About

Click on the “gigi-hawaii” header above to see my most recent ramblings (the main page).

“gigi-hawaii” is a blog nickname for Glenda Chung Hinchey, a third-generation Korean-American, born and raised in Hawaii.  I graduated from the University of Hawaii in 1968 (BA Sociology) and then traveled solo around the world for seven years, living in California, Thailand, Europe, and New York.  I taught English at Voice of America, Thammasat University, and AUA Language Center in Bangkok and was a graduate student in music at Columbia University in New York.  I was a commentator on Hawaii Public Radio for more than a year, and have published an anthology, three memoirs, and many newspaper columns.  I was a legal assistant in Hawaii for many years.  My husband and I have two daughters, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

My interests include classical music, Broadway musicals, art museums, Hawaii, New York, Europe, Thailand, Korea, beautifying our home, enjoying married and family life, and blogging.

• You can borrow my books from Hawaii state public libraries.  They also are sold on Amazon.
• REVIEWS:
• “Literary Breeze from Hawaii: An Anthology”:  A collection of short stories, poetry, and essays written by members of the National Writers Association-Honolulu Chapter.
• “Like a Joyful Bird: A Memoir”:  “Hinchey’s memoir follows a line begun by her Korean grandparents and continued through her life as an adventurous teacher in Southeast Asia and her more stable career in Honolulu as wife and mother.  She tells her story in charming, savvy vignettes, but more importantly, Hinchey has tapped into something profound – a life doesn’t begin with birth and end with death.  We’re all a part of a continuing process.”  – Burl Burlingame, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
• “Love, Life, and Publishing: A Second Memoir”:  “Former Hawaii Public Radio commentator, Glenda Chung Hinchey, returns with the sequel to her 2003 memoir, Like a Joyful Bird.  Hinchey’s Love, Life, and Publishing: A Second Memoir repeats the formula, this time with family anecdotes extending to the present day.  Hinchey also includes two appendices explaining how she managed to turn a profit while self-publishing her first book and how she snagged the HPR gig.  Her family’s story is a fascinating glimpse into the process by which so many local Korean families fought their way into Hawaii’s middle class within a few generations.”  – Joel Harold, Honolulu Weekly
• “Look for Me in Hawaii: A Third Memoir”:  “This book is a collection of stories from the author’s past, her third such effort.  The stories focus on relationships with friends and family.  Born in Hawaii, she lived away for a number of years and has returned to make the islands her home.  The stories run the gamut from details of her daily routine to taking a trip to Croatia to visit a long-lost flame.”  — Honolulu Star-Bulletin