Beyond the Outhouse: Kohala's Untold Stories of Humility, Heart, and Hawaiian Resilience
This collection immerses readers in 1970s Kohala, where neighbors shared fish caught along lava shorelines, children learned spearfishing as a rite of passage, and elders passed down legends under kamani trees. Meet Uncle Tommy Solomon, who healed bones with ancestral knowledge. Laugh with Benny Raymond, who harpooned a 100-pound ulua with homemade tools. Mourn Malcolm, a young diver whose connection to the ocean defined his life. Each story pulses with authenticity, blending suspense, humor, and raw humanity.
Coakley's writing feels like listening to a wise storyteller on a breezy lānai. His prose balances vivid observation with deep reverence. He captures the crunch of black sand underfoot, the terror of a shark's shadow, and the warmth of peppermint tea shared after night fishing. His style honors oral tradition, making complex cultural insights accessible. Pidgin phrases like "No mo wada!" (There's no water) or "Rap ʻem!" (Catch them crabs!) ground the narrative in place.
The core message resonates powerfully: true wealth lies not in possessions, but in community and connection to the land. The "outhouse mentality" dismissed by outsiders symbolized humility, sustainability, and interdependence. Coakley shows how these values sustained Kohala through plantation closures and cultural erosion, embodying the community's rallying cry: "Keep Kohala, Kohala." His stories challenge modern materialism, urging readers to reconsider what "progress" truly means.
This book speaks powerfully to multiple audiences. Hawaiʻi locals will recognize ʻohana (family) voices and landscapes. History enthusiasts gain rare insights into plantation-era resilience. Environmental advocates see sustainable living in action. Readers seeking meaning beyond consumerism discover a blueprint for community-centered living. As one fisherman insists, "We used to be a 'Community of We.' Now we're a 'Community of Me.'"
Outhouse Mentality is available now. Find it on Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers. Hardcover and paperback editions are stocked at major bookstores nationwide, including Native Hawaiian cultural centers and indie shops across Hawaiʻi. Libraries can order through Ingram.
About Jeffrey Kalani Coakley:
Jeffrey Kalani Coakley traded Honolulu's hustle for Kohala's red dirt cliffs in 1971. A Vietnam veteran and lifelong storyteller, he spent decades listening to Kohala's elders while spearfishing, taro farming, and raising sons near Niuliʻi Stream. His work with Hui Māmalahoa fueled his mission to honor the people who taught him that outhouses breed humility, and community is the only luxury you need.
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Jeffrey Kalani Coakley
Jeffrey Kalani Coakley
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