The 2011 Ka Palapala Poʻokela Awards gala is coming soon (Friday, May 6) and to generate excitement for the event as well as educate the public on the nominees, I am doing a countdown, quickly highlighting the books nominated for each awards category. Where applicable, I will link to book reviews from Hawaii Book Blog.
The third category we are spotlighting is also the last of the children’s categories. This one is for all the keiki books that aspire to a higher calling toward literature.
See our previous nominees posts:
Excellence in Children’s Literature
Books for children, including fiction and nonfiction.
I Choose You
Patricia Lei Murray, illus. by Stephanie Britt
Island Heritage Publishing, 2010
72 pages, softcover
ISBN: 1597009296
Kohala Kuamoʻo: Naeʻole’s Race to Save a King
Kekauleleanaeʻole Kawaiʻaeʻa, illus. by Aaron Kawaiʻaeʻa, moʻolelo by 
Luana and Walter Kawaiʻaeʻa
Kamehameha Publishing, 2010
32 pages, hardcover
ISBN: 0873362322
Mohala Mai ʻO Hau/How Hau Became Hauʻula
Robert Lono ʻIkuwā, illus. by Matthew Kāwika Ortiz
Kamehameha Publishing, 2010
32 pages, hardcover
ISBN: 9780873362399
No Pūnia me ka Lua Ula/Pūnia and the Lobster Cave
William H. Wilson, illus. by Brook Kapūkuniahi Parker
Kamehameha Publishing, 2010
40 pages, hardcover
ISBN: 0873362551
Pili the ʻIwa Bird Flies Again
Gail Omoto, Jan and Judy Dill; illus. by Garrett Omoto
Partners in Development Foundation, 2010
32 pages, hardcover
ISBN: 1933835192
Plenty Saimin
Feng Feng Hutchins, illus. by Adriano F. Abatayo III
Island Paradise Publishing, 2010
44 pages, hardcover
ISBN: 0970588968
Link: [Hawaii Book Blog review]
A nice selection here. A lot of these books you’ve already seen in the previous two children’s categories, with two new nominees. It’ll be interesting to see which books win out in all three. Which one of these keiki books is your favorite; or your children’s favorite? Let us know, we’d love to hear your comments!
Remember, you can attend the 2011 Ka Palapala Poʻokela Awards gala on Friday, May 6 at the Mission Houses Museum. This year’s gala event will be hosted by Kimo Kahoano and Carole Kai, with entertainment by the award-winning musical group, Nā Leo. Enjoy ʻono pupu, cocktails and gourmet chocolates by Choco leʻa. Come early and tour the Mission Houses Museum. To purchase tickets, please visit hawaiibooks.org.
