Going on a trip to Hawai’i with your children? Find some great kid’s books to get them acquainted with the culture and learn some history before you leave.
Fiction:
(This page contains Amazon affiliate links)
Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis and illustrated by Kenard Pak
Join the family, or ohana, as they farm taro for poi to prepare for a traditional luau celebration with a poetic text in the style of The House That Jack Built. Award winning.
- Reading age : 4 – 8 years
- Publisher : Neal Porter Books; Illustrated edition (February 4, 2020)
- ISBN-10 : 0823443264
- ISBN-13 : 978-0823443260
Mele the Crab Finds the Way Out by Gail Omoto, with Jan and Judy Dill, and illustrated by Garrett Omoto (2007)
Mele the crab is a good athlete and always wins the the races. But that wins her no friends. It’s only when she learns about serving others that she truly wins.
- Age Range: 5 – 6 years
- Publisher: Partners in Development; 1 edition (November 1, 2007)
- ISBN-10: 1933835095
- ISBN-13: 978-1933835099
Punia and the King of Sharks by Lee Wardlaw (1997)
Punia, who is a fisherman’s son, figures out ways to get lobsters away from the King of Sharks.
- Age Range: 4 and up
- Publisher: Dial Books; 1st edition (January 1, 1997)
- ISBN-10: 0803716826
- ISBN-13: 978-0803716827
Pele and the Rivers of Fire by Michael Nordenstrom (2002)
Tells the tale of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes.
- Age Range: 3 and up
- Publisher: Bess Press; English Language edition (August 15, 2002)
- ISBN-10: 1573060798
- ISBN-13: 978-1573060790
Luka’s Quilt by Georgia Guback (1994)
Learn about the culture of Hawaii through the relationship of Luka and her grandmother.
- Ages: 4 up
- Publisher: Greenwillow Books
- ISBN 978-0-688-12154-9
Hula Lullaby by Erin Eitter Kono (2005)
Gentle picture book for the youngest set.
- Reading age : 2 – 4 years
- Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (May 18, 2005)
- ISBN-10 : 0316735914
- ISBN-13 : 978-0316735919
Dog-of-the-Sea-Waves by James Rumford (2004)
Picture book fictional tale of the discovery of Hawaii, told in English and Hawaiian.
- Reading age : 4 – 7 years
- Publisher : HMH Books for Young Readers; 0 edition (May 25, 2004)
- ISBN-10 : 0618356118
- ISBN-13 : 978-0618356119
A more recent edition
- Publisher : Manoa Press (September 28, 2020)
- ISBN-10 : 1891839276
- ISBN-13 : 978-1891839276
Middle Grade
Dance for the Land by Clemence McLaren (1999)
When Kate leaves California for Hawaii, she learns about Hawaiian sovereignty issues as well as herself.
Blue Skin of the Sea by Graham Salisbury (1994)
Kindle | Paperback | Mass Market Paperback | Hardcover
A series of short stories about growing up in Hawaii in the 1950’s and 60’s.
- Reading age : 12 – 17 years
- Publisher : Laurel Leaf; Reissue edition (May 1, 1994)
- ISBN-10 : 0440219051
- ISBN-13 : 978-0440219057
Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury (reprinted, 2014)
Kindle | Audiobook | Paperback | Library binding
This book is the account of a Japanese American who enlists in the US Army during World War II.
(Middle grade +)
- Reading age : 12 – 17 years
- Publisher : Ember; Reprint edition (September 9, 2014)
- ISBN-10 : 0385386567
- ISBN-13 : 978-0385386562
Jungle Dogs by Graham Salisbury (1999)
Also set in Hawaii, this novel follows main character Boy Regis through conflicts while growing up.
- Reading age : 9 – 12 years
- Publisher : Yearling (November 9, 1999)
- ISBN-10 : 044041573X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0440415732
Early Sunday Morning: The Pearl Harbor Diary of Amber Billows (Dear America Series) by Barry Denenberg
This part of the Dear America series gives insights into the events of the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941.
- Reading age : 9 – 12 years
- Publisher : Scholastic Inc.; 1st edition (October 1, 2001)
- ISBN-10 : 0439328748
- ISBN-13 : 978-0439328746
Nonfiction:
A is for Aloha by U’ilani Goldsberry and illustrated by Tammy Yee, (2005)
Alphabet book written and illustrated by native Hawaiians.
- Age Range: 6 – 9 years
- Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press; 1st edition (June 1, 2005)
- ISBN-10: 1585361461
- ISBN-13: 978-1585361465
Ellison Onizuka by Stephanie Cham (2018)
Kindle | Paperback | Library Binding
Simple biography of Ellison Shoji Onizuka, who was an American astronaut from Kealakekua, Hawaii. He flew into space with the Space Shuttle Discovery and was lost in the Challenger disaster.
- Age Range: 4 – 7 years
- Publisher: Capstone Press (January 1, 2018)
- ISBN-10: 1515799565
- ISBN-13: 978-1515799566
Hawai’i (A True Book) by Joanne Mattern (2017)
Informational reference book about the islands.
- Age Range: 7 – 10 years
- Publisher: Childrens Pr (September 1, 2017)
- ISBN-10: 0531252558
- ISBN-13: 978-0531252550
Hawai’i Volcanoes by Karina Hamalainen
Informational reference book about two of the most active volcanoes on Earth, Kilauea and Mauna Loa.
- Reading age : 8 – 10 years
- Publisher : Children’s Press; Illustrated edition (October 1, 2018)
- ISBN-10 : 0531135020
- ISBN-13 : 978-0531135020
Book cover links to Amazon are provided to allow for easy access to more information about the book, including the ISBN and reviews. Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you go to Amazon by clicking the book cover and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Proceeds will be used to help defray the costs of developing and maintaining this website.