Kapaemahu
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Kapaemahu
Narrated by:
Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu
Buy Now for £2.99
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Narrated by:
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Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu
About this listen
In the 15th century, four Mahu sail from Tahiti to Hawaii and share their gifts of science and healing with the people of Waikiki. The islanders return this gift with a monument of four boulders in their honor, which the Mahu imbue with healing powers before disappearing.
As time passes, foreigners inhabit the island and the once-sacred stones are forgotten until the 1960s. Though the true story of these stones was not fully recovered, the power of the Mahu still calls out to those who pass by them at Waikiki Beach today.
With illuminating prose by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, and Daniel Sousa, KAPAEMAHU is a monument to an Indigenous Hawaiian legend and a classic in the making.
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Critic reviews
COVER MAY VARY.
A Stonewall Honor Book!
A School & Library Journal Best Picture Book of the Year!
A Shelf Awareness Best Children’s & YA of 2022!
A Kirkus Best Book of 2022
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2022
A Rainbow Book List 2023
A Notable Social Studies Trade Books List 2023
A Bank Street College of Education’s Children’s Book Committee’s The Best Children’s Books of 2023
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the 21st Century (So Far) [2025]
PRAISE FOR KAPAEMAHU
“...a glorious picture book reclamation." — Shelf Awareness.
★ “The fascinating backmatter provides background information about the original Hawaiian legend and Niihau dialect...A poignant monument to the power of hidden Indigenous histories." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review.
★ “...a fine read-aloud in conjunction with a history lesson on Hawaii, its people, their language, and the colonization that occurred." — School & Library Journal, starred review.
“Sousa's dreamy illustrations—taken from the film—reflect the text's thoughtful tone.” — Booklist
“Sousa’s illustrations portray the healers as chiseled, monumental forms reminiscent of the stones that house their spirits; the inky shadows and rich red-gold light of the ancient tale contrasts dramatically with the sand-reflected brightness of modern Waikiki.” — BCCB
“A beautiful, important book that not only offers indigenous representation, but also underscores the long history and deep importance of nonbinary people in certain cultures.” — Mombian
“The picture book’s stunning sepia-toned illustrations, which match the film, combined with the simple but powerful text, make this an excellent introduction to Indigenous Hawaiian culture and to the mahu and third gender people.” — Book Riot
A Stonewall Honor Book!
A School & Library Journal Best Picture Book of the Year!
A Shelf Awareness Best Children’s & YA of 2022!
A Kirkus Best Book of 2022
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2022
A Rainbow Book List 2023
A Notable Social Studies Trade Books List 2023
A Bank Street College of Education’s Children’s Book Committee’s The Best Children’s Books of 2023
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the 21st Century (So Far) [2025]
PRAISE FOR KAPAEMAHU
“...a glorious picture book reclamation." — Shelf Awareness.
★ “The fascinating backmatter provides background information about the original Hawaiian legend and Niihau dialect...A poignant monument to the power of hidden Indigenous histories." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review.
★ “...a fine read-aloud in conjunction with a history lesson on Hawaii, its people, their language, and the colonization that occurred." — School & Library Journal, starred review.
“Sousa's dreamy illustrations—taken from the film—reflect the text's thoughtful tone.” — Booklist
“Sousa’s illustrations portray the healers as chiseled, monumental forms reminiscent of the stones that house their spirits; the inky shadows and rich red-gold light of the ancient tale contrasts dramatically with the sand-reflected brightness of modern Waikiki.” — BCCB
“A beautiful, important book that not only offers indigenous representation, but also underscores the long history and deep importance of nonbinary people in certain cultures.” — Mombian
“The picture book’s stunning sepia-toned illustrations, which match the film, combined with the simple but powerful text, make this an excellent introduction to Indigenous Hawaiian culture and to the mahu and third gender people.” — Book Riot
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