On Kumu and Kolohe, Mome and Mele!

Aloha readers!

The holidays are upon us, and the biggest holiday of the year for many people is approaching fast! HO HO HO! It’s Christmas!

Now that our bookstore carries new books and new releases, we have been adding more Christmas and holiday books, including plenty of “Hawaiian” Christmas books. While doing this, we recently happened upon this new entry into the Hawaiian holiday book market we thought deserved attention, created by a part-time resident of the islands!

“Hawaiian Night Before Christmas (Ka Po Ma Mua O Kalikimaka)” is both written and illustrated by Carolyn Macy, and her love and appreciation of Hawai’i is evident throughout her work.

While “Hawaiian Night Before Christmas” follows in the same spirit as the traditional tale we are all familiar with, Carolyn Macy has crafted an entirely Hawaiian twist to the classic story that brings together all the nomenclature and surroundings that make Hawai’i what it is.

For instance, who needs flying reindeer when you can have flying honu (sea turtles)! Now Koa and Keoni, Peka and ‘Elele; On Kumu and Kolohe, Mome and Mele!

For good measure, the book is also dotted throughout with Hawaiian words so that young ones can learn a a few Hawaiian words as they enjoy the story.

The illustrations are vivid and colorful, bringing the story to life in a fun and unique way to provide an entirely different visual experience. And with the extra wonderful details in each of the pictures, your little ones can look and find so many more things that will add to their own story experience!

While fun for those that live here, “Hawaiian Night Before Christmas” is especially great for younger non-resident readers, as this story is a great way for them to add a little of Hawaii to their Christmas cheer.

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Ed and Cynthia Justus are owners of The Bookstore in Hanapepe.