About Me ( Oh how egotistical!)

Frances Kakugawa, who currently resides in Sacramento, was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii in Kapoho, which was demolished by lava when she was 18 years old. She has taught for many years in the Michigan and Hawaii public school systems; conducted language arts workshops for teachers in Micronesia and in Hawaii; and was a curriculum writer and lecturer for the University of Hawaii.

In 2002, she was recognized in Living Legacy: Outstanding Women of the 20th Century in Hawaii.  In 2004, she received the  Hawaii Publishers Award for Excellence in Children’s Books.  Today, she continues to write, conducts writing support groups for caregivers, gives writing workshops for adults and children, and gives lectures on caregiving and writing throughout the U.S.

Frances Kakugawa Interviews Frances Kakugawa

Where did you come from?

From Kapoho, Hawaii in the hands of a midwife. Kapoho, a village without electricity or water system, was later destroyed by lava. I now live in Sacramento, CA.

I wish I had said:

I was born a royal princess in the Emperor’s house.

When did you decide to become a writer?

At age six, I heard my first poem read by my first grade teacher. I made a decision then that I was going to be a writer and create the same kind of magic with words.

I wish I had said:

When I discovered Hilo Tribune Herald, Montgomery Ward and Sears catalogs meant more than toilet paper.

What made you choose teaching as a career?

I had a great crush on Mr. McKinney, our high school counselor. He told me, “I see you someday as a teacher.” I became a teacher instead of a nurse (working with handsome interns), a journalist( writing from war zones), a policeman (as in Mod Squad), and a librarian ( reading new books all day in the back room).

I wish I had said:

I had no idea being a hooker would make me more money. See page 1 in my book Teacher, You Look Like a Horse.

How many books have you published?

Eight books. My ninth book is ready for publication.

(I now have 11 books published since I posted this)

I wish I had said:

I’ll have to get back to you after I count them on my shelf.

Where do you get such good ideas for your work?

They come to me to be written. One Wordsworth story began with my poetry and I worked a story around them. One story began with an ending so I worked backward. Another began with an image of Wordsworth in front of a bulldozer.

I wish I had said:

Hey, all you Pulitzer and Nobel Prize for Literature winners, can you come here a minute?

Where did you pick up such good writing skills?

Thanks for this question. I grew up speaking da kine Pidgin, you know.  I read, read, read and wrote, wrote, wrote. I avoided writing courses in college, afraid professors would tell me, “You are not a writer and will never be one.”

I wish I had said:

I live with an excellent editor/writer.

How much time do you spend writing?

At least 2 to 3 hours a day.

I wish I had said:

Not much. I wish I could spend more time but I live near a shopping mall.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

See my 3rd and 4th Wordsworth stories and my 2nd on caregiving and poety in the hands of readers. They’re all written and ready to go. I’d like to have all my “work-in-progress” published: A collection of short stories and a book of poetry.

( I have since published Kapoho: Memoir of a Modern Pompeii and my 3rd Wordsworth book called : Wordsworth! Stop the Bulldozer! The 2nd book on caregiving was also published.)

I wish I had said:

In the NY Times Crossword Puzzle, across Charlie Rose, Bill Moyers and next to Oprah. AND a golden decal on the cover of each of my books. Oh, and Wordsworth in an animated movie.

Are you famous? Any awards or special recognitions?

I wish. I was recognized in Living Legacy: Outstanding Japanese Women of the 20th Century in Hawaii and in 2004, received the Hawaii-Pacific Gerontological Society Award. No, not for being old but for the work I do for the elderly. See my Wordsworth books for their own awards.

I wish I had said:

Yes, I’m so famous I travel with bodyguards.

Any message for your readers?

Thank you for checking out my website and for reading my books. Send me your questions and I will answer.

I wish I had said:

Run out and buy my books. Now!