The 2012 Ka Palapala Poʻokela Awards gala is fast approaching (Friday, May 11), and to generate excitement for the event as well as educate the public on the nominees, I will be doing a countdown that quickly highlights the books nominated for each awards category. Where applicable, I will link to book reviews from Hawaiʻi Book Blog.
For a complete list of all the nominees we’ve posted and for all the updated information on the event, please visit our dedicated Ka Palapala Poʻokela Awards page.
The third category we are spotlighting is always one of my favorites. For the most part, the categories for the Ka Palapala Poʻokela’s cover a majority of non-fiction books. This category, however, highlights the talented writers of Hawaiʻi who create great works of local literature. This year is no slouch, with such established writers as Lee Cataluna, Victoria Kneubuhl, and Lee Tonouchi mixed in with a number of equally talented scribes. Recent winners in this category include The Bone Hook and Anshu: Dark Sorrow.
[gn_divider]Excellence in Literature
Books of fiction (novels), essays, stories, and poetry.
Murder on Moloka‘i
Chip Hughes
Slate Ridge Press, 2011
272 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 978-0982944417
Acts of God While on Vacation
Richard Tillotson
Arlington Avenue Books, 2011
382 pages, Softcover
ISBN: 978-1460979495
Don’t Look Back: Hawaiian Myths Made New
Edited by Christine Thomas
Watermark Publishing, 2011
176 pages, Softcover
ISBN: 978-1-9356901-4-6
HBB Review
Georgia O’Keefe’s Hawai‘i
Patricia Jennings and Maria Ausherman
Koa Books, 2011
124 pages, Softcover
ISBN: 978-0982165645
KULA
Chip Hughes
Slate Ridge Press, 2011
266 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 978-0982944431
Living Spirit: Literature and Resurgence in Okinawa
Edited by Frank Stewart & Katsunori Yamazato
University of Hawai‘i Press, 2011
296 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-8248-3617-7
Murder Leaves Its Mark
Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl
University of Hawai‘i Press, 2011
312 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-8248-3545-3
Pele and Hi‘iaka: A Tale of Two Sisters
Dietrich Varez
Petroglyph Press, 2011
88 pages, Paperbound
ISBN: 978-0-8248-3545-3
Significant Moments in da life of Oriental Faddah and Son
Lee Tonouchi
Bess Press, 2011
152 pages, Softcover
ISBN: 978-157306-334-0
Three Years on Doreen’s Sofa
Lee Cataluna
Bamboo Ridge Press, 2011
224 pages, Softcover
ISBN: 978-0-910043-85-4
HBB Review
Up Among the Stars
Matthew Kaopio
Mutual Publishing, 2011
176 pages, Softcover
ISBN: 978-1-56647-949-5
HBB Review
There are lots of incredibly good books on this list. I’m sure it was a pleasure for the judges to read all of these gems. What do you think? Have you read any of these books, and if so, which one is your favorite?
Remember, you can attend the 2012 Ka Palapala Poʻokela Awards gala on Friday, May 11 at Bishop Museum. Enjoy heavy pūpū, gourmet chocolates by Choco leʻa, entertainment by Ka ʻEhā, and a book sale and author signing. Tickets can be purchased at Native Books/Nā Mea Hawaiʻi at Ward Warehouse (808-596-8885). For more information about the event, please contact aloha@hawaiibooks.org.
