Hawaii’s biggest literary award night is coming to a close. There was ʻono food, scrumptious chocolates, nahenahe music, a few surprises and a lot of cheers. All of this in spite of the gloomy, watery weather. Mahalo and congratulations to the Hawaiʻi Book Publishers Association for another successful year.

Here is the list of honorable mentions and winners in each of the thirteen categories. Stay tuned later on this weekend for an event recap and write-up of our thoughts. For now… here are your 2011 Ka Palapala Poʻokela Award Winners:

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Excellence in Children’s Hawaiian Culture

  • Winner – Legend of the Gourd adapted and illus. by Caren Keʻala Loebel-Fried, Hawaiian translation by Kaliko Beamer-Trapp (Bishop Museum Press)
  • Hon. Mention Kohala Kuamoʻo: Naeʻole’s Race to Save a King by Kekauleleanaeʻole Kawaiʻaeʻa, illus. by Aaron Kawaiʻaeʻa, moʻolelo by Luana and Walter Kawaiʻaeʻa (Kamehameha Publishing)

Excellence in Children’s Illustrative/Photographic Books

  • Winner – Legend of the Gourd adapted and illus. by Caren Keʻala Loebel-Fried, Hawaiian translation by Kaliko Beamer-Trapp (Bishop Museum Press)
  • Hon. Mention Plenty Saimin by Feng Feng Hutchins, illus. by Adriano F. Abatayo III (Island Paradise Publishing)

Excellence in Children’s Literature

Excellence in Hawaiian Culture

Excellence in Literature

Excellence in Illustrative or Photographic Books

Excellence in Natural Science

Excellence in Text or Reference Books

Excellence in Cookbooks

Excellence in Special-Interest Books

Excellence in Nonfiction

Excellence in Design

Excellence in “Aloha from beyond the Sea Samuel M. Kamakau”

People’s Choice Award

John Dominis Holt Award

Samuel M. Kamakau Award for Hawai’i Book of the Year

There were three books that received the most votes:

but the Samuel M. Kamakau award for book of the year went to:

HBB would like to congratulate all of the authors, illustrators, designers and publishers on their extraordinary achievements. We hope to see even more excellent local books for next year!