The Hawai‘i Book Publishers Association sponsors the annual Ka Palapala Po‘okela Awards program which, with assistance from Hawai‘i’s public libraries and input from the public recognizes the best in Hawai‘i book publishing and honors those who have created Hawai‘i’s best
The Hawai‘i Book Publishers Association sponsors the annual Ka Palapala Po‘okela Awards program which, with assistance from Hawai‘i’s public libraries and input from the public recognizes the best in Hawai‘i book publishing and honors those who have created Hawai‘i’s best books during the previous year. This year the 18th annual awards will be announced May 6.
Each year Lihu‘e Public Library houses a display of all books nominated for the awards. This reference collection is available for the public judges to study before casting their ballots. Book Buzz this week gives a guided tour of some notable new Hawai‘i books in the batch. Check them out at your local public library.
Happy reading!
Akule
Photographs by Wayne Levin
Essays by Thomas Farber and Frank Stewart
RH 779.32 Le
If you want to experience something fantastic, take a look at this gem. From the first photograph we feel ourselves underwater and a spectator of the glorious submarine drama that is a school of fishes. Photographer Levin’s black and white photographs of akule reveal the enthralling movement of the schools and the mysterious lighting in the near-shore waters. Don’t miss it! For the story of another ocean-going creature, check out Stories of Rell Sunn: Queen of Makaha compiled by Greg Ambrose.
Anshu: Dark Sorrow
By Juliet S. Kono
HFic Kono
Poet Kono delivers an historical novel that spans the cane fields of Hawai’i to the devastation in Hiroshima following a pregnant Japanese-American teen sent to live with relatives in Tokyo. She weaves experiences of darkness and flames into a story of strength and determination. For another Hawai‘i story told in many voices try Practice Aloha: Secrets to Living Life Hawaiian Style compiled and edited by Mark Ellman & Barbara Santos.
Beyond the Sandbox: Preschool Matters
Closing the Gap between Research and Practice
By Phyllis De Graff Kunimura
RH 372.21 Ku
The intrepid founder of K.I.D.S., Kauai Independent Daycare Services has produced a valuable case study/handbook for preschools that follow child development principles based on scientific knowledge and research. Kunimura balances the theoretical with instructions and examples from her years of success integrating right and left brain activities for grounded early childhood development. This straightforward book deserves a wide audience.
The Blue Tomato: The Inspirations behind the Cuisine of Alan Wong
By Alan Wong
RH 641.5 Wo
It’s hard to decide if this is a cook book, an art book, a specialty Hawai‘i guide book or a manifesto for buying local. It is a beautifully illustrated hardcover large format book with recipes for gorgeous food that also discusses island ingredients, gives cooking lessons, and tours local farms, ranches and fish markets. It also serves a bit as a memoir, a reflection on the noted chef’s creative process and his food philosophies. The beautiful food is so extraordinary I’m not sure real people would ever cook it, but reading the book is an education and a pleasure.
Legend of the Gourd
Adapted and Illustrated by Caren Ke’ala Loebel-Fried
RJH 398.20996 Lo
This new storybook publication on an old Hawaiian story is alive with the vibrant and colorful graphic illustrations unique to Loebel-Fried. The tale is well-told in both English and Hawaiian (translated by Kaliko Beamer-Trapp) and is sure to be a classic. Several other bilingual Hawaiian storybooks were added to shelves last year including No ke Anila: Our Hawai‘i Weather by Kaulana Dameg, Mohala Mai O Hau: How Hau became Hau’ula by Robert Lono Ikuwa and Aia he Kaheka: There’s a Tide Pool by Makela Bruno.
A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Hawai‘i
The Main Islands and Offshore Waters
By Jim Denny
RH 598.09969 De
Author Denny has been stalking and photographing Hawai‘i’s birds for decades and this clear user-friendly guide is the happy result. It is well designed with excellent photographs, bird descriptions, distributions, and birding locations. See also Robert j. Shallenberger’s Hawaiian Birds of the Sea: Ka Manu Kai packed with information and wonderful photographs of seabird species of the Hawaiian Islands. For cute, it’s hard to beat Fairy Tern, Tropicbird or Bulwer’s Petrel chicks.
Polynesia: The Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection of Polynesian Art
By Adrienne L. Kaeppler
RH 709.96 Ka
This beautifully designed and rendered, important and awe-inspiring oversize tome documents the art objects of one of the Pacific’s main private art collectors; and the collection is truly stunning in both number of items and their beauty. By contrast check out Arts and Crafts of Micronesia: Trading with Tradition by Barbara Wavell which emphasizes modern craft.
Hart Wood: Architectural Regionalism in Hawai‘i
By Don Hibbard, Glenn Mason and Karen Weitze
RH 720.92 Hi
Hart Wood, architect of the Wilcox Memorial Library (now housing Kauai Museum) and the Lihue Union Church and Parish Hall was inspired early in his career by buildings at Waioli Mission and became a leader in developing a vernacular architecture for Hawai‘i. According to the authors it was he who transformed the porous lava rock into a primary building material. Wood went on to design Honolulu City Hall and many other prominent commercial and residential buildings in the State. Packed with black & white photographs this retrospective chronicles the architect’s career in the islands. Also look for The Queen’s Medical Center: Hale Ma’I o ka Wahine Ali’i by Jason Y. Kimura which tells the story of the foundation and development of the institution.
Mai Pa‘a I Ka Leo: Historical Voice in Hawaiian Primary Materials
Looking Forward and Listening Back
By M. Puakea Nogelmeier
RH 996.90072 No
Nogelmeier’s scholarly work looks at the discrepancies between the small self-replicating cannon of translated and published early Hawaiian writers that became the reference standard and the very large volume and wealth of un-translated Hawaiian writing from the same century that was largely ignored. She inventories and discusses the two information sources and comments on the ways this omission has skewed and affected history. She also looks at the dynamics of a “discourse of sufficiency” in which a system of understanding history is based on a widespread acceptance of very little as being enough.
Regulating Paradise: Land Use Controls in Hawai‘i
By David L. Callies
RH 346.045 Ca
University of Hawai‘i law professor Callies reviews Hawai‘i land use laws depicting the complexity, conflicts and conundrums of navigating these multi-layered State and County legal waters. In his clear and entertaining second edition he updates reviews of legislative and judicial activity and uses his insight to comment on future paths. Another real property reference is the excellent Living on the Shores of Hawai’i: Natural Hazards, the Environment and Our Communities by Charles Fletcher, et. al.
The Story of Chinaman’s Hat
By Dean Howell
EH Howell
Don Robinson’s delightful and beautifully-lighted illustrations bring this magical and well-told tale of young Lick Bean and friends to life. This storybook has “read aloud” written all over it.
• Carolyn Larson, head librarian at Lihu‘e Public Library, brings you the buzz on new, popular and good books available at your neighborhood library. Book annotations are culled from online publishers’ descriptions and published reviews.
