Poke Mon

Ryu Kingston grew up in the shadow of two cultures; his mother’s traditional Hawaiian upbringing, and his father’s open and embracing Jamaican heritage. Despite their cultural differences, their love guided Ryu’s development. And, while he felt like an outsider with everyone, he knew his parents loved and supported him. When his parents both die suddenly in a tragic accident, Ryu is lost. Raised in America, Ryu never had much of a connection to either culture. As relatives fly in from around the world to pay their respects at the funeral, Ryu learns there is so much more to his parent’s story than he knew. He learns of the struggles they overcame to be together, and the enduring love they had for each other. Trying to understand how he fits in the story, Ryu sets out to recreate their journeys; first in Hawaii, then Jamaica, and finally back in America. He’ll discover a passion for his parents heritages and cultures, and find a way to share it by opening a restaurant that blends traditional Hawaiian dishes with nouveau Jamaican cuisine. Ryu’s journey started as a way to honor his parent’s lives, but by end they’ll have shown him how to build his own.