BFA alumnus Tommy Hite has been commissioned to produce a crime-noir style book cover for Scott Kikkawa’s new novel Kona Winds, a murder mystery that takes place in Honolulu during the 1950s. The book will be published by Bamboo Ridge Press. The painting depicts the protagonist, Yoshikawa, who is a 28 year old Japanese American homicide detective from Oahu. Ellen Park, shown behind him, is a 26-year-old reporter attempting to get a scoop on Yoshikawa’s homicide case.
The scene depicted in the cover image takes place outside the original Honolulu police station, which today is known as the Walter Murray Gibson building on the corner of Bethel and Merchant street in downtown Honolulu.