Hawaii is a place where my husband, who is of Okinawan heritage, and I can enter and residents would accept and even view us as one of them. I desired to escape to such a place although, being Japanese American, I don’t think I’d necessarily be welcomed. “The impetus of setting a mystery in Hawaii was my response to whodunits that were set in small picturesque coastal towns with lighthouses and Hallmark-type environments. Sayers, among others, but chose a change of scene for An Eternal Lei. Hirahara enjoyed reading classic mysteries by the British novelist Dorothy B.

If I didn’t work as a journalist, I think my stories would be more insular.” It opened up the larger world to me in a deep way. Journalism made a huge impact on my fiction writing. “I followed those two paths concurrently-I would usually work on my novel early in the morning, go to work at the newspaper and then attend writing workshops on one week night and maybe the weekends. The former Rafu Shimpo reporter and editor wrote: Interviewed via e-mail, Hirahara maintained that she never had to choose journalism over fiction. Hirahara’s award winning novels, including the beloved series of Mas Arai mysteries, in addition to biographies and reference books reflect her background in journalism and her training in creative writing. From the dialog to the attitudes of the locals, An Eternal Lei is a trip to Hawaii minus the long flight and jet lag.

Hirahara has created a convincing cast of characters and placed them in a completely authentic setting. Readers will be able to easily identify with Leilani as she forges a life of independence while remaining tightly connected to her family, presided over by her outspoken Baachan. Leilani saves the life of a woman found floating face down in Waimea Bay and finds herself driven to discover the victim’s identity and connections to the island.

Naomi Hirahara’s new mystery novel, An Eternal Lei introduces us to Leilani Santiago, a spirited, insatiably curious young woman who lives in a multigenerational, multiethnic household on the island of Kauai.

Murder on Bamboo Lane by Naomi Hirahara