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Thursday, November 5, 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Pacific Club
1451 Queen Emma Street, Honolulu 96813
MARK BRANNER
presents
Strange Love Affair
Strange Love Affair is a one man performance piece that explores a 30-year romance in and with 中国 (the Middle Kingdom). When a college dropout turned circus clown is plopped in the center of China during the country’s remarkable transformation, strands of his creative, romantic, professional, and spiritual worlds entwine. This deeply personal narrative powerfully explores the question of calling, as we search for beauty and meaning within the stories of our lives.
Mark Branner is a Professor at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Department of Theatre and Dance. Born in Hollywood but raised primarily in Taiwan, Mark returned to the U.S. to attend college, whereupon he turned down a scholarship from UCLA to work as a clown with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Mark eventually left the circus and now teaches at UH Mānoa in TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences). His classes includepuppetry, mask work and physical comedy. Previously Mark served as the director and producer of Theatre Arts at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, California. He has toured nationally with various groups, including Diavolo and performed extensively in Asia, most notably in chuanju (Sichuan Opera), a regional Chinese theatre form. He and his family operate CiRCO Redempto, a community outreach program designed to benefit children from the Nosu Yi minority nationality of central China.
IMPORTANT-DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS
Noon - Wednesday, October 28, 2026
TO MAKE A RESERVATION
Please note space is limited, reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Best to sign up early.
Email Carol Egan - cognac91@gmail.com
by Noon, Wednesday, October 28, include your name and the name of your Guest, if you are bringing one.
Lunch is plated. Include in the email your choice and your Guest’s choice from the three options:
(a) Southwestern Black Bean Roasted Corn Salad, Avocado Crema (vegetarian)
(b) Seared Ahi Bowl, Furikake Rice, Namasu, Baby Greens, Kabayaki & Spicy Aioli Sauce
(c) Chicken Salad on Pita Bread
Members and Friends: $38
Guests: $40 (not dues paying Members or Friends)
Please note price increase.
Checks should be received by Thursday, November 5,
Make checks payable to NLAPW Honolulu.
Mail to Carol Egan
344 Iliaina Street Kailua HI 96734
With a reservation you may pay at the door by check or cash.
NOTICE FROM NLAPW - NON-PEN WOMEN POETRY COMPETITION
Submit up to three poems, entry fee is $15. Competition opens Nov 15 - January 15. For more information and to enter-Email Patrice M. Wilson thekukuireview@gmail.com
BOOK EXCHANGE
Bring a Book - even your own - take home a Book.
JUST FOR FUN - To make things more colorful... wear some Bling.
PAST EVENTS
October 1, 2026 - Patrice Federspiel - Loosing Control with Watercolor
September 3, 2026 - Vicky Holt Takamine - Hula as Resistance
June 7, 2026 - Eden Lee Murray - From 2D to 3D: page to stage
May 7, 2026 - Members & Friends Reading: Celebrating Our Pen Women’s Writing
April 2, 2026 - Jeff Gere: Get Your Story Up & Moving
March 5, 2026 - Dane Lam: Why Classical Music Really Is Better
February 5, 2026 - Jodi Endicott: Art For Nature From A Sea Of Plastic
November 5, 2025 - Marcia Zina Mager: The Power of Writing (&Painting) Badly
October 1, 2025 - Tadia Rice: My Conversations With AI
September 3, 2025 - Meredith Artley: Growing Trust & Compassion in Turbulent Times: How HPR is Working to Meet the Moment
July 16, 2025 - The Magic of Stories: 2025 Lorin Tarr Gill Writing Competition winners reading
May 7, 2025 - Members & Friends Reading: Celebrating Our Pen Women’s Writing
April 2, 2025 - Eric Paul Shaffer: Defining Success in Poetry, One Friend at a Time
February 24, 2025 - Susan Scott: HAWAII’S PLANTS AND ANIMALS, a new book for all who love Hawaii
January 29, 2025 - John Rampage: The Joy & Frustration of Producing Musical Theatre in Honolulu
November 6, 2024 - Rebecca Woodland: Your So Talented and Other Lies
October 2, 2024 - Tamara Moan: Putting It on Paper: Words & Pictures
September 4, 2024 - Kealoha: Science, Poetry, Life
June 12, 2024 - Jason O’Rourke: Conservation through Photography (via zoom)
May 1, 2024 - Celebrating Our Writers: Pen Women Honolulu Members Share their own work
April 3, 2024 - Kaethe Kauffman: From Nothing to Something: Creativity's Great Surprises
March 6, 2024 - Maya Sypert: The Other Side of the Mirror: Reflections on My Journey as a Classical Singer
January 31, 2024 - Mindy Pennybacker: Surfing the sisterhood of Hawaiian water women
November 2, 2023 - Shari Lynn: A Life built on Song and Music
October 4, 2023 - Shervelle Bergholz: The Power of Storytelling
September 7, 2023 - Lee Cataluna: Playwriting in Hawaii
May 10, 2023 - Celebrating Our Writers: Pen Women Honolulu Members Share their own work
April 5, 2023 - Don Wallace: Modern Publishing Today
March 1, 2023 - Tadia Rice: The Power of Expressive Arts
January 25, 2023 - Susan McCreary Duprey: How a community embraces the health & well-being of song
November 2, 2022 - Susan Scott: Every Kolea Counts
Durring the Covid-19 pandemic, monthly in-person meetings were cancelled starting with April 2020. Monthly zoom meetings began in January 2021. From March 2021 to the December 2022, we have been privileged to enjoy the following zoom presentations:
March 3, 2021: Presenter Kaethe Kauffman, Humor in Contemporary Art
April 7, 2021: Presenter Jane Marshall Goodsill, How to Convert Oral Histories into Literature
May 5, 2021: Readings of excerpts from current works by our own Members & Friends
June 2, 2021: Presenter Wayne Levine, Where Borders Cross
July 7, 2021: Presenter Roslyn Catracchia, Feeding the Lake (Just Say Yes)
August 4, 2021: Presenter Christine Sleeter, Fiction and Historical Truths
September 1, 2021: Presenter Victoria Talbot, The Important Role of Journalism in Hawai‘i
October 6, 2021: Presenters Rosemary & Larry Mild, Writing Together is Murder
November 3, 2021: Presenters Susie & Gary Anderson, Quick Bite Aloha Friday
January 12, 2022: Presenter Dr. David J. Connor, Writing Compulsions
February 2, 2022: Presenter Penny Pence Smith, Hanging on the Hollywood Sign
March 2, 2022: Presenter Dr. Kelli Carmean, The Ancient Maya: Archaeological Evidence & Creative Writing
April 6, 2022: Presenter Sally French, Transformation
May 4, 2022: Annual Writers Salon: “Words in a Box” … the Pen Women Shine
June 1, 2022: Bob Schildgen, Mr. Green Carries On!
July 6, 2022 - Jeff Raz, How Art Makes Better Lives
August 3, 2022 - Claire Bowman, My life as a writer without discipline, structure & consistent commitment to my craft
September 7, 2022 - Susan Simone, Opening the prison walls: Oral History & Collaborative Writing - zoom recording link CLICK HERE password: m3Fypi+4
October 5, 2022 - Helen Shaw, Criticism as Chronicle: Covering the absence and presence of theater during the COVID shutdown
December 7, 2022 - Happy Everything, short readings shared by members to usher in the holidays & creativity
Attendance at the Zoom sessions were excellent, keeping our interest in and passion for the visual arts, writing, and music on our virtual center stage.