Saturday, February 4, 2023

Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson and Daniel Sousa - ADVISABLE

Kapaemahu
by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, and Joe Wilson illustrated by Daniel Sousa
. PICTURE BOOK Kokila (Penguin). 2022. $18. 9780593530061 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL  - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Long ago, four healers sailed from Tahiti to Waikiki and stayed for a time with the people there. These visitors were mahu - a mixture of both male and female. Each had a special power. One had spiritual power, one was all-seeing, one could heal from afar and the other could heal through touch. Before they left, they gave their powers to the people by transferring them into special stones brought to the beach. The stones were sacred and cared for, but modern times have displaced them and the story has been suppressed along with the fact that they were mahu. 

Bilingual text, in Olelo Niihu (a form of Hawaiian) and English accompany the orange toned pictures - like everything was a sunset. Oh - gorgeous illustrations - I felt like I was hearing an ancient story told by elders. I understand there is also a movie - I look forward to finding it. The characters are Tahitian 

Lisa Librarian

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