• The Samuel M. Kamakau Award for the Hawai'i Book of the Year went to "Na Lei Makamae: The Treasured Lei," by Marie A. McDonald and Paul R. Weissich, published by the University of Hawai'i Press. Designer, Momi Cazimero and photographer Jean Coté also won in their respective technical categories.

• The John Dominis Holt Award, given to an individual for a lifelong contribution to Hawai'i book publishing, honored Hawaiian language translator and retired teacher Esther T. Mookini, who currently volunteers at the Judiciary History Center translating court documents. She was a co-author with Samuel Elbert and Mary Kawena Pukui of "Place Names of Hawai'i," and translated Gerrit P. Judd's "Anatomia, 1838," a nominee in this year's awards.

The nominations were judged over a six-week period by an academy of librarians, booksellers, educators, and other dedicated booklovers.

The awards:

GENERAL CATEGORIES

• Excellence in Children's Hawaiian Culture — Award of Excellence, "Explorations! Ho'omaka'ika'i (third edition)," Kamehameha Schools Ho'omaka'ika'i Staff, Kamehameha Schools Press; Honorable Mention "Kamehameha: The Boy Who Became a Warrior King," Ellie Crowe, illustrated by Don Robinson, Island Heritage Publishing.

• Excellence in Children's Illustrative or Photographic Books — Award of Excellence, "Hide & Seek in Hawai'i III," Jane Hopkins and Ian Gillespie, Mutual Publishing; Honorable Mention "Kamehameha: The Boy Who Became a Warrior King," Ellie Crowe, illustrated by Don Robinson Island Heritage Publishing.

• Excellence in Children's Books, Fiction or Nonfiction — Award of Excellence, "Wordsworth the Poet," Frances H. Kakugawa, illustrated by Scott Goto, Watermark Publishing; Honorable Mention, "Kimo's Summer Vacation" by Kerry Germain, illustrated by Keoni Montes, Island Paradise Publishing.

• Excellence in Literature — Award of Excellence, "Century of the Tiger: One Hundred Years of Korean Culture in America," edited by Jenny Ryun Foster, Frank Stewart, and Heinz Insu Fenkl, University of Hawai'i Press; Honorable Mention, "He Mele Aloha: A Hawaiian Songbook," Carol Wilcox, Kimo Hussey, Vicky Hollinger and Puakea Nogelmeier, 'Oli 'Oli Productions

• Excellence in General Hawaiian Culture — Award of Excellence, "Na Lei Makamae: The Treasured Lei," Marie A. McDonald and Paul R. Weissich, University of Hawai'i Press; Honorable Mention, "He Mele Aloha: A Hawaiian Songbook" by Carol Wilcox, Kimo Hussey, Vicky Hollinger, and Puakea Nogelmeier, 'Oli 'Oli Productions

• Excellence in General Illustrative or Photographic Books — Award of Excellence, "Na Lei Makamae: The Treasured Lei," Marie A. McDonald and Paul R. Weissich, University of Hawai'i Press; Honorable Mention, "Pohaku: The Art & Architecture of Stonework in Hawai'i," David Cheever and Scott Cheever, photography by Douglas Peebles, Editions Limited.

• Excellence in Natural Science — Award of Excellence "Wao Akua: Sacred Source of Life," Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai'i; Honorable Mention, "Hawai'i's Ferns and Fern Allies," Daniel D. Palmer, University of Hawai'i Press.

• Excellence in Text or Reference Books — Award of Excellence "Hawaiian National Bibliography, 1780i1900, Volume 4," compiled and annotated by David W. Forbes, University of Hawai'i Press; Honorable Mention, "He Mele Aloha: A Hawaiian Songbook" by Carol Wilcox, Kimo Hussey, Vicky Hollinger, and Puakea Nogelmeier, 'Oli 'Oli Productions.

• Excellence in Cookbooks — Award of Excellence, "A Hawaiian Lu'au — Sam Choy and the Makaha Sons," Mutual Publishing; Honorable Mention, "Alu Like's Healthy Local Recipes for Hawai'i's Kupuna," by Elizabeth Meahl, Mutual Publishing.

• Excellence in Special-Interest Books — Award of Excellence, "He Mele Aloha: A Hawaiian Songbook," Carol Wilcox, Kimo Hussey, Vicky Hollinger, and Puakea Nogelmeier, 'Oli 'Oli Productions; Honorable Mention, "Hawai'i at Play: Images of a Bygone Era," DeSoto Brown, Watermark Publishing

• Excellence in Nonfiction Books —ÊAward of Excellence, "Pohaku: The Art & Architecture of Stonework in Hawai'i," David Cheever and Scott Cheever, photography by Douglas Peebles, Editions Limited; Honorable Mention, "Kohala 'Aina: A History of North Kohala," Sophia V. Schweitzer with Michael S. Gomes, Mutual Publishing.

• Excellence in "Aloha from beyond Hawai'i" — Award of Excellence "Every Grain of Rice: Portraits of Maui's Japanese Community," Rita Goldman, The Donning Company Publishers; Honorable Mention, "Chicken Soup from the Soul of Hawai'i — Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Sharon Linn?a, and Robin Stephens Rohr, Health Communications.

TECHNICAL CATEGORIES

• Excellence in Production — Award of Excellence, Santos Barbasa Jr., Lucille Aono, JoAnn Tenorio, and Brad Barrett for "Na Lei Makamae: The Treasured Lei," University of Hawai'i Press; Honorable Mention, Barbara Pope, Maureen Liu-Brower and Shuzo Uemoto for "In Celebration of Light: Photographs from the Collection of Cherye R. and James R. Pierce," Honolulu Academy of Arts

• Excellence in Illustration —ÊAward of Excellence, "Kamehameha: the Boy Who Became a Warrior King," Don Robinson, Island Heritage Publishing; Honorable Mention, Anna Stone for "Hawai'i's Ferns and Fern Allies," University of Hawai'i Press.

• Excellence in Photography — (Tie) Awards of Excellence, Jean Coté for "Na Lei Makamae: The Treasured Lei," University of Hawai'i Press and Kapulani Landgraf for "Na Wahi Kapu o Maui," 'Ai Pohaku Press.

• Excellence in Design — Award of Excellence, Momi Cazimero for "Na Lei Makamae: The Treasured Lei," University of Hawai'i Press; Honorable Mention, Barbara Pope for "Wao Akua: Sacred Source of Life," Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai'i.

• Excellence in Writing Literature — Award of Excellence, Alani Apio, Tammy Haili'opua Baker, Lee Cataluna and Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl for "He Leo Hou: A New Voice — Hawaiian Playwrights," Bamboo Ridge Press; Honorable Mention Ellie Crowe for "Kamehameha: The Boy Who Became a Warrior King,"Island Heritage Publishing.