa."
--Kathryn Waddell Takara, Ph.D., author of Frank Marshall Davis: The Fire and the
Phoenix (A Critical Biography)
Purchase Now
"For Ladies Only: Dedicated to the Color Pink" is a moving and revealing small book in poetic verse about a major health problem, breast cancer, from unique personal perspective of the birth, development and growth of breasts. It is a healing sometimes humorous journey from dawn to night, from birth to death in the shadow of cancer, a group of diseases that is often still uncontrollable cellular growth affecting different parts of the body, but in women most often the breasts.
Adams’ personifies breasts as dear and intimate friends who are as essential as organs, as necessary as limbs, as nurturing as companions that accompany one through each of life’s stages, rituals and processes. Her focus is on the affirmation of breasts, will, the unity of women in gender/health issues ending in a declaration of hope for a cure and an affirmation of the joys of life’s intimate moments. An empowering, insightful book."
--Kathryn Waddell Takara, PhD., 2010 American Book Award Winner of Pacific Raven: Hawai`i Poems
Purchase Now at: www.pacificravenpress.com
Download the eBook
A new book, “African Americans In Hawai`i: A Search For Identity,” compiled and edited by Ayin M. Adams, Ph.D. is being released by its publisher Pacific Raven Press. The essays and interviews in the book document the difficulties and challenges as well as the contributions and successes of African Americans in Hawai‘i.
The 220-page large format book has an introduction written by Kathryn Waddell Takara, Ph.D. and foreword by Aaron L. Day and Indira Hale-Tucker. Pacific Raven Press features new, emerging writers, and established writers of literary fiction and poetry. Pacific Raven Press publishes books by Africans and African Americans and People of Color in Hawai`i. Books are available at Borders, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, and online at www.pacificravenpress.com.
Read an excerpt from the book!
Updates on my current events, book signings, workshops and poetry will continue so please keep checking in! In the meantime, feel free to browse around and check out “African Americans In Hawai`i: A Search For Identity,” compiled and edited by Ayin M. Adams, Ph.D for sale on the PURCHASE page!
