Two New Children’s Books Bridge Natural And Cultural Worlds
The latest books from Bishop Museum’s Kamahoi Press delight and inspire readers to connect with the environment and Hawai‘i’s culture. While the two publications are designed for children, they will undoubtedly touch the hearts of young and old alike. Both are available in bookstores now.
Pulelehua and Māmaki, a new illustrated children’s book, is a story based in the lush Hawaiian rainforest, beneath a canopy of ‘ōhi‘a trees, where native flora and fauna live in harmony. A lovely butterfly, Pulelehua discovers the māmaki tree that sheltered her as a child and leaves a newborn egg on one of its leaves. Follow along as the wise māmaki nutures its new keiki hānai named Ke Li‘i, the little one, through his stages of life, from a tiny black caterpillar to a magnificent Kamehameha Butterfly.
Author Janice Crowl grew up on O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island, and spent her childhood exploring and learning about the natural wonders of Hawai‘i’s beaches and rainforests. Her love of “wild things” continued to grow over the years, leading her to study horticulture and eventually to teaching garden-based curricula in school gardens around the state.
Beautifully written and illustrated with the whimsical artwork of Harinani Orme, Pulelehua and Māmaki shows how closely the the elements of Hawai‘i’s ecosystem are intertwined and how we can all help to preserve these natural wonders. In addition, the book’s comprehensive backmatter includes further infomation about the rare and endaged plants and animals in the story and information on how to grow māmaki in your own garden.
Pulelehua and Māmaki
By Janice Crowl
Illustrated by Harinani Orme
Hardcover, $14.95, 36 pages
Also recently released from Kamahoi Press is Naupaka by the late beloved Hawaiian cultural treasure, Aunty Nona Beamer. In this loving testament to her legacy of story, Aunty Nona tells of a time long, long ago, when a romance blossomed between two young villagers—Naupaka, a kind and beautiful Hawaiian princess, and Kau‘i, a handsome and gentle commoner.
At its heart, this telling of Naupaka captures well the multilayered richness of traditional Hawaiian storytelling. On its surface, the folktale explains for young readers the curious phenomenon of the namesake plant’s “half” flowers. On a much deeper level, it also explains aspects of traditional Hawaiian social structure, the importance of familial duty, and a timeless commitment that utimately transcends both.
Written in both English and Hawaiian, Naupaka also features the vibrant and evocative block prints of artist Caren Ke‘ala Loebel-Fried and includes an audio CD featuring Nona Beamer with musical accompaniment by slack-key master and son, Keola Beamer.
Naupaka
Told by Nona Beamer
Illustrated by Caren Ke‘ala Loebel-Fried
Hawaiian translation by Kaliko Beamer-Trapp
Music by Keola Beamer
Hardcover w/ audio CD, $14.95, 32 pages
Both titles are also now available at Bishop Museum’s Shop Pacifica and other fine booksellers throughout the islands. For information on these great new books and all of Bishop Press publications, please visit http://www.bishopmuseum.org/press or call 847-3511. Bishop Museum Press is Hawai‘i’s oldest book publisher and one of the first scholarly publishers in the Western Hemisphere.
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