picture book

Talk about a dream come true. KAHO’OLAWE: THE TRUE STORY OF AN ISLAND AND HER PEOPLE is a featured book at Barnes & Noble.

B&N is the only major bookseller on Oʻahu, so being in their window is very cool. Amazing illustrator Harinani Orme and I had fun at the book reading and signing event. But we always have fun when we’re together. It’s so rare for both author and illustrator to appear together. Talk about special!

One little boy about 7 or 8 years old, asked, 

Is this is real story?

Yes, I replied. the story of Kahoʻolawe is very real.

We handed out bookmarks from the publisher and coloring pages Harinani made to the kids, then stayed to talk story with the grownups for a bit.

Mahalo to everyone who stopped by and to the good folks at Barnes & Noble for hosting us!

Photo credit: Harinani Orme

I thrilled to share that my picture book biography, AT THE WATER’S EDGE, about the amazing Native Hawaiian seaweed scientist Dr. Isabella Aiona Abbott, has been officially announced at Publisherʻs Weekly!

 

Dr. Abbott’s story is fascinating. She was first Native Hawaiian to earn a PhD and the first woman of color professor at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station. While at Hopkins, she discovered over 200 species of seaweed and wrote seminal books and papers scientists use today. After retiring as professor emerita from Stanford, Dr. Abbott returned home to Hawai’i where she bridged Native Hawaiian science with Western approaches. Not surprisingly, her students are today’s leaders in marine biology and botany.

Due to be released in Spring 2027 by Lerner Publishing, the book will be illustrated by talented illustrator Remi Jose. 

Mahalo nui …

• to Dr. Abbott’s daughter Annie Abbott Foerster, to her colleagues Dr. Celia Smith and Dr. Puakea Nogelmeier, to her graduate teaching assistant Kim Payton, and to the many students who shared their hali’a aloha — their fond memories — with me
• to my dream editor and publisher, Carol Hinz
• to my agent extraordinaire James McGowan

Photo credit: Rokki Midro

Mahalo ke Akua! After a long career teaching writing (which I really loved), I thrilled beyond words that my debut picture book, KAHOʻOLAWE, has been officially announced at Publisherʻs Weekly!

 

Kahoʻolawe is a story of loss and erasure, of sacrifice and dedication, and, ultimately, of restoration and resilience. Written and illustrated by Native Hawaiians Kamalani Hurley and Harinani Orme, this childrenʻs picture book is the story of aloha ʻāina — a deep love of the land — and explores what happened to Kahoʻolawe and how she is a beacon of hope for the Native Hawaiian people and for people everywhere who fight against social and environmental injustice. 

Mahalo nui …

• to the leaders of the Protect Kaho’olawe ‘Ohana for their expertise and support of this project. Their dedication to Kahoʻolawe and to the Hawaiian people continues to inspire. 
• to editor and publisher, Carol Hinz, whose expertise and patience we are counting on to get the book into the world.
• to my agent James McGowan, who always knew this story needed to be told.

 

image credit: Vicki Palmquist — Winding Oak