"Maui, O'ahu, Kaua'i

are islands of Hawai'i.

Pineapples and poi,

life here's no ka oi

and the weather is maika'i."

— Felice Chiapperini, 53, 'Ewa Beach

"Way back in small kid time

when da bus was only one dime

, I thought I'd live on my own someday

, but look how bad da recession stay.

Ma, too bad for you da economy da kine!"

— Salli Morita, 32, Kane'ohe

"Ahi and soy sauce are nice,

especially when eaten with rice.

And macaroni salad

makes the meal a ballad.

Now repeat the above at least twice."

— John Tallackson, 78, Pearl City

"There once was a man from Kaua'i

who dreamed about learning to fly.

He made wings that were fake

out of paper and tape.

Then jumped after closing his eyes."

— Paisley Mares, 16, Kapolei

"As tutu of eighty-five,

it's so fun to be alive.

To enjoy my keikis now,

eat ono lu'au-style chow

and go on a Pali drive."

— Mary Stewart, 85, Kailua

"I'd like to get off of this rock,

and do something great, like Barack!

But I'm frightened, it's true,

to try something new.

So I think I'll just ride 'round the block."

— Richard Fassler, 67, Honolulu

"A wahine from Kahalu'u

went to Hana to see her tutu.

She went on the ferry

with all she could carry

and came back with a case of the flu!"

"There was once an adult kangaroo,

who dreamed he was eating his shoe.

He woke up with a grunt

to check on his runt,

and to find that his dream had come true!"

— Felix Chan, 12, Kawananakoa Middle School sixth-grader

"There once was a fly on the wall.

I wonder why it didn't fall?

Was it because its feet were stuck?

Or was it just good luck?

Or does gravity miss things so small?"

— Hazel Murao, 12, Kawananakoa Middle School sixth-grader

"In cursive to his beloved cat, Maui,

wrote verses, the poet, Howie.

Everytime a new line rhymed with feline,

Maui chimed in, 'Meowie, wowie.' "

— Patrick Daniel Adams, 42, Honolulu

"Wiggly, squiggly worm,

how you jiggle and squirm!

'Til the fish bites,

fisherman's delight.

Wiggly, squiggly worm."

"There once was a big, fat baby

who liked to eat rice with gravy.

He did exercise,

was still over size.

He became so fat and lazy."

— Tanner Inouye, 10, Hongwanji Mission School fifth-grader

"There once was a man from New York

who always acted like a dork.

He wore a top hat

and carried a cat,

who ate a big rat with a fork."

— Travis Moriki, 10, Hongwanji Mission School fifth-grader

"A lovely young lass who is Asian

fell in love with a handsome Caucasian.

They married and then

had three fine children.

Now Mothers' Day's an Asian/Caucasian occasion."

— Dave Thorne, 78, of Kailua

"There once was a girl named Christina

who danced like a ballerina.

She jumped so high,

she thought she could fly.

She ended up in South Korea."

— Christina Martin, 9, Maunawili Elementary School third-grader

"There once was a boy named Kekela

who had a big green umbrella.

He picked his nose with it,

so the police gave him a ticket.

Now he's one unlucky fella!"

— Kekela Woosley-Pablo, 10, Maunawili Elementary School fourth-grader

"We're learning English, a second language.

More difficult than eating a sandwich.

When I want to eat rice,

people think I want lice.

Soon it'll be easy like guzzling a beverage."

— ESL students of Kaimuki School For Adults (instructor Sandra Hee)

"There once was a girl named Anna.

Her dad was a banana.

She loved her dog

and always drank pog

while she watched, 'Hannah Montana.' "

— Michelle Kimura, 10, 'Iolani School fifth-grader

"There once was a very old man

who drove a dirty old van.

It choked and it squeaked,

it coughed and it creaked,

but the man was still happy it ran."