Spring 2025

Starred Review Kahoʻolawe

The True Story of an Island and Her People

  • Interest Level: Grade 2 - Grade 5
  • Reading Level: Grade 3

In the middle of the great Pacific Ocean is a little island. Her name is Kanaloa Kaho‘olawe.

Discover the story of an island sacred to Native Hawaiians. Beginning with her birth in a volcanic eruption, Kaho‘olawe thrives surrounded by animals on land and in the sea. When Polynesian voyagers arrive and begin to raise their families there, the island is happy. As the years pass, invasive goats devastate the ecosystem, and during World War II and the decades that follow, the US military claims the island for target practice. Kaho‘olawe is hurt. Yet activists never give up on the island, and they finally succeed in reclaiming her.

Kaho‘olawe endures.

Author Kamalani Hurley and illustrator Harinani Orme present the remarkable story of the smallest Hawaiian island, encompassing loss and erasure, sacrifice and dedication, and ultimately restoration, highlighting hope, resilience, and aloha ‘āina (deep love of the land).

The author has pledged 100 percent of her proceeds from sales of this book to the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana.

Format Your Price Add
979-8-7656-0501-1
$14.99
979-8-7656-5911-3
$24.99
Available at all major wholesalers and distributors. Save 25% off list price on hardcovers and ebooks when you buy direct! Digital purchases will be accessed on Lerner Digital Bookshelf. An account will be created for you after purchase.
Interest Level Grade 2 - Grade 5
Reading Level Grade 3
Genre Picture Books, Social Studies
Category 5 Kinds of Nonfiction, 5KN: Narrative Nonfiction, Diverse Books: Race & Ethnicity, Diversity
Copyright 2025
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Millbrook Press ™
Language English
Number of Pages 32
Publication Date 2025-02-04
Text Type Narrative Nonfiction
BISACS JNF025180, JNF037020, JNF071000
Dewey 996.9/22
Dimensions 9.25 x 11
Guided Reading Level S
Features Author/Illustrator biography, Author/Illustrator note, Glossary, Original artwork, Reviewed, Starred Reviews, and Timeline

Reviews

Starred Review Kirkus Reviews

“An incredible, brilliantly told story of persistence, advocacy, and love.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews

Booklist

“This beautifully illustrated picture book introduces the smallest and only uninhabited island, Kaho’olawe. Painted illustrations with bold colors, thick brushstrokes, and rich textures enhance three layers of text.”—Booklist

Starred Review School Library Journal

“A stunningly beautiful book that tells the story of destruction, devastation, and resilience, of both the human and natural world. . . The artwork tells the story in dramatic, compelling, and beautiful ways. Together, text and art will engage readers from the first page.”—starred, School Library Journal