Hawaii’s biggest literary award night came to a close this past Friday, and many excellent and deserving books won well deserved accolades.
The Hawaiʻi Book Publishers Association and Bishop Museum definitely know how to throw an event. Misty said it best, “I love living in Hawaiʻi, where heavy pūpū means you’re eating an entire full course meal.” The ceremony was brief but respectable, and the gala was good fun. There was great music from Ka ʻEhā, divine chocolates by Choco Leʻa, and as Misty said, the spread was plentiful and delicious. Our little party took advantage of being in the Museum and took a nice, leisurely tour of Hawaiian Hall. All in all, it was an excellent event; we always encourage anyone in the literary community or anyone who loves books to come and enjoy the ceremony for the best in local publishing and the company of such great and talented individuals.
And now…here is your list of winners and honorable mentions for the 2012 Ka Palapala Poʻokela Awards, representing the best in locally publishing books:
[gn_divider]Excellence in Children’s Literature
- Winner – Moon Mangoes by Lindy Shapiro and illustrated by Kathleen Peterson (BeachHouse Publishing)
- Hon. Mention – Kaimana Big & Strong by Dorian Nakamichi and illustrated by Don Robinson (Island Heritage Publishing)
Excellence in Hawaiian History and Culture
- Winner – Ka Honua Ola by Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele (Kamehameha Publishing)
- Hon. Mention – Hawaiian Surfing: Traditions from the Past by John R.K. Clark (University of Hawaiʻi Press)
Excellence in Literature
- Winner – Three Years on Doreen’s Sofa by Lee Cataluna (Bamboo Ridge Press)
- Hon. Mention – Significant Moments in da life of Oriental Faddah and Son by Lee Tonouchi (Bess Press)
Excellence in Natural Science
- Winner – The World of Bananas in Hawaii, Then and Now: Traditional Pacific & Global Varieties, Cultures, Ornamentals, Health & Recipes by Angela Kay Kepler & Francis G. Rust (Pali-o-Waipio Press)
- Hon. Mention – Shore Fishes of Easter Island by John E. Randall & Alfredo Cea (University of Hawaiʻi Press)
Excellence in Text or Reference Books
- Winner – Links to the Past: The Work of Early Hawaiian Artisans by Wendy S. Arbeit (University of Hawaiʻi Press)
- Hon. Mention – Hawaiian Surfing: Traditions from the Past by John R.K. Clark (University of Hawaiʻi Press)
Excellence in Cookbooks
- Winner – A Sweet Dash of Aloha: Guilt-Free Hawaii Desserts and Snacks by Kapiolani Community College (Watermark Publishing)
- Hon. Mention – The Hawaiʻi Book of Rice: Tales, Trivia and 101 Great Recipes by Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi (Watermark Publishing)
Excellence in Special-Interest Books
- Winner – The Evolution of Freediving and History of Spearfishing in Hawaii by Sonny Tanabe (Fluid Media Publishing)
- Hon. Mention – Links to the Past: The Work of Early Hawaiian Artisans by Wendy S. Arbeit (University of Hawaiʻi Press)
Excellence in Nonfiction
- Winner – Big Happiness: The Life and Death of a Modern Hawaiian Warrior by Mark Panek (University of Hawai‘i Press)
- Hon. Mention – Edward Bailey of Maui: Teacher & Naturalist, Engineer & Artist by Linda McCullough Decker (RainSong)
Excellence in Design
- Winner – The Evolution of Freediving and History of Spearfishing in Hawaii by Sonny Tanabe (Fluid Media Publishing)
- Hon. Mention – Lihue Mill: Grinding Cane and Building Community, One Hundred Fifty Years of Sugar Processing Along Nawiliwili Stream by Jan TenBruggencate (PAHIO Development, Inc. and Lihue Ms, LLC)
Excellence in “Aloha from beyond the Sea”
- Winner – Buildings of Hawaii by Don J. Hibbard (University of Virgina Press)
- Hon. Mention – Surfing in Hawai‘i: 1778-1930 by Timothy Tovar Delavega (Arcadia Publishing)
Samuel M. Kamakau Award for Hawai’i Book of the Year
- Winner – Ka Honua Ola by Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele (Kamehameha Publishing)
We would like to congratulate all of the authors, illustrators, designers and publishers on their extraordinary achievements. Thanks to Ron Cox for his coordination of the judging (among other things), Bishop Museum for hosting the awards ceremony, and the Hawaiʻi Book Publishers Association for another great year of local books. As always, we hope to see even more excellent books out of Hawaiʻi next year!
