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It’s time…it’s time…it’s Book End Time! Welcome to this week’s Book End, highlighting the week’s literary and library events here in Hawaii.

It’s weeks like these that I’m glad and proud of doing this Book End for you every week.  There were a variety of book events spanning multiple neighbor islands that I had to really search for to find.  A quick blink of the eye, or a tired skim through and I would’ve missed a couple of them!  Still, you never know if you’ve caught every book event.  As I always say, if you have an event, let me know and I’ll gladly add it to our calendar.

S.P. Grogan in Hawaii

Here we see S.P. Grogan (left), author of best selling Captain Cooked, joining with Mayor Peter Carlisle in joint promotion encouraging tourism to Hawaii.  This past May, Captain Cooked was honored with the 2011 Ka Palapala Poʻokela Award for “Aloha From Beyond Hawaiʻi.”  Also, part of the proceeds from sales of the book go to the Hawaii Food Bank.

Author Grogan is now on the Big Island participating in a series of book signing events, including signing at Kona Wyland Gallery this Friday night and the Mai Tai Festival on Saturday at the Royal Kona Resort.  Check out our schedule of events below for more specific information.

Menehune are “Stacked”

Local author J. Arthur Rath III let me know recently that his latest book Being Menehune is very close to being a part of the Hawaii State Public Library system.  I recently checked librarieshawaii.org to see if the book is in the systems, but wasn’t able to find it as of yet.  Hopefully, you’ll see it in your local library stacks soon!  Until then, be sure to check out Arthur’s other books that are available at the library:  Lost Generations: A Boy, A School, A Princess and Soldiers Remember: World War II in the Pacific.

Being Menehune is also currently available for sale at local book stores in Kailua (Oʻahu), Kona, Hilo and at Honolulu’s Native Books Hawaiʻi and Mission Houses Museum gift shop.  You can also purchase a Kindle version of the book from Amazon.

Tweet Child O’ Mine

Hopefully, you’re already following us on Twitter at @HawaiiBookBlog and @OleloOfTheDay.  Now, you can also follow the two of us individually on our personal Twitter accounts.  You can follow Misty’s literary witticisms and love of fairy tales at @mistysanico and Alex’s incoherent rambling and 3rd-party app-spam at @redunk808.  So, feel free to say “hi” to us on Twitter through these accounts.  🙂

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Now on to the events…

Friday, August 12

• “Let’s Grow Something!” – Anne Gahuchi, with the Home Gardening Support Network, will be conducting a two-hour workshop on gardening and the value of plants in the environment and nutrition. This will be a hands-on activity, so participants should be prepared to get a little grubby! Registration is recommended—please visit or call the library at 873-3097. Program is recommended for ages 3 and older. Kahului Public Library (Maui); 10:00 A.M. to Noon.

• Captain Cooked book signing – S.P. Grogan will be on hand to sign copies of his novel, Captain Cooked, a winner of the 2011 Ka Palapala Poʻokela Award for “Aloha From Beyond Hawaiʻi” [read our review here].  He will be signing with well-known local Tiki artist, Brad Parker, who illustrated the artwork cover of Captain Cooked.  For more information, call the gallery at 808-334-0037.  Wyland Kona Ocean Front Gallery 75-5770 Ali’i Drive, Kailua-Kona; 6:00 P.M. to 10:0 P.M.

Saturday, August 13

• Anshu reading & discussion with Juliet Kono – Award-winning Hawaii author Juliet S. Kono Lee will read from and discuss her most recent book, Anshu: Dark Sorrow [read our review of the book].  The reading is in conjunction with the exhibit “The Voice of Hiroshima: Before and After the A-Bomb” sponsored by the East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai. The reading will be followed by a book-signing session with the assistance of the Book Gallery.  The public is invited to the reading and to view the exhibit. Hawaii Japanese Center at 751 Kanoelehua Ave., Hilo, HI; 10:30 A.M.

• Book signing by author/illustrator Karen Spachner –  Talented artist and illustrator, Karen Spachner, one of the gallery’s newest members, will be on hand to sign copies of her beautifully illustrated children’s books and prints of her watercolors.  Karen is well known for her illustrated children’s books, Keikilani, The Kona Nightingale and The Volcano Adventures of Keikilani. Come meet the artist and enjoy refreshments. The Living Arts Gallery (55-3435 Akoni Pule Hwy HAWI); 10:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. For more info, click here.

• Meet the Author: Feng Feng Hutchins (Plenty Saimin) – Keiki ages 5 and older, accompanied by a parent or caregiver, are invited to meet award-winning author Feng Feng Hutchins, Ka Palapala Poʻokela Award winner in Excellence in Children’s Literature. Hutchins will introduce and read her picture book Plenty Saimin [read our review here] followed by a question-and-answer session and a small snack for children.  Kailua Public Library; 10:30 A.M.  For more info, call the library at 266-9911.

• Children’s Storytime – Come to the book store every Saturday for a fun keiki story time reading.  This week they will be reading Farley and the Lost Bone by Lynn Johnston.  Farley, of the For Better or for Worse comic strip, welcomes the warmth of spring and tries to remember where he buried his most prized possession in fall. Barnes & Noble Ala Moana Center; 11:00 A.M.  For more information, click here.

• Investing Basics Seminar – Financial consultant Joanna Amberger will present an informational seminar on basic investing. In this presentation, she will discuss how to know yourself: identifying your characteristics, budgeting and debt management; the different types of investments, some of the risks and returns of investing; and planning for your retirement. The one-hour program will be held in the meeting room. Hawaii Kai Public Library; 11:00 A.M. For more information, call 397-5833.

• Captain Cooked book signing – S.P. Grogan will be at the Mai Tai Festival, making an appearance, signing copies of his book Captain Cooked [read our review here], a winner of the 2011 Ka Palapala Poʻokela Award for “Aloha From Beyond Hawai`i.” He will be signing with well-known local Tiki artist, Brad Parker, who illustrated the artwork cover of Captain Cooked.  Royal Kona Resort, 75- 5852 Alii Drive; 11:00 A.M.

• Romney Steele book signing (Plum Gorgeous) – Join us as we welcome author Romney “Nani” Steele. She’ll be signing copies of her new cookbook, Plum Gorgeous: Recipes and Memories from the Orchard.  Capturing the essence, beauty, and deliciousness of cooking with seasonal fruits, Steele offers simple and seductive recipes that intertwine with the seasons in which each fruit is harvested.  Barnes & Noble Kahala Mall; 1:00 P.M.  For more info, click here.

• Theatres of Hawaii talk – The North Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Historic Preservation Committee hosts an illustrated talk on the theatres of Hawai`i by noted Hawaiian film historian Lowell Angell.  Angell, author of the new book, Theatres of Hawaii, will be joined by Captain Hale`iwa. Waialua Community Association; 7:00 P.M.  For ticket information call 637-4558.