Book detailing first voyages of Hokule’a wins top honors

Sam Low’s "Hawaiki Rising: Hokule‘a, Nainoa Thompson, and the Hawaiian Renaissance" captured the Samuel M. Kamakau Award for Hawai‘i Book of the Year, given by the Hawai‘i Book Publishers Association.

Published by Island Heritage Publishing, "Hawaiki Rising" also earned top honors in two other categories — nonfiction and Hawaiian language, culture and history — in the association’s 2014 Ka Palapala Po‘okela book awards, which were announced Thursday.

"Hawaiki Rising" brings together the recollections and personal stories of the men and women involved in the creation and initial voyages of Hokule‘a. Low, a cousin of Thompson’s who has been a crew member on three of the canoe’s voyages, was lauded by the judges for creating an "enthralling story" and for his "fair and balanced hand (in weaving) an inspiring story about the reclamation of Hawaiian culture."

University of Hawaii at Hilo professor Mark Panek was the winner in the literature category for his contemporary novel, "Hawai‘i: A Novel" (Lo‘ihi Press). The Ka Palapala Po‘okela judges described his book as "ambitious, darkly comic, and possibly prophetic. … One of the rare works that, if enough people read the book, could actually have a positive social impact."

A total of 48 entries from 37 separate book projects from a spectrum of local publishers were nominated in 10 categories. For more information, visit www.hawaiipublishers.org.

2014 KA PALAPALA PO‘OKELA WINNERS

» Samuel M. Kamakau Award: "Hawaiki Rising: Hokule‘a, Nainoa Thompson, and the Hawaiian Renaissance," by Sam Low (Island Heritage)

» Children’s Hawaiian culture: "Kamehameha: The Rise of a King," by David Kawika Eyre, illustrated by Brook Kapukuniahi Parker (Kamehameha Publishing). Honorable mention: "‘A‘ama Nui: Guardian Warrior Chief of Lalakea," written and illustrated by WCIT Architecture; "mo‘o," by Pualani Kanahele and Robert K. Iopa (Mo‘o Studio)

» Children’s literature: "Kohola: King of the Whales," by Vince Daubenspeck, illustrated by Don Robinson (Island Heritage). Honorable mention: "‘A‘ama Nui: Guardian Warrior Chief of Lalakea"; "mo‘o"

» Hawaiian language, culture and history: "Hawaiki Rising: Hokule‘a, Nainoa Thompson, and the Hawaiian Renaissance." Honorable mention: "Ma‘i Lepera: Disease and Displacement in Nineteenth-Century Hawai‘i," by Kerri A. Inglis (University of Hawai‘i Press)

» Literature: "Hawai‘i: A Novel," by Mark Panek (Lo‘ihi Press). Honorable mention: "The Nanjing Massacre: Poems," by Wing Tek Lum (Bamboo Ridge Press)

» Illustrative or photographic: "Honolulu Magazine and Paradise of the Pacific: 125 Years of Covers," by A. Kam Napier, Kristin Lipman, Michael Keany, and Erik Ries (Watermark Publishing). Honorable mention: "Ke Ao Nani: He Puke Hua‘olelo 1000," by Alohalani Housman, illustrated by Eve Furchgott (Hale Kuamo‘o Hawaiian Language Center)

» Natural science: "Kahuna La‘au Lapa‘au: The Secrets and Practice of Hawaiian Herbal Medicine," by June Gutmanis (Island Heritage). Honorable mention: "Restoring Paradise: Rethinking and Rebuilding Nature in Hawai‘i," by Robert J. Cabin (University of Hawai‘i Press)

» Cookbooks: "From Kau Kau to Cuisine: An Island Cookbook, Then and Now," by Arnold Hiura, photography by Rae Huo and Dawn Sakamoto (Watermark). Honorable mention: "A Korean Kitchen: Traditional Recipes with an Island Twist," by Joan Namkoong, photography by Ian Gillespie (Mutual Publishing)

» Special interest: "Japanese Buddhist Temples in Hawai‘i: An Illustrated Guide," by George J. Ta­nabe and Willa Jane Tanabe (UH Press). Honorable mention: "The Hiker’s Guide to O‘ahu, Updated and Expanded," by Stuart M. Ball Jr. (UH Press)

» Nonfiction: "Hawaiki Rising: Hokule‘a, Nainoa Thompson, and the Hawaiian Renaissance." Honorable mention: "Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen Liliuokalani, by Queen Lili‘uokalani," annotated by David W. Forbes (Hui Hanai)

» Design: "Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen Liliuokalani," designed by Barbara Pope (Barbara Pope Designs)