I was unwed, unemployed, and squatting in the Kahale mansion when a white stick announced my pregnancy. Weeks earlier, without a word, Benny moved out of his own bedroom, fleeing into the opposite wing of his family estate. He left me to break up with myself, then disappear from his life as quickly and quietly as possible. Believe me, if I had any options, I would have obliged, but I had no money, no education and as far as I can tell, no sense...

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Killers, Liars and Cowards: A Portrait of a Family on Amazon

Usually Benny was silly and playful, like a good-natured boy. Even when he appeared tense, his eyes beamed a brilliant light, as if happiness was his baseline. But when he told me about Maui, he looked like his brother, Manoa, whose baseline was worry...

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Killers, Liars and Cowards: A Portrait of a Family on Amazon

I have no clue what Benny expected me to do overnight to produce a girl, but he certainly did nothing to help, leaving me alone in my pregnancy room with terrifying thoughts. About 2am, unable to sleep and desperate to talk to another human being, I called my mother in Connecticut, six hours ahead.

"I don't get why you're calling me for money when I told you how to take care of it."

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Killers, Liars and Cowards: A Portrait of a Family on Amazon

There was a rare Sophie sighting in the kitchen, Maui and I having stayed up all night and Sophie having come for her morning coffee. She flashed a legitimate smile at me, like she was posing for a family photo. Maui gave her a sideways hug and kissed the top of her head. "Judging by the mess," she said, "Death by Chocolate was a big hit. Noted." Manoa and Benny came in next, inspecting the unusual scene, the cold white kitchen in complete disarray, cake crumbs and dirty dishes left on the counter, showing evidence of an uncontrolled life, usually not allowed. It was the Kahales and me, warming the kitchen, casually laughing. I didn't want the morning to end, but Benny directed a compassionate look toward me and said, "you better change for the appointment."

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Killers, Liars and Cowards: A Portrait of a Family on Amazon

I gave birth to a girl, seven pounds, four ounces, in a private delivery room at Hilo General. There was some argument about her name amongst the family members, but I felt nothing so trivial, like a name, could affect the perfection that was my daughter. It was love at first sight. Unfortunately, the entire Kahale clan obsessed over her. If Kailani wasn't the savior, the Kahales certainly thought she was...

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Killers, Liars and Cowards: A Portrait of a Family on Amazon

My family didn't always live in a discarded shack. They once lived in town, a small apartment above an old department store, closed since the sixties, a faded sign in the window: For Lease. There were only three children, me being the youngest, when we moved into Mr. Marcom's vacant shack, free rent for maintaining the surrounding field, a third of an acre of dirt, unable to grow anything but an occasional weed. My mother gave up on growing vegetables after two seasons, deeming the soil dead...

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Killers, Liars and Cowards: A Portrait of a Family on Amazon

Kailani, good at everything she tried, quickly reached an advanced level if she was interested. According to Manoa, the supreme window for sponging information ended at year ten. Manoa and Sophie constantly added to the curriculum until I was certain Kailani would acquire all human knowledge before the window closed...

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Killers, Liars and Cowards: A Portrait of a Family on Amazon

"Why don't you come out with me to the ocean anymore?" Kai said one day. It was always surprising when Kai talked to me without ordering me around. It didn't quite occur to me she ever noticed me as anything but a servant to bring her a book or a glass of milk, which I was happy to do.

"Well, baby, I've been going to check on the bees."

"What bees? Where do they live?"

"Do you know what bees are?"

"Yes, they're bugs."

"No, they're not bugs. They are a very advanced species, more advanced than even humans."

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Killers, Liars and Cowards: A Portrait of a Family on Amazon