NĀ Puke / BooKs

Pulelehua and Māmaki By Janice Crowl Illustrations by Harinani Orme Kamahoi Press

By Francine Murray / Ka Wai Ola

Dedicated to the keiki of Hawai'i, this book's theme is a time to take care of one another.

Born and raised in the branches of the fragrant māmaki tree, Pulelehua knows this is the perfect place to lay her egg. When the egg hatches the māmaki tree welcomes the newborn, "aloha, my keiki hānai, your mother has given you to me. I will take care of you."

After reading this delightful tale of the delicate Hawaiian insect and nurturing tree to a dear child, together you can learn more about these two endemic Hawaiians in the same beautifully illustrated hardback.

Pulelehua, or the Kamehameha Butterfly, featured in this charming book is one of only two native Hawaiian butterfly species, the other is called the Hawaiian Blue butterfly. Where can you see pulelehua? What is the life cycle of the butterfly? What did the early Hawaiians use the māmaki tree for? How do you grow and care for māmaki in your garden? Learn the answers to all these questions and more here. Some of the other native plants described in this book are 'ōhi'a lehua, koa, hāpu'u and palapalai.

There is even a little Hawaiian glossary at the end of the book. So, no worries, when reading this story and your young audience interrupts to ask, "What is kūaloli?" You'll be ready with, "It is the Hawaiian word for metamorphosis, which means to change or transform. The caterpillar kūaloli, changes into the handsome butterfly."

Harinani Orme's dreamy and visually impressive illustrations bring the characters to life with fine detail as their tale unfolds in the flowing cool green native forest.

Janice Crowl also authors a web site called Hawaii Gardening, which features ideas for earth-friendly, sustainable gardening in Hawai'i. Another one of her books is Container Gardening in Hawai'i, How to Grow Paradise in a Pot, a do-it-yourself book in which she teaches how to turn almost any space into a beautiful potted garden.

Both books are available at BooklinesHawaii.com.
Proceeds from the sale of Pulelehua and Māmaki
support the Bishop Museum.