"Ka Honua Ola — ‘Eli’eli Kau Mai: The Living Earth — Descend, Deepen the Revelation," by Hawaiian scholar and cultural practitioner Pualani Kanaka’ole Kanahele, received the Samuel M. Kamakau Award for Hawaii Book of the Year at Friday’s 2012 Ka Palapala Po’okela book awards.
The book, released by Kamehameha Publishing, also received the top honor in the Hawaiian language, culture and history category.
In her book, Kanahele explores 25 chants from the epic tale of Pele and Hi’iaka. The judging panel called it "a rare work of scholarship: an examination and exposition of foundational mele hula, pule (prayer) and oli by the recognized master kumu hula."
The 2012 Ka Palapala Po’okela book awards, presented by the Hawaii Book Publishers Association, were announced at a ceremony in Bishop Museum’s Atherton Halau.
Star-Advertiser contributors were also recognized for their work: Lee Cataluna won an award of excellence in the literature category for "Three Years on Doreen’s Sofa" (Bamboo Ridge Press), and travel writer Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi won honorable mention for cookbooks for "The Hawaii Book of Rice: Tales, Trivia & 101 Great Recipes" (Watermark Publishing).
Here is the complete list of winners:
» Samuel M. Kamakau Award: "Ka Honua Ola — ‘Eli’eli Kau Mai: The Living Earth — Descend, Deepen the Revelation," by Pualani Kanaka’ole Kanahele (Kamehameha Publishing)
» Children’s literature: "Moon Mangoes," by Lindy Shapiro, illustrated by Kathleen Peterson (BeachHouse Publishing); honorable mention, "Kaimana Big and Strong," by Dorian Nakamichi, illustrated by Don Robinson (Island Heritage Publishing)
» Hawaiian language, culture and history: "Ka Honua Ola — ‘Eli’eli Kau Mai: The Living Earth — Descend, Deepen the Revelation"; honorable mention, "Hawaiian Surfing: Traditions from the Past," by John R.K. Clark (University of Hawaii Press)
» Literature: "Three Years on Doreen’s Sofa," by Lee Cataluna (Bamboo Ridge Press); honorable mention, "Significant Moments in da Life of Oriental Faddah and Son: One Hawai’i Okinawan Journal," by Lee A. Tonouchi (Bess Press)
» Natural science: "The World of Bananas in Hawai’i: Then and Now," by Angela Kay Kepler and Francis G. Rust (Pali-o-Waipi’o Press); honorable mention, "Shore Fishes of Easter Island," by John E. Randall and Alfredo Cea (UH Press)
» Text or reference books: "Links to the Past: The Work of Early Hawaiian Artisans," by Wendy S. Arbeit (UH Press); honorable mention "Hawaiian Surfing: Traditions from the Past"
» Cookbooks: "A Sweet Dash of Aloha: Guilt-Free Hawai’i Desserts and Snacks," by Kapiolani Community College (Watermark Publishing); honorable mention, "The Hawaii Book of Rice: Tales, Trivia & 101 Great Recipes," by Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi (Watermark Publishing)
» Special-interest books: "The Evolution of Freediving and History of Spearfishing in Hawai’i," by Sonny Tanabe (Fluid Media Publishing); honorable mention, "Links to the Past: The Work of Early Hawaiian Artisans"
» Nonfiction: "Big Happiness: The Life and Death of a Modern Hawaiian Warrior," by Mark Panek (UH Press); honorable mention, "Edward Bailey of Maui," by Linda McCullough Decker (Rainsong)
» Design: "The Evolution of Freediving and History of Spearfishing in Hawai’i," by Sonny Tanabe, design by Clifford Cheng, VOICE Design (Fluid Media Publishing); honorable mention, "Lihue Mill: Grinding Cane and Building Community, One Hundred Fifty Years of Sugar Processing Along Nawiliwili Stream," by Jan TenBruggencate, design by Barbara Pope, Barbara Pope Book Design (PAHIO Development Inc. and Lihue MS LLC)
» Aloha from Across the Sea: "Buildings of Hawaii," by Don J. Hibbard (University of Virginia Press); honorable mention, "Surfing in Hawai’i: 1778-1930," by Timothy Tovar Delavega (Arcadia Publishing)
