Rodney Morales
Encyclopedia
Rodney Morales is an American fiction writer and an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Hawaii
. In his writing, he is concerned with contemporary multi-ethnic Hawaiian society, particularly the social relations between Hawaiians of native, Japanese, and Puerto Rican descent; the 1970s Hawaiian independence movement and the disappearance of its leader, George Helm
; and the postmodern juxtaposition of popular artistic forms (the detective novel, cinema) and high literature.
Morales wrote his only novel, When the Shark Bites, over a six-year period. He says, "I don't think you can be a good teacher, writing all the time." The novel is a modern-day detective story in which a doctoral student, Alika, investigates the mysterious disappearance of native Hawaiian activist Keoni in the late 1970s.
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
. In his writing, he is concerned with contemporary multi-ethnic Hawaiian society, particularly the social relations between Hawaiians of native, Japanese, and Puerto Rican descent; the 1970s Hawaiian independence movement and the disappearance of its leader, George Helm
George Helm
George Jarrett Helm, Jr. was a Native Hawaiian activist and musician from Kalamaula, Molokai, Hawaii. He graduated from St. Louis High School on Oahu, about which he said, "I came to Oahu to get educated. Instead I lost my innocence." While at St...
; and the postmodern juxtaposition of popular artistic forms (the detective novel, cinema) and high literature.
Morales wrote his only novel, When the Shark Bites, over a six-year period. He says, "I don't think you can be a good teacher, writing all the time." The novel is a modern-day detective story in which a doctoral student, Alika, investigates the mysterious disappearance of native Hawaiian activist Keoni in the late 1970s.
Selected works
- Ho'i Ho'i Hou: A Tribute to George Helm and Kimo Mitchell (edited volume, 1984, Lawrence Brown Award)
- The Speed of Darkness (short stories, 1988)
- When the Shark Bites (novel, 2002)
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican immigration to HawaiiPuerto Rican immigration to HawaiiPuerto Rican immigration to Hawaii began when Puerto Rico's sugar industry was devastated by two hurricanes in 1899. The devastation caused a world wide shortage in sugar and a huge demand for the product from Hawaii...
External links
Faculty entry for Morales.- Review Essay from "Moving Islands" Sixth Fall Writers' Festival.