Jon ShirotaJon Hiroshi Shirota. Born and raised on Maui, Hawaii. After two years in the U.S. Army graduated from Brigham Young University, in Utah. Worked as an Internal Revenue Agent for seven years before joining the Handy Writers Colony in Southern Illinois here he finished his first novel, Lucky Come Hawaii. Jon Shirota was born on Maui, Hawaii. After serving two years in the U.S. Army, he graduated from Brigham Young University and became an Internal Revenue Agent. He quit his job when he was invited to the Handy Writers Colony in Marshall, Illinois (From Here To Eternity fame) where he finished his first novel Lucky Come Hawaii. Jon is the recipient of several awards: The John F. Kennedy Center Award; The Rockefeller Center Award; The American College Theater Festival for New Plays; The Best Stage Scenes of 1992 by Smith and Kraus Books; and a grant by the Japan/USA Friendship Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts to spend six months in Okinawa doing research of its immigrants to the United States. Read More Read Less