A President from Hawai'i [Hardcover]

Carolan (Author), Joanna Carolan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2009

A President from Hawaii explores the unique history and cultural traditions of Hawaii. Discover our 50th State, the Aloha State, birthplace of President Obama.

In addition to the well-known concept of aloha, the book introduces the Hawaiian concepts of kokua (to help), lokahi (unity) and ohana (family), among others. The book includes quotes from speeches by Barack Obama which reflect these concepts along with photographs from his childhood. This book is for children ages 8 and up, although adults will find it informative as well.

The book comes with an audio CD narrated by preeminent Hawaiian recording artist, Amy Hanaiali i, a three-time GRAMMY® nominee, and winner of 12 Na Hoku Hanohano awards. Amy is accompanied by Keli i Kaneali i, a six-time Na Hoku Hanohano award winner, on Hawaiian slack-key guitar. The CD also includes Amy s new single These Islands, and a traditional Hawaiian oli (chant) performed by a Merrie Monarch Miss Aloha Hula recipient, Healani Youn. The CD brings the book alive, and gives a true Hawaiian flavor to the reading experience.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Carolan was born in Melbourne, Australia. He moved to Hawaii in 1977. He has been a pediatrician in private practice on the island of Kauai since 1979.

Dr. Carolan has written six other highly acclaimed children s books, all of which have Hawaiian themes. Ten Days in Hawaii, A Counting Book was their first book, and was awarded a Ka Palapala Po okela Honorable Mention in 2002. Goodnight Hawaiian Moon, also narrated by Amy Hanaiali i, won a silver medal in the 2007 Independent Publisher s Moonbeam Children's Book Awards, and was a finalist for a 2008 Audies® Award, given by the Audio Publishers Association. Where Are My Slippers, A Book of Colors, audio CD by Keli'i Kaneali'i, won an IPPY Finalist Award in 2005. Old Makana Had a Taro Farm, audio CD by Willie K and Eric Gilliom, won a bronze 2008 Moonbeam Children s Book Award. Leilani Rivera Bond narrates B is for Beach, An Alphabet Book. Napua Grieg narrates their parts of the body book, entitled This is My Piko.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Banana Patch Press; First Edition edition (July 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0980006309
• ISBN-13: 978-0980006308
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #605,492 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a treasure., July 17, 2009

By 

JEMS (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A President from Hawai'i (Hardcover)

A President from Hawaii is a chidren's book that should to be in every public library. The book is wonderful. The pictures and illustrations are very colorful. The scrapbook effect means that each page is full of pictures and information. You could read the basic book to a younger child. An older reader would be able to enjoy all the other information found on each page. The book weaves together a biography of President Obama with the culture of Hawaii. The Carolans deserve an award for this book. Their other books are also beautiful, but this one can appeal to a wider age group.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An uplifting exposure to both Hawaii and President Obama!, July 15, 2009

By 

R Schmidt (Honolulu, HI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A President from Hawai'i (Hardcover)

What a fun book! This book serves two purposes. The first, really, is to expose the reader to the 50th state, Hawaii. The text covers the history, the multicultural issues, the Hawaiian language and its relationship to an aloha lifestyle, and much more. The second part focuses on President Obama's history in Hawaii and on how his messages of hope and "Yes, we can!" have been influenced by his upbringing in Hawaii.

The text and the illustrations really complement each other. The illustrations have a "scrapbook" feel. Interspersed throughout are quotations from Obama that illustrate his Hawaiian roots.

Although I would expect that the Rush Limbaughs and Sean Hannitys of the world will find fault with this book (message -"No, we won't"), it is focused on an uplifting message: that we can and we will! Written for a younger audience, I enjoyed reading it, and I plan to send an autographed copy to an adult friend as well.

Throughout I sensed that the authors, Dr. Carolan and Joanna Carolan, took this project very seriously. The result is a very, very nice book. I hope they make this a series, and write/illustrate a similar book for every future president. Our keiki deserve it!

5.0 out of 5 stars A President from Hawaii, July 31, 2011

By 

Charles A. Lileikis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A President from Hawai'i (Hardcover)

An excellent book. Purchased from Amazon for our grandchildren who love it! I enjoyed it, too.
Helene Lileikis, Honolulu, Hawaii