Kapaemahu

(Hardback)

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Description

An Indigenous legend about how four extraordinary individualsof dual male and female spirit, or Mahu, brought healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii, based on the Academy Award-contending short film. In the 15th century, four Mahu sail from Tahiti to Hawaii and share their gifts of science and healing with the people of Waikiki. The islanders return this gift with a monument of four boulders in their honor, which the Mahu imbue with healing powers before disappearing. As time passes, foreigners inhabit the island and the once-sacred stones are forgotten until the 1960s. Though the true story of these stones was not fully recovered, the power of the Mahu still calls out to those who pass by them at Waikiki Beach today. With illuminating words and stunning illustrations byHinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, and Daniel Sousa, KAPAEMAHU is a monument to an Indigenous Hawaiian legend and a classic in the making.

Reviews

COVER MAY VARY.

A Stonewall Honor Book!
A School & Library Journal Best Picture Book of the Year!
A Shelf AwarenessBest Childrens & YA of 2022!

PRAISE FOR KAPAEMAHU

...a glorious picture book reclamation." Shelf Awareness.

A poignant monument to the power of hidden Indigenous histories." Kirkus Reviews, starred review.

...a fine read-aloud in conjunction with a history lesson on Hawaii, its people, their language, and the colonization that occurred." School & Library Journal, starred review.

Sousa's dreamy illustrationstaken from the filmreflect the text's thoughtful tone. Booklist

Sousas illustrations portray the healers as chiseled, monumental forms reminiscent of the stones that house their spirits; the inky shadows and rich red-gold light of the ancient tale contrasts dramatically with the sand-reflected brightness of modern Waikiki. BCCB

A beautiful, important book that not only offers indigenous representation, but also underscores the long history and deep importance of nonbinary people in certain cultures. Mombian

The picture books stunning sepia-toned illustrations, which match the film, combined with the simple but powerful text, make this an excellent introduction to Indigenous Hawaiian culture and to the mahu and third gender people. Book Riot

Author Bio

Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu is a Native Hawaiian teacher, cultural practitioner, and filmmaker who uses digital media to protect and perpetuate Indigenous languages and traditions. She began her film work as an advisor for the award-winning films Kumu Hina and A Place in the Middle, and received a National Education Association Human Rights Award, Native Hawaiian Educator of the Year, and White House Champion of Change Award for the groundbreaking impact campaigns associated with those films. Hina produced the PBS/ARTE feature documentary Leitis in Waiting and award-winning short "Lady Eva" about her transgender sisters in the Kingdom of Tonga. Hina is also a transgender health advocate, burial council chair, and composer of "Ku Haaheo E Kuu Hawaii," the internationally-known anthem for the protection of Mauna Kea, which was honored as Hawaiian Song of the Year in the 2020 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, known as the Hawaiian Grammys.