Diamond Head (23 page)

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Authors: Charles Knief

BOOK: Diamond Head
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I am grateful to many people who helped in the creation of this novel. Rear Admiral Bill Cockle (Ret.), who knows every nuance of the United States Navy and assisted in technical matters; Maxime Dougé, for his steadfast enthusiasm and for being a good friend in times both good and bad, here and there; Detectives Joyce Alapa and Mike Johnson, for letting me see inside the Honolulu PD (and for being there to watch my back when it really counted); Adrian Turley, for being a best friend who can always find the flaw; Bob Randisi and the Private Eye Writers of America, for being the first to see something special in the story; Ruth Cavin and the rest of St. Martin's editorial staff for their professional, patient and insightful guidance. There is something very special about these people. I am the better person for counting them as friends. It is a better book because of their association.
And I have to thank my children, Sarah, Abigail and Charles, for putting up with a missing father from time to time. I love you all.
Finally, this book would not have been completed without the unflagging support and love of my wife, Ildiko. No man could be more blessed
from
“Shark Hula for Kalaniopu'u”
(
for Ka'lani'opu'u, uncle of King Kamehameha I)
 
Ka l
l
kea, ka man
ke'ehi ‘ale,
Ka niuhi moe lawa ‘o Ka-lani-‘
pu‘u,
‘O ka h
'elo'elo wela ‘ole ia o ka maka,
‘O ka umu ia nana e hahao i ka ‘ena'ena.
‘O Ka-welo loloa nana e ho‘
li
li,
A ‘a'
'o Ka-lani-kau-lele ka hiwa.
 
O lalapa n
ka l
ua keiki
‘O Ka-p
-likoliko-i-ka-lani,
A kau maka man
, o ka maka ‘anapa,
‘O ka nanana i ‘
a i 'ane'i.
 
You are a white-finned shark riding the crest of the wave,
O Ka-lani-‘
pu'u:
a tiger shark resting without fear
a rain quenching the sun's eye-searing glare
a grim oven glowing underground:
towering Ka-welo lighted it
who caused Ka-lani-kau-lele, the Chosen,
to blaze.

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