Laurie Birnsteel

ABOUT THE AUTHOR I grew up in Honolulu, graduated from Punahou School in 1964 and the University of Louisville, Kentucky, four years later. Since then, I've worn a lot of hats. In the 1970s I helped start the YMCA's Shelter House for Runaways, which evolved into the YMCA's Safe Place Services. In the 1980s I was development director for an independent high school, then became interested in Kentucky's history and wrote a monthly newsletter for The Louisville Historical League. I also became a realtor, learned astrology, wrote "Sunspot: The Best Ever Astrological Guide To Your Dog", took writing workshops and wrote "Kahala: Growing Up In Hawaii." Since then, I've written another book but decided to shelve it for fear of offending family. In 2014, “Kahala. Growing Up In Hawaii,” won an Independent Book Publisher Award (IPPY). Originally released in 2002, "Kahala" was given a gold medal for “Regional E Books West of the Mississippi including Australia and New Zealand.” Award-winners were chosen from over 5,600 entries, representing 45 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, five Canadian provinces, and ten countries overseas.