Hawaiiana for Children

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Picture Books	Fiction	Folklore
Hawaiian Language	Biographies	Non-Fiction

Picture Books
E H Ge	Dear Katie, the Volcano IS a girl, by Jean Craighead George. When a woman and her granddaughter visit the volcano on the Big Island, they discuss whether the volcano is a geological formation or actually a Hawaiian goddess.
E H R	Dumpling Soup, by Jama Kim Rattigan. Come celebrate the New Year with this Korean-American family in Hawaii, and see how a young girl learns how to make mandoo, Korean dumplings.
E H M	Gecko Hide and Seek, by Gill McBarnet. Can you find all the geckos hidden in this picture book?
E H F	Hawaii is a Rainbow, by Stephanie Feeney. Using beautiful photos of Hawaiian scenes, this book celebrates the colorful world of Hawaii while teaching young children about colors.
E H A	Hawaii Sings, by Joy S. Au. Vibrant pictures depict all the various traditional Hawaiian implements in this celebration of song and dance.
E H M	How Honu the Turtle Got His Shell, by Casey A. McGuire-Turcotte. A fanciful tale which explains how the Hawaiian sea turtle got his shell. Winner of Raintree’s Publish a Book contest for children.
E H En	I Had a Dollar in Hawaii: a story about one dollar that traveled Hawaii, by Jodi Endicott. A dollar travels all around the islands and finally comes back to the little girl who originally had it. Includes interesting facts about the dollar.
E H Ru	The Island-Below-the-Star, by James Rumford. Five Polynesian brothers, each with a special talent, sail across the Pacific Ocean to the land that would become Hawaii.
E H Gr	Kii and Lii: a story from the stones, by Jeremiah Hookuu Gruenberg. An intriguing and unusual picture book in which all the illustrations are based on Hawaiian stone carvings, or petroglyphs.
E H W	Local Colors, by Wren. This simple board book depicts colors found in everyday items in Hawaii.
E H G	Luka’s Quilt, by Georgia Guback. When Luka’s grandmother makes her a traditional Hawaiian quilt, they disagree over which colors it should include.
E H T	Moki Mongoose Finds a Friend, by Deborah Taylor. Moki Mongoose dreams about finding a friend who looks just like him, but after making a comical mistake, he learns that friends come in all shapes and sizes.
E H T	The Musubi Man: Hawaii’s Gingerbread Man, by Sandi Takayama. The traditional story of the runaway gingerbread man is given a local twist in this funny story about a man made of rice.
E H Co	Pua’s Paniolo Parade, by Jolie Jean Cotton. On the island of Maui, a young girl gets ready for a parade in the paniolo town of Makawao.
E H K	Whose Slippers Are Those?, by Marilyn Kahalewai. Everybody in Hawaii wears slippers, and here are all kinds in all different colors, sizes, and styles.
Fiction
J H Roop	The Cry of the Conch, by Peter Roop. While practicing for a competition, a boy in ancient Hawaii unknowingly breaks a kapu and must flee to safety.
J H Hossack	Green Mango Magic, by Sylvie Adams Hossack. Maile, a girl living in a remote valley on the Big Island, searches for a healer to help her make things right with her father and to cure her friend’s illness.
J H Salisbury	Jungle Dogs, by Graham Salisbury. Twelve-year-old “Boy” lives in Kailua on the edge of the jungle where the wild dogs live. He has to learn to overcome his fear of them, and also to start fighting his own battles, which his older brother is doing for him.
J H Kiehm	Plantation Child and Other Stories, by Eve Begley Kiehm. These seven stories tell of life on a Hawaii plantation, each chapter focusing on one of the Korean immigrant characters.
J H Swanson	The Secret of Petroglyph Cave, by Helen M. Swanson. In this Hawaiian adventure story, Angel’s biggest worry is getting promoted to fifth grade, until he and his friends are threatened by their discovery at Petroglyph Cave.
J H Curtis	Stories of Life in Old Hawaii, by Caroline Curtis. Learn about life in ancient Hawaii through this series of short stories about many aspects of life, such as hula, fishing, games, and tattoos.
J H Masters	The Thief in Chinatown, by Elaine Masters. In Hawaii in the year 1896, a brother and sister try to help a runaway.
J H Nunes	To Find the Way, by Susan Nunes. In picture-book format, this tale tells of Vahi-roa and his people who navigate from Tahiti to Hawaii aboard a great canoe.
J H Salisbury	Under the Blood-Red Sun, by Graham Salisbury. When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Tomi, a Japanese-American boy living in Hawaii, finds that his life is completely changed. A Nene Award winner.
J H Laird	Wili Wai Kula and the Three Mongooses, by Donivee Martin Laird. Set in a Hawaiian forest, this is the local version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, complete with mongooses who speak pidgin!
Folklore
J H 398.2 W	And the Birds Appeared, by Julie Stewart Williams. The boy named Maui, who has magical powers, makes his invisible birds appear, to the amazement of the island people.
J H 398.2 Ru	Ka Hala o Puna: the beauty of Manoa, by Jim Rumford. In this traditional legend, a beautiful young woman is slain by her jealous husband-to-be because of lies he has heard about her. This book is available in both Hawaiian and English.
J H 398.2 T	How Maui Slowed the Sun, by Suelyn Ching Tune. This is one of the best-known of the Hawaiian legends, and explains how Maui battled with the sun and forever changed the way it moves across the sky.
J H 398.2 K	Maui and his Magical Deeds, by Kats Kajiyama. This series of stories recounts the legends and adventures of the famous Maui. The text of these tales is in both English and Hawaiian.
J H 398.2 V	Maui, the Mischief Maker, by Dietrich Varez. Striking block prints accompany these legends which tell of the trickster and demigod Maui and his exploits.
J H 398.2 A	Na Moolelo Hawaii o ka Wa Kahiko = Stories of Old Hawaii, by Roy Alameida. The stories in this collection of forty-five Hawaiian legends are divided into categories such as music and dance, plants, beliefs and customs, and earth, fire, and water.
J H 398.21 No	Pele and the Rivers of Fire, by Michael Nordenstrom. In simple language and with vivid illustrations, this book explains who Pele is and how she created new land in the Hawaiian islands through her eruptions.
J H 398.2 V	Pele, the Fire Goddess, by Dietrich Varez. Enhanced by gorgeous prints, this is the story of Hawaii’s famous volcano goddess, Pele.
J H 398.2099 Wa	Punia and the King of Sharks, by Lee Wardlaw. A boy named Punia angers the King of Sharks because he is constantly tricking him in order to steal lobster from the cave which he is guarding.
J H 398.20996 Ma	The Shark God, by Rafe Martin. Two children break a Hawaiian law by touching the pahu (drum) of the King, which is forbidden. Now their parents plead to the fearsome Shark God to save the children from their fate.
J H 398.2 P	Tales of the Menehune, by Mary Kawena Pukui. There are thirty-seven Hawaiian tales in this collection, some featuring Hawaii’s “little people’ known as the menehune, some featuring Maui and Pele.
J H 398.2 B	Talking Story with Nona Beamer: stories of a Hawaiian family, by Winona DeSha Beamer. Auntie Nona, of the famous Beamer family, shares a dozen Hawaiian stories about nature and people.
J H 398.2099 Ra	The Woman in the Moon: a story from Hawaii, by Jama Kim Rattigan. Hina is known as the Hawaiian Lady in the Moon, and this story explains why she has escaped there.
Hawaiian Language
E H He	E Ao Mai i ka Piapa Hawaii, by Kawaiolaokalani Hewett. A clever book which teaches each letter of the Hawaiian alphabet through photographs and drawings.
J H 499.4 H	Hawaiian Word Book, illustrated by Robin Yoko Burningham. Beautifully illustrated, this is an easy way for children to learn basic Hawaiian words. This book has an accompanying cassette tape.
J H 499.4 La	Hawaiian Words and Pictures, by Cassandra Land-Nellist. This book, aimed at young children, is a good choice for beginning learners of the Hawaiian language. Each Hawaiian word is accompanied by a colorful drawing.
J H 398.2 A	Hawaiiloa, by Lilinoe Andrews. One of the legends about the first people to come to Hawaii, the text of this tale is completely in Hawaiian and is also available with a cassette. The English translation is on the back cover flap.
J H 499.4232 W	Illustrated Hawaiian Dictionary, by Kahikahealani Wight. For the more advanced Hawaiian language student, this dictionary is useful for both Hawaiian to English and English to Hawaiian translations.
E H Ka	Ke Nui Ae Au, by Keiki Chang Kawaiaea. The words and accompanying photographs show the many different things that children might be when they grow up. The brief text of this book is in Hawaiian. An English translation appears at the end.
J H 499.4 K	Let’s Learn to Count in Hawaiian, by Keiki Chang Kawaiaea. This simple picture book introduces the Hawaiian numbers from 1 to 10 along with some other common words and phrases. This is also available with a cassette tape.
E H Ol	Na Olelo Noeau no na Keiki = Words of Wisdom for Children. These illustrated Hawaiian sayings impart Hawaiian values through pictures and text. Each saying is accompanied by a direct translation and brief explanation.
Biographies
J H B Damien	Father Damien: the man who lived and died for the victims of leprosy, by Pam Brown. A biography of the Belgian priest who gave his life to help the victims of Hansen’s disease in the colony on Molokai.
J H B Kalakaua	David Kalakaua, by Ruby Hasegawa Lowe. Known as Hawaii’s “Merrie Monarch”, King David Laamea Kalakaua revived the ancient hula and brought it back into popularity.
J H B Kahanamoku	Duke Kahanamoku, Hawaii’s Golden Man, by Joseph Brennan. Learn about Hawaii’s great surfing legend, Duke Kahanamoku.
J H B Kamehameha I	Kamehameha the Great, by Julie Stewart Williams. Kamehameha the Great, known as “The Lonely One”, united all the Hawaiian islands. This book is available in both Hawaiian and English versions.
J H B Kamehameha II	Kamehameha II: Liholiho and the Impact of Change, by Julie Stewart Williams. Liholiho became heir to the Hawaiian kingdom at a time of great change, and was ultimately responsible for the abolishment of the traditional kapu system.
J H B Kamehameha III	Kamehameha III: Kauikeaouli, by Jean Iwata Cachola. Kauikeaouli ruled the longest of all the Hawaiian monarchs, and helped persuade other countries of the world to formally recognize the kingdom of Hawaii.
J H B Kamehameha IV	Kamehameha IV: Alexander Liholiho, by Ruby Hasegawa Lowe. When Alexander Liholiho was King, he and his wife, Queen Emma, established the Queen’s Hospital because of their concern for the health and well-being of the Hawaiian people. This book is available in both Hawaiian and English versions.
J H B Kamehameha V	Kamehameha V: Lot Kapuaiwa, by Rosalin Uphus Comeau. Lot Kapuaiwa was firmly rooted in traditional Hawaiian values and kept Hawaii free and independent. This book is available in both Hawaiian and English versions.
J H B Kaiulani	The Last Princess: the story of Princess Kaiulani of Hawaii, by Fay Stanley. In the late 1800’s, Hawaii’s heir to the throne, the young Princess Kaiulani, was denied her right to rule when the monarchy was abolished.
J H B Liliuokalani	Liliuokalani, by Ruby Hasegawa Lowe. Hawaii’s last, and perhaps best-known, Queen was Liliuokalani, world-renowned as a composer as well as a ruler. This book is available in both Hawaiian and English versions.
J H B Lunalilo	Lunalilo, by Peter Galuteria. Lunalilo became Hawaii’s first elected King in the year 1873. This book is available in both Hawaiian and English versions.
J H B Nicholson	Pearl Harbor Child: a child’s view of Pearl Harbor — from attack to peace, by Dorinda Makanaonalani Stagner Nicholson. The author describes what it was like as a child to live through the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
J H B Kalanianaole	Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, by Frances Reed. Prince Kuhio was Hawaii’s delegate to the United States Congress from 1903 to 1921, and was instrumental in establishing the Hawaiian Homestead Act to protect lands specifically for the Hawaiian people.
J H B Bishop	Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, by Julie Stewart Williams. Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop loved children, and it is her legacy that created the Kamehameha Schools, named after her great-grandfather Kamehameha the Great. This book is available in both Hawaiian and English versions.
Non-Fiction
J H 372.83 M	Resource Units in Hawaiian Culture, by Donald D. Kilolani Mitchell. One of the best sources for learning about different aspects of traditional Hawaiian culture, covering sixteen aspects of Hawaiian life.
J H 551.21 Or	Discover Hawaii’s Birth by Fire Volcanoes, by Katherine Shelley Orr and Mauliola Cook. Hawaii was created by volcanoes, and continues to be shaped by volcanic activity. Learn all about volcanoes, Hawaii’s geology, and ancient volcano legends.
J H 551.21099 Fu	Kilauea: Hawaii’s Most Active Volcano, by Kathy Furgang. In simple language accompanied by vivid photography, this book teaches all about Kilauea, the very active volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.
J H 572.996 Du	The Hawaiians of Old, by Betty Dunford. The newest edition, 2002, is an update of a classic textbook used to teach about the ancient Hawaiian civilization. This book is enhanced with beautiful artwork by Hawaiian artist and historian Herb Kawainui Kane.
J H 572.9969 W	From the Mountains to the Sea: early Hawaiian life, by Julie Stewart Williams. Learn about Hawaiian life and the natural environment of Hawaiÿi before Western contact.
J H 574 O	Flowing to the Sea = Ke kahe nei i ke kai, by Maura O’Connor. The streams and wetlands of Hawaii and the creatures who live there make up an important part of the ecosystem. The text is in both English and Hawaiian.
J H 574.5263 O	Discover Hawaii’s Freshwater Wildlife, by Katherine Shelley Orr. This book describes Hawaii’s freshwater streams, waterbirds, insects, and other creatures who live in streams and wetlands.
J H 574.92 F	Sand to Sea: marine life of Hawaii, by Stephanie Feeney. A good introduction to Hawaii’s marine life found in tide pools, shallow waters, and the deep ocean.
J H 574.92 O	Discover Hawaii’s Sandy Beaches and Tidepools, by Katherine Shelley Orr. Find out about what creatures live in Hawaii’s tidepools and what you can do to help protect seashore areas.
J H 574.92 O	The Hawaiian Coral Reef Coloring Book, by Katherine Shelley Orr. The twenty-two drawings in this coloring book help children learn about Hawaii’s coral reefs and the plants and animals found there. English, Hawaiian, and scientific names are given.
J H 578.73 Bo	Discover Hawaii’s Natural Forests, by David Boynton. The Hawaiian rain forest is a fascinating world. Learn about all the different types of forests in the Hawaiian islands and the endangered species who live there.
J H 591 C	Native Animals of Hawaii Coloring Book, by Patrick Ching. This coloring book gives you an opportunity to learn about fifteen of Hawaii’s native animals, their Hawaiian names, and their status as endangered creatures.
J H 597.92817 Ch	Sea Turtles of Hawaii, by Patrick Ching. The honu, or Hawaiian sea turtle, is a very popular animal in the islands. Learn all about the honu through these wonderful pictures and text.
J H 598.177 Or	Discover Hawaii’s Soaring Seabirds, by Katherine Shelley Orr. Hawaii has many different types of seabirds, such as the albatross and the booby. Find out how and where they live, and learn their Hawaiian names.
J H 598.2 M	Flight of the Golden Plover: the amazing migration between Hawaii and Alaska, by Debbie S. Miller. The kolea, or plover, makes one of the longest and most amazing migration journeys on Earth.
J H 598.41 C	Nene, by Marion Coste. Our state bird is the nene, or Hawaiian goose. Find out about this special bird and the problems that have threatened its survival.
J H 599.5 O	Discover Hawaii’s Marine Mammals, by Katherine Shelley Orr. Whales, dolphins, and monk seals all make Hawaii their home. In this book, you can learn all about these wonderful sea creatures and how they have interacted with humans.
J H 599.748 C	The Hawaiian Monk Seal, by Patrick Ching. Full of wonderful photographs, this book teaches all about Hawaii’s monk seal; its habitat, its behavior, and its future.
J H 790 M	Hawaiian Games for Today, by Donald D. Kilolani Mitchell. Using a series of photographs of students from Kamehameha Schools, this book teaches all about traditional Hawaiian games and how they can be played today.
J H 811.08 S	Small Kid Time Hawaii, edited by Eric Chock. This collection of poetry was written by children from all over Hawaii, from elementary school age through high school.
J H 812 R	Talkies: ghost stories of Hawaii, by Roland Roy. Five spooky plays for children to perform, all set in Hawaii.
J H 912.969 Ju	Student Atlas of Hawaii, by James O. Juvik, Thomas R. Paradise, Sonia P. Juvik. This atlas, available in both English and Hawaiian versions, was created by three geographers from the University of Hawaii at Hilo to help the children of Hawaii learn about their home.
J H 919.69 F	Hawaii (From Sea to Shining Sea series), by Dennis B. Fradin. An introduction to the Aloha State, especially geared towards children from grades 2 to 4.
J H 919.691 Ne	Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, by Sharlene and Ted Nelson. A simple introduction to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. Part of “A True Book” series.
J H 940.5426 Kr	Pearl Harbor, by Stephen Krensky. For younger readers, this is a good introduction to the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Ready-to-Read series, level 3, for children reading on their own.
J H 996.9 Hi	Hawaii (America the Beautiful, Second Series), by Martin Hintz. >From the “America the Beautiful” series, this is an excellent introduction to the state of Hawaii, especially for grades 4-6.
J H 996.9 R	Hawaii, the Pacific State, by Ann Rayson and Helen Bauer. This textbook gives grade school children a good overview of the 50th state, its history, geography, and people.
J H 996.921 Pe	Haleakala National Park, by David Petersen. Haleakala, Maui’s famous volcano, is introduced to young children through simple text and photographs. Part of “A True Book” series.

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