As readers of this blog know, we highlight the talented creators of our AANHPI — Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander — community. We are excited that our longtime friend, Brandi-Ann Uyemura, has a new book out this month! A lot has happened since we first featured her in 2022. She recently sat down to talk story and catch us up about her debut picture book, I am a Bon Dancer.
Hawai’i is blessed with a diverse population, in large part due to our sugar plantation history. Hard-working people from far away places as China, Portugal, Japan, Puerto Rico, the Korean peninsula, the Philippines, and Russia settled here, raising their families and contributing to what has become our unique local culture. This is reflected in the delightful debut picture book, I am a Bon Dancer, written by fifth-generation Japanese American Brandi-Ann Uyemura…
Mahalo nui to the Evanston Public Library and the Blueberry Committee for awarding KAHO’OLAWE: THE TRUE STORY OF AN ISLAND AND HER PEOPLE a 2025 Changemakers Award! The story of the island and the people who love her will inspire readers everywhere. Kaho’olawe Aloha ʻĀina!
daShop: books+curiosities in Kaʻimukī was the place to be on Saturday, February 28! Its parent company, Bess Press, hosted us in an epic book signing and art+writing pāʻina (party). Mahalo nui to David Deluca (Publisher and Coo), Kristen Namba Reed (Director of Publishing, Trade), Sarah Deluca (Director of Literacy and Curriculum Design), Dimpna Figuracion (Educational Partnerships Manager) and Jen Yoneshige (Operations Manager) for making the event so much fun! The space was filled with so much aloha! What made this event so special is that the book’s illustrator, Harinani Orme, came prepared with her sketches and notebooks. She took the audience on a journey, from her research process and preliminary sketches to the final paintings that made it into the book.Best of all, we talked story with the librarians, teachers, readers, parents, and grandparents in the audience who had brought their children. Our hope is that more people will learn the story of Kahoʻolawe and how the little island continues to thrive today. Please enjoy these photos of the event. Mahalo nui!
Native Hawaiian journalist Hannah Kaʻiulani Colburn is a digital news producer at Hawaiʻi Public Radio and an in-demand freelancer for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ Ka Wai Ola O OHA. Many of her articles focus on the native community. Her wide-ranging interviews reveal the vibrant artistic community that’s thriving in Hawai’i. Today we talk story with Hannah about her writing life.
2025 was an amazing year! I am so grateful!
This banner year began with the launch party at Native Books of my debut children’s book, Kaho’olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People. The book was a dream come true and three years in the making. Mahalo to owner Maile Meyer and her incredible staff for hosting us!
Then came the wonderful news that the book was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection! By the end of the first quarter, Kaho’olawe had earned starred reviews by the School Library Journal and by Kirkus.
I’m always up to talk about the book, and so I did in a flurry of interviews and posts during the summer and fall. Even more fun was attending several book events with the book’s talented illustrator, Harinani Orme.
We ended the year in the best way imaginable — Kaho’olawe was honored on FIVE national Best of 2025 lists:
I love Betsy Bird’s 31 Lists blog. So imagine my delight that Kaho’olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People is included in her 2025 American History list! So grateful!
What started out as a bit scary turned out to be such fun! I’d never been interviewed for public radio before, so I was nervous. Editor Catherine Cluett Pactol made me feel right at home. Honestly, I can talk about the book all day, and I think I did! Because of time and space limitations, she couldn’t include everything we’d talked about. She did a great job in focusing on the best parts for the interview. BUT what was left out was my heartfelt aloha for the book’s wonderful illustrator, Harinani Orme. Harinani’s art is richly textured and vividly colorful and based on tons of research. She is amazing, and I am grateful to call her my friend.
Catherine asked for a photo of me with the book. Anyone who knows me knows I don’t like being photographed, but duty called! So out to our lanai I went with my husband, Tim, in tow.
Mahalo to Hawai’i Public Radio for featuring Kaho’olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People!
I believe that all voices deserve to be heard. Mahalo to the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Books of 2025 List for including Kaho’olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People!
Woohoo! I am so grateful that Kaho’olawe: The Story of an Island and Her People is an NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Book! Mahalo nui to the NCTE for this honor!
