Lois-Ann Yamanaka (born 1962 in Pahala, Hawaii) is a Japanese-American poet and novelist from Hawaii. Many of her critically acclaimed literary works are written in Hawaiian Pidgin, and some of her writing has dealt with controversial ethnic issues. In particular, her works confront themes of Asian-American families and the local culture of Hawaii.

Among her principal works are:

• Saturday Night at the Pahala Theatre, a book of poems written in Hawaiian Pidgin (1993)
• Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers (1996)
• Blu's Hanging (1997)
• Heads by Harry (1998)
• Father of the Four Passages (2001)

In 1993, Saturday Night at the Pahala Theatre received the Pushcart Prize for poetry. Later, in 1994, the Association of Asian American Studies awarded its fiction award. Critics, however, faulted the work for its portrayal of Filipino men as sexual predators.

In 1998, her novel Blu's Hanging was also awarded a fiction award by the Association of Asian American Studies. However, amid similar accusations that the book's portrayal of one of the characters perpetuated stereotypes about Filipino men, the board rescinded the award. This action sparked controversy among the Asian-American literary community (with noted Asian-American authors Amy Tan and Maxine Hong Kingston supporting Yamanaka).

She now lives with her husband, John Inferrera.

External links

• Two articles on Lois-Ann Yamanaka

• "What Boddah You?: The Authenticity Debate," The Nation, March 1, 1999