Facebook Instagram
Kamalani Hurley Native Hawaiian author
Kamalani Hurley Native Hawaiian author
Kamalani Hurley Native Hawaiian author

Books

Kaho'olawe by Kamalani Hurley and Harinani Orme Millbrook Press

    

written by Kamalani Hurley
illustrated by Harinani Orme
Millbrook Press, 4 February 2025
ISBN 979–8765605011
ages 7 and older

Buy the Book 

Native Books (in Hawaii)

Bookshop. org (local booksellers)

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Asian Pacific American Literary Award
National Council of Teachers of English Orbis Pictus Recommended Book
The Blueberry Award
Junior Library Guild Gold Selection

Kaho’olawe

The True Story of an Island and Her People

In the middle of the great Pacific Ocean is a little island. Her name is Kanaloa Kaho‘olawe.

Discover the story of an island sacred to Native Hawaiians. Beginning with her birth in a volcanic eruption, Kaho‘olawe thrives surrounded by animals on land and in the sea. When Polynesian voyagers arrive and begin to raise their families there, the island is happy. As the years pass, invasive goats devastate the ecosystem, and during World War II and the decades that follow, the US military claims the island for target practice. Kaho‘olawe is hurt. Yet activists never give up on the island, and they finally succeed in reclaiming her.

Kaho‘olawe endures.

Author Kamalani Hurley and illustrator Harinani Orme present the remarkable story of the smallest Hawaiian island, encompassing loss and erasure, sacrifice and dedication, and ultimately restoration, highlighting hope, resilience, and aloha ‘āina (deep love of the land).

Awards and Recognition

Resources

Reviews

  A stunningly beautiful book that tells the story of destruction, devastation, and resilience, of both the human and natural world. Kaho‘olawe is a small island in the Pacific that has survived a string of manmade disasters. With the help of science and the care of dedicated humans, the island is recovering. From imported invasive species, to war and environmental degradation, Kaho‘olawe has faced a range of threats to its very survival. A deep love and dedication to the island’s history and culture compelled activists and volunteers to invest time and energy to rebuild and protect the island’s ecosystem. The artwork tells the story in dramatic, compelling, and beautiful ways. Together, text and art will engage readers from the first page. Animal lovers will lose themselves in the fascinating depictions of the island’s wildlife, and students of history will be enthralled with the role the island played in WWII and subsequent decades. VERDICT Suited for classrooms and browsers, this is an excellent choice across the curricula and a winner across the board. (Darby Wallace, School Library Journal, starred review)

  The history of the smallest of Hawai‘i’s eight main islands — and the activists who worked tirelessly to safeguard it.

In an author’s note, Hurley explains that, like many Native Hawaiians, she was taught that Kahoʻolawe was merely a “barren rock.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Though Kahoʻolawe isn’t “as lush as the other Hawaiian islands,” wildlife thrives here, as did the Polynesian wayfinders who settled here years ago. But the arrival of newcomers who often brought with them invasive species — goats brought by Capt. George Vancouver in 1793, for instance — disrupted the environment. When World War II began, the U.S. military took over Kahoʻolawe for target practice; people were kept away. Hawaiian residents were told that the island was suitable only for military testing, but in the 1970s, activists started to advocate for its protection, guided by the principle of aloha ʻāina, or “deep love of the land.” In 1993, the state of Hawai‘i assumed control of the island. Hurley’s robust prose paints a vivid portrait, with each page ending in a brief statement from the island’s point of view. Sidebars offer more in-depth information about island ecology and history, while Orme’s energetic, painterly illustrations fill the page with strikingly rich textures. Together, text and art offer a powerful counternarrative to misconceptions about the island: “The people love Kahoʻolawe. And Kahoʻolawe loves the people.”

An incredible, brilliantly told story of persistence, advocacy, and love. (list of Hawaiian sayings, author’s and illustrator’s notes, photographs, timeline, glossary, ways to help, resources, selected references)  (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

While the Big Island, Maui, and Oahu are the Hawaiian Islands that receive the most attention, this beautifully illustrated picture book introduces the smallest and only uninhabited island, Kaho’olawe. Painted illustrations with bold colors, thick brushstrokes, and rich textures enhance three layers of text. Short, lyrical passages trace the island’s history, from its volcanic creation, thriving wildlife, and early Polynesian visitors to examining the U.S. military occupation and target practice following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the ensuing desolation, and the eventual preservation projects to restore the island’s natural resources. Boxes with straightforward text in a smaller font offer more details about historic events, including activists who peacefully occupied the island to draw attention to its military invasion, and grassroots efforts to grow native plants and stop erosion. Finally, statements about the island in a large, colorful font, such as “Kaho’olawe endures,” honor this land, its people, and their culture. Concluding author and illustrator notes, photographs, a time line, and other back matter further recognize the social justice and environmental activism to save Kaho’olawe. (Angela Leeper, Booklist)

As it happens, this is a fascinating take on a Hawaiian island I previously knew nothing about. The story shows the full history of Kaho’olawe, letting the reader get to know her and love her before the American military bombs the bloody heck out of her. I liked that you had a bigger, younger text with bold statements in dark red (“Kaho’olawe is weary”) as well as small boxes of longer text for older readers. Great backmatter, a timeline (!!), a Glossary, info on how kids can help (very important and not said in such a way where it makes it sound like everything is up to them), additional Resources, and Selected References. Whew! Thorough! (Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production)