Summary

In “Aiko, the Writer,” after spending a decade “drafting a Night-Marchers-themed collection,” Aiko is shocked to discover the pages of her manuscript vibrating (151). Her grandmother, Tūtū Gracie, told her never to write about the Night Marchers, but Aiko did not listen. For years she has been dormant in her writing, and hoped the manuscript would rescue her writing career. This is “why she’d made such a conscientious effort to fill her hours with writerly events” (151).

Aiko flew to Austin, Texas for a speaking engagement. Her manuscript vibrated throughout the flight. She could not let the vibrations trouble her, as the manuscript would keep her from “another shameful book sales failure” (153). Still, she kept hearing Gracie’s warnings.

Shortly before finishing the manuscript, Gracie’s spirit visited Aiko (156). Gracie urged Aiko to protect Hawaiian...