Hawaiian History Reads for September
Celebrate Hawaiian History Month with these books that preserve and perpetuate the voices and stories of Hawai‘i.
Every September, Da Shop: Books + Curiosities proudly recognizes Hawaiian History Month and the vital efforts to preserve and perpetuate the voices and stories of Hawai‘i. Reflecting our kuleana to champion Kānaka ‘Ōiwi voices and stories, we’re honored to carry a diverse selection of books narrating the history of Hawai‘i for readers of all ages. From a middle grade introduction to the beloved scholar Mary Kawena Pukui to a sweeping history of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, our list of recommended reads truly has something for everyone.
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A Nation Rising: Hawaiian Movements for Life, Land, and Sovereignty
Edited by Noelani Goodyear-Ka‘ōpua, Ikaika Hussey and Erin Kahunawaika‘ala Wright
A Nation Rising presents an in-depth history of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, along with the political and grassroots initiatives that have sustained it into contemporary times. In a powerful collection of stories, essays and political analyses, A Nation Rising traces the Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970s through the early 2010s, alighting on efforts to protect the land, resist community dispossession and advance sovereignty and self-determination for the Hawaiian people. A compilation of photographs and vignettes centering individual activists brings to life a rich history of Hawaiian social movements.
Mary Kawena Pukui
by David Del Rocco
Celebrating the life and legacy of a monumental figure in Hawai‘i’s history, this eponymous book by David Del Rocco introduces young readers to the great Mary Kawena Pukui, a beloved Hawaiian educator, author and composer. Written in detailed yet accessible prose, Mary Kawena Pukui is the second installment in the series Wayfinders: Little Biographies of Hawai‘i’s Leaders, designed to introduce key figures in Hawaiian history to a new generation of readers, thinkers and learners. Given her extensive contributions to Hawaiian language, culture and history, we can’t think of a better leader from whom young readers should learn.
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Kaho‘olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People
by Kamalani Hurley and Harinani Orme
Published earlier this year, Kaho‘olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People is a powerful nonfiction picture book written for children and adults like. In it, Kanaka Maoli author and educator Kamalani Hurley pens a love letter to Kanaloa Kaho‘olawe while depicting the capacity humans possess to hurt and heal the land. While the story of Kaho‘olawe can certainly be read as one of loss and erasure, Hurley also seeks to remind readers of its core message of dedication and resilience. Hurley has committed to donating all proceeds from the book’s sales to Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana (PKO).
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The Mana of Translation: Translational Flow in Hawaiian History from the Baibala to the Mauna
by Bryan Kamaoli Kuwada
A deep dive into the history of Hawaiian alphabetic literacy, author and scholar Bryan Kamaoli Kuwada traces two centuries of the often unseen workings of translation in Hawai‘i. In analyzing mana unuhi, or the mana attained through translation, Kuwada makes a compelling argument for a history of Hawaiians using translation as a tool to assert their literary, cultural and political sovereignty. His research spans newspapers, letters, journals, legal documents, missionary records and even traditional stories, giving readers an illuminating and transformative new way to think about Hawai‘i’s literacy history.
Da Shop: Books + Curiosities, 3565 Harding Ave., Kaimukī, open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., (808) 421-9460, dashophnl.com, @dashophnl
