Books That Take You There: Hawaii

As summer turns to fall, I always wish for more warm days before the cold comes. So if you, like me,  want to ship yourself to a tropical paradise, try out one of these books that will take you straight to Hawaii, even if it's only in your imagination.

Aloha Everything

Written by Kaylin Melia George

Illustrated by Mae Waite

Brooklyn, NY: Red Comet Press, 2024. Picture Book.

This book, which won the 2025 APALA Award for Best Picture Book, tells the story of a Hawaiian girl who gains connection to her culture through hula. She learns about her ancestors, native folklore, and the true meaning of aloha. This book, which is written in verse, is lengthy and is probably better for elementary-aged kids rather than toddlers, but kids will be drawn in by the excellent story and the gorgeous, bright illustrations.

Punky Aloha

By Shar Tuiasoa

New York: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2022. Picture Book.

Punky's grandmother needs butter to make her fresh, baked from scratch banana bread, so she sends Punky to the store to get some. The problem is that Punky is unbearably shy, there's no way that she'll be able to get the butter on her own. The good news is that Punky's grandmother has magical glasses that will make her brave. Armed with the glasses, Punky starts out on her journey where she finds many animals along the way that need her help. But when the glasses break, will she find that she can be brave on her own? This book is an excellent read aloud that kids will love.

Lei and the Fire Goddess

By Malia Maunakea
New York: Penguin Workshop, 2023. Fiction. 298 pages.

Anna Leilani Kama'ehu usually loves traveling from her home in Colorado to spend summer with her tūtū (grandmother) in Hawaii, but this year is proving to be a little different. She no longer feels as connected to her native heritage which is exacerbated by bullying from students at her school when she brings up mythology and losing her best friend to the popular posse. This summer instead of listening to her tūtū tell her mythology stories about the island, she just wants to play tourist. Then, in an effort to rebel, she insults Pele and plucks a sacred ʻōhiʻa lehua flower, angering Pele and creating disaster. Now she has to figure out how to save the island from volcanic eruptions, while also finding the hawk that took off with her best friend before time runs out. Kids who are into intense adventure with a hint of mythology will love this book.

Heroes

By Alan Gratz

New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 219 pages.

One of the most well-known historical events that took place in Hawaii is the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This novel by Alan Gratz, who’s known for his well-researched historical fiction, discusses the attack from the point of view of two 13-year-old boys who live at the Ford Island Naval Air Station, where their fathers are stationed. In addition to describing the horrors of the day of December 7^th, 1941, the novel also discusses the after effects, particularly for Stanley who is half-Japanese. This is an engaging novel about what it means to be brave amid disaster.

Colonization of Hawaiʻi

By Virginia Loh-Hagan

Ann Arbor, MI: Cherry Lake Press, 2023. Informational. 32 pages.

It’s hard to learn about Hawaii without discussing how colonization has impacted the islands. This book teaches children about the history of the colonization and how they became a state as well as digging into the reasons why the U.S. wanted to take over the island in the first place. It ends with chapters about the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement and the aftereffects that colonization still has today.

Hawaiʻi

By Trisha Kēhaulani Watson-Sproat and Matthew Kawaiola Sproat

Chicago, IL: Norwood House Press, 2023. Informational. 48 pages.

If you are looking for more information about the culture of life in Hawaii today, this book is a great choice. It includes chapters on the history of Hawaii, life in the islands, celebrations, and Hawai’i today. The history of Hawai’i chapter includes not only information on how the islands have changed over time, but also Hawaiian mythology about how the islands were first formed. Readers can also learn about food, music, tattoos and more. The book concludes with information about why it is important to travel respectfully and responsibly to Hawaii and ways you can do it.