Kūkulu Kumuhana Books

Four writing teams collaboratively developed 40 informational books in two sets: a “Place-based Knowledge Set” and a “Career Awareness Set.”

Each set has 16 leveled books from beginning K (HA) to advanced third grade (LO). While these reading levels are associated with grade levels, the reading continuum is fluid and is intended to support the reading development of learners of all ages, including adult learners.

Each book set also has 4 foundational knowledge books, one for each grade level. Following are the themes for each grade level for the two book sets.

Place-based Knowledge Set

A parent is holding up their joyful young girl beneath the ulu tree where her piko is buried. The ulu tree symbolizes growth of all kinds. This is image represents the piko theme of the five kindergarten books for the place-based knowledge book set.

All Kinds of Piko (Grade K)

An image of chief Kahekilinuiahumanu being tatooed black on the entire right side of his body. So far the tatoo expert has reached his shoulder and chest. This image is representative of the seven place-based famous Hawaiian chief books for first graders in this set.

Famous Chiefs (Grade 1)

An beautiful image of a tropic bird soaring over the caldear at the summit of Kilauea. The pit is filled with red hot molten lava signifying the 4 second grade books about Pele and her kin.

Pele and Her Kin (Grade 2)

A drawing of George Helm as a child sleeping with his prized ukulele gifted to him by his father. Helm is one of four heros of steadfastness in perpetuating Hawaiian ways of knowing and being that comprise this third grade set.

The Steadfast Ones (Grade 3)

Career Awareness Set

Kuleana at Work (Grade K)

The second grade books of the career awareness set are represented here by the cover of a book about political leadership. It shows Senator Kai Kahele engaged with a group of children as part of his leadership work.

Work Legacies of Hawaiian Monarchs (Grade 1)

The second grade books of the career awareness set are represented by the cover of a book about community outdoor spray paint mural making. This cover features a teenage girl spraying a colorful cultural mural on the side of a community building.

The Hawaiian Trait of Deep Delving (Grade 2)

The third grade books of the career awareness set are represented by the illustrated cover of a book about Hawaiian immersion graduates in the entertainment industries. The illustration features Kamakakehau Fernandez who is voice acting for the giant hermit crab character, Tamatoa, in the Disney film Moana. He is looking at a monitor showing the animated hermit crab character as he voices the script into a microphone.

Steadfastness in Culture (Grade 3)

Many other hands contributed to this collaborative book development: artists; photographers; subject matter experts; kumu who piloted the books with their students; voices of narration, singing, and chanting who helped create the audio e-books. All of these contributors were essential to the successful full fruition of this project!

Hale Kuamoʻo Website

Place-based Knowledge Books

Career Awareness Books

Page updated

Report abuse