Bamboo Ridge has been known for stories and poems that harken back to hanabada days. But what do local stories look like in a period of unprecedented economic stress, in the face of an uncertain future due to climate change, during social and political unrest, and a pandemic? Kīpuka: Finding Refuge in Times of Change is a collection of poetry and prose that explores the challenges of growing up and living in contemporary Hawai‘i.

This special issue (#119) of Bamboo Ridge: Journal of Hawai‘i Literature and Arts includes artwork by four Native Hawaiian artists with pieces ranging from sculpture and collage, to murals and painted trees. Edited by Donald Carreira Ching, Meredith Desha Enos, Brenda Kwon, and Misty-Lynn Sanico, this anthology embraces the work of emerging writers alongside established local favorites and award-winning, nationally recognized authors. Kīpuka examines what it means to be living and growing up in contemporary Hawai‘i, among various topics it includes poetry and prose about the struggle to protect Mauna Kea and reactions to the current pandemic.