"Anshu: Dark Sorrow," the story of a pregnant, unmarried Hilo teen who is trapped in Japan at the outbreak of World War II, won top honors for excellence in literature in the 2011 Ka Palapala Po’okela book awards.

The novel by Juliet S. Kono was published by Bamboo Ridge Press.

"Tweakerville," by Alexei Melnick (Mutual Publishing), received honorable mention.

The Po’okelas, sponsored by the Hawai’i Book Publishers Association, were announced May 6.

Winners in 13 categories were determined by a judging panel comprising librarians, booksellers, educators and publishing and media professionals.

The publishers association also presented its Samuel M. Kamakau Award for the Hawai’i Book of the Year to Mark and Carolyn Blackburn for "Polynesia: The Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection of Polynesian Art."

The book also won awards for excellence in illustrative or photographic books, and design.

William Hamilton, longtime book publisher and director of the University of Hawaii Press, was presented the John Dominis Holt Award in recognition of his lifetime contributions.

Here is the list of winners:

» Excellence in Literature: "Anshu: Dark Sorrow," by Juliet S. Kono (Bamboo Ridge Press); honorable mention,"Tweakerville," by Alexei Melnick (Mutual Publishing)

» Excellence in Children’s Hawaiian Culture: "Legend of the Gourd," adapted and illustrated by Caren Ke’ala Loebel-Fried, Hawaiian translation by Kaliko Beamer-Trapp (Kamahoi Press); honorable mention, "Kohala Kuamo’o: Nae’ole’s Race to Save a King," by Kekauleleanae’ole Kawai’ae’a, illustrated by Aaron Kawai’ae’a (Kamehameha Publishing)

» Excellence in Children’s Illustrative or Photographic Books: "Legend of the Gourd"; honorable mention, "Plenty Saimin," by Feng Feng Hutchins, illustrated by Adriano F. Abatayo (Island Paradise Publishing)

» Excellence in Children’s Literature: "Plenty Saimin"; honorable mention, "Kohala Kuamo’o: Nae’ole’s Race to Save a King"

» Excellence in Hawaiian Culture: "Mai Pa’a I Ka Leo: Historical Voice in Primary Hawaiian Materials, Looking Forward and Listening Back," by M. Puakea Nogelmeier (Bishop Museum Press/Awaiaulu Press); honorable mention, "A Pocket Guide to the Battle of Nu’uanu 1705," by Neil Bernard Dukas (Mutual Publishing)

» Excellence in Illustrative or Photographic Books: "Polynesia: The Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection of Polynesian Art," by Adrienne L. Kaeppler (Mark and Carolyn Blackburn); honorable mention, "Akule" by Wayne Levin (Editions Limited)

» Excellence in Natural Science: "A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Hawai’i: The Main Islands and Offshore Waters," by Jim Denny (UH Press); honorable mention, "Hawaiian Birds of the Sea: Na Manu Kai," by Robert J. Shallenberger (UH Press)

» Excellence in Text or Reference Books: "Ancient Sites of O’ahu, Revised Edition," by Van James (Bishop Museum Press); honorable mentions, "Asian Supernatural," by Alex Paman (Mutual Publishing); "Regulating Paradise: Land Use Controls in Hawai’i, Second Edition," by David L. Callies (UH Press)

» Excellence in Cookbooks: "The Blue Tomato: The Inspirations Behind the Cuisine of Alan Wong," by Alan Wong and Arnold Hiura (Watermark Publishing); honorable mention, "What Maui Likes to Eat," by Chef Tylun Pang and Gail Ainsworth (Mutual Publishing)

» Excellence in Special Interest Books: "The Polynesian Tattoo Today," by Tricia Allen (Mutual Publishing); honorable mention, "Ancient Sites of O’ahu, Revised Edition"

» Excellence in Nonfiction Books: "Mai Pa’a I Ka Leo: Historical Voice in Primary Hawaiian Materials, Looking Forward and Listening Back"; honorable mention, "The Value of Hawai’i: Knowing the Past, Shaping the Future," edited by Craig Howes and Jon Osorio (UH Press)

» Excellence in Design: Barbara Pope, Barbara Pope Book Design, for "Polynesia: The Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection of Polynesian Art"; honorable mention, Kurt Osaki and Marisa Oshiro for "The Blue Tomato: The Inspirations Behind the Cuisine of Alan Wong"

» Excellence in "Aloha from Across the Sea": "Gaff," by Shan Correa (Peachtree Publishers); honorable mention, "Captain Cooked," by S.P. Grogan (Addison & Highsmith Publishers)

» People’s Choice Award: "The Polynesian Tattoo Today."

On the Net:
» Hawaii Book Publishers Association, www.hawaiibooks.org
» Photos of the 2011 Ka Palapala Po’okela awards event, www.honolulupulse.com