"Page Turners" highlights books by Hawaii authors and books about Hawaii or of interest to Hawaii readers. To submit a book for consideration, send a copy and information to Features Department, 500 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. For more information, email books@staradvertiser.com.

"Aloha ‘Aina: Big Island Memories," compiled by East Hawai‘i Cultural Council (self-published, $25 black and white, $45 color): This collection of short stories, essays, poetry and artwork by Hawaii islanders covers a broad range of topics relating to island culture and history, from a fun collection of nicknames to the devastating tsunami of 1946. Available through the East Hawai‘i Cultural Council at arts@ehcc.org or 961-5711.

"Gardens of Hawaii," by Stephen Haus (self-published, $45): Landscape architect Stephen Haus has updated his 2000 book with sections on Shangri La, the Garden of Remembrance at Lyon Arboretum and other isle gardens. The coffee-table book also has photos of the gardens of Versailles and Kyoto, among others, as a comparison, and advice on local gardening.

"The Ancient Hawaiian State: Origins of a Political Society," by Robert J. Hommon (Oxford University Press, $55): The author, a retired cultural resource scientist for the National Park Service’s Pacific Islands Office, makes a case that the Polynesian state, as embodied in Hawaii and Tonga, should be considered a "cradle of civilization" with a structure unique to itself rather than rooted in another. This academic volume gives a comprehensive overview of pre-contact Hawaiian culture and compares Hawaiian culture with other Pacific island cultures to provide context.

"When the Korean World in Hawaii Was Young, 1903-1940," by Seonju Lee and Roberta Chang (University of Hawaii Press, $25): This book contains oral histories of first- and second-generation Korean-Americans in Hawaii that first surfaced in a film documentary by Chang. Lee added photos and other background to illuminate the classic story of Asian immigration in Hawaii. Highlights include the effect of the Korean independence movement on the local Korean community, and the close connection with Syngman Rhee, the first president of South Korea, who was deposed and died in exile in Hawaii.

"This Is Paradise," by Kristiana Kahakauwila (Hogarth, $16): The short stories in this debut collection, all with female narrators, explore the tension between residents and visitors, and what really goes on beneath the mythical image of Hawaii as paradise. The Native Hawaiian author, who was raised in Southern California and Maui, has worked as a writer and editor for Wine Spectator magazine and other publications, and formerly taught English at Chaminade University.

"Restoring Paradise: Rethinking and Rebuilding Nature in Hawai‘i," by Robert J. Cabin, (University of Hawaii Press, $13.24): In a very readable volume, Cabin discusses several environmental programs in Hawaii, such as the rain forest and species restoration programs on Hawaii island. The former Forest Service ecologist also provides quotes from unnamed members of the local environmental community to demonstrate the conflicting approaches and attitudes toward the evolving and contentious topic.