Can you tell us about your process of including disability as part of these characters? There was no pity or shock value – it was just part of who they are, and that was refreshing. I loved how you seamlessly weaved these identities of disability into the story. In He Mele a Hilo, Harry is an amputee and Lisa Yates has an undisclosed illness. He Mele a Hilo is a read that sticks with you long after you finish.Įrin Hawley, the Digital Content Producer for Easterseals Thrive, interviewed Ryka about her book, creative process, disability, and the importance of community. The cast is vivid we get intimate snapshots of their dreams, fears, and relationships. Amidst this story, there are characters with disabilities there’s Harry, an amputee who loves fishing, and his friend, Lisa, with an undisclosed chronic illness. It grapples with what it means to be Hawaiian and what is “Hawaiian enough” in an evolving culture. It’s about learning to love others and finding connections through traditions like hula and food. He Mele a Hilo is a fictional novel set in Hawaii, told from the perspective of some of its lifelong and newly-arrived residents.
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