One Family Makes Difference for Haole Boy
MILWAUKIE, Ore., March 19, 2009 — Lanakila Achong didn’t feel any love as a child — only pain, fear and hatred. It is his fondest, deepest hope that his daughter’s life will be nothing like his — and he wanted to share this with her. Through “Haole Boy” (published by iUniverse) by Lanakila Achong, unconditional love, enduring life lessons and the power of family are penned for the author’s daughter and readers alike.
Sharp, painful images pour off the page as Achong describes the abuse and neglect of his childhood. The result of the loveless environment began to surface in him as he grew. Conflicts at school would become full-out fights as Achong acted upon the deep-seeded anger he harbored inside. Amazingly, even at his young age, Achong comes to the realization that while his world was filled with violence, striking back with violence at school or in society would never be accepted. It is one of the truths he discovers early on that defines his life.
With a mother who had a drug problem, an estranged father who drank and no adult offering unconditional love, Achong grew up feeling as if he was “nobody’s child.” From foster homes to relatives, his upbringing was tumultuous and strained. Caring parents of a friend take him in for one of the brighter times during high school, but even that stay is short-lived. Often, Achong is told he must find a new place to live.
Without someone to step in, unloved children become angry adults and never experience the difference a caring family can make. The author’s life completely changes with the appearance of a multicultural family who embraces him for who he is and all he will become.
From that point on, “Haole Boy,” meaning “white” in modern Hawaii, becomes a triumphant story of unconditional love and the bonds they create. With a family who loves and believes in him, Achong doesn’t just survive his childhood, he grows into a successful, confident and self-assured young man. Achong goes on to serve in law enforcement, a further testament to the strength of family. “Haole Boy” is not just one man’s incredible story, but living proof that love can change someone’s life forever.
About the Author
Lanakila Achong graduated from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons and was on a federal SWAT team based in Los Angeles, CA. Achong currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with his wife Adrian and daughter Onipa’a. It is his first book.
iUniverse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit http://www.iuniverse.com.
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