Vibrantly illustrated and content-rich, Kaha‘i’s Journey is a story-picture book that takes readers on a path of self-discovery. Within the genre of realistic fiction, the story addresses critical environmental issues and emphasizes the importance of developing children’s leadership and cultural awareness through meaningful and ongoing relationships with their elders. Palolo Elementary School teacher, Joyce Pien, said, “Because this book mirrors the lives of our students, it resoundly validates their life experiences as explorers of their unique ecological environment. Furthermore, it solidifies the importance of carrying on the stories of their ancestors as a means to bridge intergenerational relationships.”
The content aligns with the U.S. Department of Education, Native Hawaiian Education Program’s authorized legislative priorities, including Hawaiian language; cultural knowledge; reading; literacy; combined English and Hawaiian literacy; and parent involvement. Further, the narrative demonstrates key aspects of the Common Core State Standards, and coheres with HĀ’s (Hawai‘i Department of Education, Nā Hopena A‘o) life-long learning outcomes of developing a strengthened sense of belonging, responsibility, excellence, aloha, total well-being, and Hawai‘i.
As a product of the University of Hawai‘i, Kaha‘i’s Journey highlights key concepts of aloha ‘āina embodied in the University of Hawai‘i’s Strategic Plan goals, particularly Becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning. This goal is grounded in the understanding that we have much to learn from the generations of knowledge of our host indigenous culture and our island home. It also underscores how cultivating a sustainable and abundant Hawai‘i is dependent upon the reciprocal and intergenerational relationships between kaikua‘ana (elder) and kaikaina (youth). It is because of the aloha ‘āina practiced by Native Hawaiians over many centuries that we can enjoy the Hawai‘i we have today.
PLC mailed a copy of the book to every public elementary school in the state of Hawai‘i. Kaha‘i’s Journey is available for purchase at Mutual Publishing and Costco outlets throughout Hawai‘i.