6 Must-Read Books to Celebrate Lā Kū‘oko‘a
On Lā Kū‘oko‘a, here are books to read that champion Hawaiian independence, identity and culture.
Nov. 28 marks Lā Kū‘oko‘a, a day of remembrance and recognition of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i and its independence. Also known as Hawaiian Independence Day, Lā Kū‘oko‘a traces its roots to 1843, when England and France formally acknowledged the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom. One year later, the United States followed suit.
Today, we celebrate with the lāhui of Hawai‘i by recommending our favorite books that champion Hawaiian independence, identity and culture. From thoughtful and enlightening essays by Kānaka Maoli authors to deeply engaging children’s picture books, the titles that follow truly feature something for every reader. Join us as we embrace aloha ‘āina and the deep love we have for the Hawaiian community this Lā Kū‘oko‘a and every day to follow.
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From a Native Daughter
by Haunani-Kay Trask
We consider this book required reading for everyone. From a Native Daughter is a landmark work by the late Native Hawaiian activist, poet and educator Haunani-Kay Trask, featuring a fearless and proactive denunciation of institutional racism and the wounds of colonization inflicted on the Hawaiian people. Essay topics include Hawaiian sovereignty and Native Hawaiian nationalism, tourism’s devastating impact on Hawai‘i’s culture and the exciting student organizing that took place at the University of Hawai‘i.
Though originally published in 1993, the revised edition features contextualizing introductions to place each essay within the framework of its writing. The first publication of From a Native Daughter sparked debates around the world and is sure to resonate as profoundly with readers today.
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Ulu
by Kai Gaspar
The debut poetic memoir by Kānaka ‘Ōiwi māhū poet Kai Gaspar is making waves across the Pacific—and here at Da Shop. The book captures Gaspar’s hometown of Hōnaunau, Hawai‘i, in the 1970s and ’80s, weaving together themes of family, queer exploration, the Indigenous supernatural and a powerful love of land and culture. Said to channel the incredible lyricism of famed writers Haunani-Kay Trask, Dan Taulapapa McMullin and R. Zamora Linmark, Ulu has received widespread praise from many readers, including Hawai‘i State Poet Laureate Brandy Nālani McDougall.
SEE ALSO: 5 LGBTQIA+ Books to Celebrate Pride Month
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Kili and the Singing Tree Snails
by Janice Crowl and Harinani Orme
Featuring captivating illustrations and a moving narrative sure to delight both keiki and adults, Kili and the Singing Tree Snails follows Kili and his grandmother as they visit Kamehameha III’s summer residence Kaniakapūpū for a very special celebration. It’s Lā Ho‘iho‘i Ea, or Sovereignty Restoration Day, and like Lā Kū‘oko‘a, it pays tribute to the freedom and independence of the Hawaiian people. Kili learns all this and more when he attends a celebratory lū‘au before exploring the lush Nu‘uanu forest, where he finds a community of singing tree snails. We love the way Kili encompasses both Hawaiian history and Indigenous ecology, all while telling a story kids of all ages can enjoy.
SEE ALSO: Good Reads: Hawai‘i-Centric Books for Keiki
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Nā Wāhine Koa: Hawaiian Women for Sovereignty and Demilitarization
edited by Noelani Goodyear Ka‘ōpua
Nā Wāhine Koa: Hawaiian Women for Sovereignty and Demilitarization centers the political lives of four incredible wāhine leaders and organizers: Moanike‘ala Akaka, Maxine Kahaulelio, Terrilee Keko‘olani-Raymond and Loretta Ritte. Finding their roots in the 1970s Kaho‘olawe struggle, these incredible women warriors made a name for themselves in different arenas, from holding public office to forming international demilitarization alliances, but they were always united by aloha ‘āina and a common love for the Hawaiian people. Nā Wāhine Koa is the compilation of their vital stories.
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Nuclear Family
by Joseph Han
Nuclear Family is a sweeping and vital novel and the debut work of local author Joseph Han. The book follows the Cho family, the Korean American owners of Cho’s Delicatessen whose lives are thrown into chaos when a video of eldest son Jacob attempting to cross the Korean demilitarized zone goes viral. Set in Hawai‘i in the months before the 2018 false nuclear missile alert, the novel locates an important part of its heart in the fight for Hawaiian sovereignty—just as it seeks a day when the Korean DMZ no longer divides the peninsula, so too is it hopeful for a future of land back for the Hawaiian people. Deeply concerned with the effect of American imperialism and militarization on Indigenous communities, Nuclear Family is at once a profoundly affecting novel and a necessary read.
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Lei and the Fire Goddess
by Malia Maunakea
An engaging middle grade debut by Kanaka Maoli author Malia Maunakea, Lei and the Fire Goddess is also a beautiful ode to Hawaiian culture and mythology. The book tells the story of 12-year-old Anna Leilani Kama‘ehu, who thinks little of her tūtū’s Hawaiian tales of curses, myths, and legends until she accidentally insults Pele the fire goddess, unintentionally causing her best friend’s kidnapping. To save her friend and undo the curse, Anna must embark on a thrilling adventure that’s also a cultural journey—one of understanding her Hawaiian roots and embracing every part of her identity.
Da Shop: Books + Curiosities, 3565 Harding Ave., open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (808) 421-9460, dashophnl.com, @dashophnl
