Lee Tonouchi

Lee A. Tonouchi (born circa 1972) is a Hawaii-born writer and editor, who calls himself "Da Pidgin Guerilla" because of his strong advocacy of the Hawaiian Pidgin language.

At the age of 2, Tonouchi survived a bus/car collision which claimed the life of his mother. ^[1] Tonouchi graduated from Aiea High School in 1990.

He promotes the idea that Hawaiian Pidgin is an appropriate language for both creative and academic writing. ^[2] He was inspired by the works of Eric Chock in the journal Bamboo Ridge. ^[3] All of his writing, including his Master's Thesis, is in Pidgin. He was an instructor of English at Kapiʻolani Community College in 2007. ^[4] He also taught at Hawaii Pacific University during 2005, ^[5] and later. ^[6] His works often address family relationship in a humorous way. ^[7]

Tonouchi's plays have been awarded among multiple categories of the annual Kumu Kahua playwrighting contest, the Hawaiʻi Prize, the Pacific Rim Prize, and the Resident Prize, ^[8] as well as numerous wins in the monthly short play contest in partnership with Bamboo Ridge. ^[9]

In February 2026, Tonouchi was named the 3rd Poet Laureate of Hawaii for a 3 year term running 2026-2029. ^[10]

His principal works:

• Hybolics (1999), literary magazine in Hawaiian Pidgin (co-editor) ^[11]
• Da Word (2001), a collection of short stories
• Living Pidgin: Contemplations on Pidgin Culture (2002), a collection of poems and essays
• Gone Feeshing (2004), a play first produced at Kumu Kahua Theatre
• Da Kine Dictionary: Da Hawai'i Community Pidgin Dictionary Projeck (2005), a dictionary of Hawaiian Pidgin

References

1. https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/02/denby-fawcett-lee-tonouchi-hawaiis-new-poet-laureate/
2. Ryan Senaga (November 13, 2002). "Da Pidgin Guerrilla: Does the fate of Hawaiian Creole English lie in the hands of Lee Tonouchi?". Honolulu Weekly . Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
3. "Heavy Lifting: The experimental journal Bamboo Ridge has survived 25 years, but its founders have realized promoting local literature is a Herculean task". Honolulu Star-Bulletin . March 6, 2003. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
4. "Lee Tonouchi is Living Pidgin: Instructor preserves Pidgin through teaching and various works including a play". The Kapio Newspress. February 13, 2007. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
5. "Local Writer Teaches Pidgin Literature Class at HPU". Hawaii Pacific University. Summer 2005. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
6. "Texts and Culture courses". Hawaii Pacific University. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
7. John Berger (May 19, 2004). "Brothers' rivalry runs as deep as the ocean". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
8. https://www.kumukahua.org/playwritingcontest
9. https://www.kumukahua.org/gotryplaywrite
10. https://sfca.hawaii.gov/lee-a-tonouchi-announced-as-2026-2029-hawaii-poet-laureate/
11. Catherine E. Toth (July 13, 2001). "Hybolics 2 helps get 'da word' out". Honolulu Advertiser . Retrieved December 3, 2010.