Publishers recognize Hawai'i's best

Eighty-one nominees in 18 categories were considered during the 11th annual Ka Palapala Po'okela Awards. The awards were sponsored by the Hawai' Book Publishers Association; winners were announced yesterday.

Awards were presented in two categories: General, in which the books themselves were recognized; and technical, in which designers, illustrators, photographers and writers were honored.

The Samuel M. Kamakau Award for "Best Hawai'i Book of the Year" went to "Kamehameha and His Warrior Kekuhaupi'o," written by Stephen L. Desha and translated by Frances N. Frazier. The John Dominis Holt Award, given to an individual for extended history in "Excellence in Book Publishing" was given to Bob Krauss, one of the most prolific authors in Hawai'i and a reporter and columnist for The Honolulu Advertiser for the past 50 years.

A special "Aloha from Beyond Hawai'i" award was presented for the first time, recognizing excellence in books about Hawai'i or with a Hawaiian theme, published outside the state. The recipient of the award was "The Aloha Shirt" by Dale Hope and Greg Tozian.

More Ka Palapala Po'okela winners

General categories

• Excellence in Children's Hawaiian Culture: "A Beautiful Hawaiian Day," by Henry Kapono, artwork by Susan Szabo; honorable mention, "Ke Aloha O Ka I'a Wiwo 'Ole 'O 'Opihi," by Pila Wilson, illustrated by Brook Parker, designed by K. Hewett.
• Excellence in Children's Illustrative or Photographic Books: "Fables From the Sea," by Leslie Ann Hayashi, illustrated by Kathleen Wong Bishop; honorable mention, "A Beautiful Hawaiian Day," Henry Kapono, artwork by Susan Szabo.
• Excellence in Children's Books, Fiction or Nonfiction: "Surf's Up for Kimo," by Kerry Germain, illustrated by Keoni Montes; "Tikki Turtle's Quest" by Gill McBarnet.
• Excellence in Literature: "Intersecting Circles: The Voices of Hapa Women in Poetry and Prose," Marie Hara & Nora Okja Keller, editors; honorable mention, "The Quietest Singing," Darrell H.Y. Lum, Joseph Stanton & Estelle Enoki, editors.
• Excellence in General Hawaiian Culture: "Kamehameha and His Warrior Kekuhaupi'o," by Stephen L. Desha, translated by Frances N. Frazier, designed by Vicki Nasu & Clarence Lee; honorable mention, "Exalted Sits the Chief" by Ross Cordy.
• Excellence in General Illustrative or Photographic Books: "Maui," by Jan TenBruggencate, photos by Douglas Peebles; "The Book of Bromeliads & Hawaiian Tropical Flowers" by Ronald W. Parkhurst.
• Excellence in Natural Science: "By Wind, By Wave," by David L. Eyre; honorable mention, "Hawaii's Native & Exotic Freshwater Animals," by Mike Yamamoto & Annette Tagawa.
• Excellence in Text or Reference Books: Hawaiian National Bibliography 1780-1900, Volume 2 1831-1850, compiled and annotated by David W. Forbes; honorable mention, "The Pacific Islands: An Encyclopedia" — Brij V. Lal and Kate Fortune, editors.
• Excellence in Cookbooks: "Sam Choy Sampler," by Sam Choy, edited by Joanne Fujita; honorable mention, "Ethnic Foods of Hawai'i — Ann Kondo Corum."
• Excellence in Special Interest Books: "Growing Fruits in Hawai'i," by Kathy Oshiro; honorable mention, "How to Play the Hawaiian Ukulele," University of Hawai'i Curriculum Research and Development Group.
• Excellence in Nonfiction Books: "Hawaii Looking Back," by Glen Grant and Bennett Hymer; honorable mention, "Kamehameha and His Warrior Kekuhaupi'o," by Stephen L. Desha, translated by Frances N. Frazier, designed by Vicki Nasu & Clarence Lee.

Technical categories

• Excellence in Production: Barbara Pope for "Victoria Ward and Her Family: Memories of Old Plantation"; honorable mention, Aono, Lucille C. for The Pacific Islands: An Encyclopedia.
• Excellence in Illustration: Kathleen Wong Bishop, "Fables From the Sea"; honorable mention, Susan Szabo, "A Beautiful Hawaiian Day."
• Excellence in Photography: Douglas Peebles, "Maui"; honorable mention, David Boynton, "By Wind, By Wave."
• Excellence in Design: Barbara Pope, "Victoria Ward and Her Family: Memories of Old Plantation"; honorable mention, Carol Colbath, "By Wind, By Wave."
• Excellence in Writing Literature: Frances Frazier, "Kamehameha and His Warrior Kekuhaupi'o"; honorable mention, Edward Sakamoto, "Aloha Las Vegas and Other Plays."
• Excellence in Writing Nonfiction: Stephen L. Desha, "Kamehameha and His Warrior Kekuhaupi'o; honorable mention to Glen Grant, "Hawai'i Looking Back."