Sitting, Ann Inoshita, Darrell H. Y. Lum
The Reading Room—a series of author interviews produced by the Leeward Community College Educational Media Center’s Video Production Unit—is back from hiatus and could reach an even broader audience.
The project has continued to grow and episodes are projected to begin airing on public access provider ʻŌlelo this spring. This season includes authors Eric Chock, Scott Kikkawa, Darrell H. Y. Lum, Wing Tek Lum and Elmer Omar Bascos Pizo.
Lisa Linn Kanae, the author of Sista Tongue and Islands Linked by Ocean, said, “I hope more visitors access The Reading Room, where some of Hawaiʻi’s most treasured storytellers share what inspires their art as well as helpful discussions on the creative process.”
The Reading Room author interviews and literary readings are also available on YouTube.
Building a library of local talent
In 2016, Associate Professor Ann Inoshita asked to record a local author and the idea to create an archive of these recordings emerged.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for oral histories and the documenting of events, individuals and content of historical and cultural value,” said Les Matsuura, the former production manager, who is now retired. “When Ann came to us with her request, I proposed creating a series with the intent of building a library of local talent sharing their works and their creative process. Ann loved the idea of being part of something that might be useful to students interested in creative writing and to the larger community as well.”
The Reading Room includes Open Educational Resource (teaching, learning, and research materials intentionally created and licensed to be free) videos of interviews with other authors such as Kanae, Juliet S. Kono and Christy Passion.
Inoshita said, “There are many people in the community who love to write and seek the advice of established authors. Since every writer has a different approach to writing, I’m grateful to authors who generously share their experiences and knowledge.
The production went on hiatus in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s been four long years since we were last in production on this project,” said Media Specialist Camden Barruga. “Fortunately, Ann and I have kept in touch anticipating the day we could pick up where we left off. We’ve always seen The Reading Room as a signature project for Leeward Community College…a gift to any and all interested in literature and the arts, and an academic resource for aspiring and accomplished writers.”
