Michael Shapiro of Honolulu was named winner of the James M. Vaughan Award for Poetry at HPU, for his group of three poems: “After Us,” “Empire of Light,” and “Epilog.” He will receive a $500 check and will be recognized at HPU’s seventh annual Ko‘olau Writing Workshops on March 13, at the Hawai‘i Loa campus in Kane‘ohe.

Shapiro’s winning poems, which were selected from 150 entries statewide, will be published in volume 18 of HPU’s literary magazine, Hawai‘i Pacific Review, scheduled for release this summer.

“ After Us” is about what the earth would be like after the human race is gone; “Empire of Light” is about the presence of light even through clouds “heavy as stones above a dark house”; the third poem, “Epilog,” is about relating to another.

“ These poems are outstanding because of their imagination and form, their unusual subject matter, and the way they seem to be related to each other,” commented poetry judge and HPU English instructor Patrice Wilson.

In addition, an honorable mention award was given to HPU student Dan Manzanares, for his poem “The Grip,” which will also be published in Hawai‘i Pacific Review.

The James M. Vaughan Award for Poetry is named after HPU alumnus James M. Vaughan who established a fund to enhance the literature and poetry programs at HPU. Each year HPU recognizes a Hawai‘i writer for an outstanding poem or group of poems.