Uilani Goldsberry - A is for Aloha: A Hawaii Alphabet

The landscape of Hawaii is as rich and exotic as its history and residents. A is for Aloha: A Hawaii Alphabet offers readers of all ages a guided A-Z tour through this fascinating state.

From the meaning of the word aloha to the plight of the state bird, the nn, to the sparkling beaches on the island of Oahu, author Uilani Goldsberry welcomes all malihinis (newcomers) to this lush multi-island paradise. Spectacular paintings from artist Tammy Yee bring the text to vivid life.

Beginning readers will enjoy the simple rhymes while older children discover facts about each topic letter in the sidebar expository.

Aloha is our letter A.
It means so many things:
hello, good-bye, and love to you.
Fair wishes this word brings.

Travelers young and old will enjoy this fact-filled guide to one of the most-visited places on earth! The book includes a pronunciation key of Hawaiian words and their meanings.

A Hawaii Alphabet

Written by Uilani Goldsberry and Illustrated by Tammy Yee

For my wonderful children, Micah, Haunani, and Pancho, and to little Kirra,
the most beautiful granddaughter in the world. Root yourselves in the core
of these islands. They are your center. Your balance. Your home.

And for my husband Steven, whose love, understanding, and support
have sustained me these past 30 years.

UILANI

To Ric, Cosmo, and Bobby, the three boys in my life.

TAMMY

With a single word, Hawaiians can express feelings of love, compassion, mercy, kindness, charity, regards, affection, hello, and good-bye. The word kuu means my. Add aloha, and you have kuu aloha, or my love. The origin of the word aloha is lost in the shadows of ancient Hawaii. But if we break the word down, alo means to be in the presence of, and ha is the breath of life: to be in the presence of life. Aloha is vital to the Hawaiian way of life. This one word communicates all of the traditions of care and generosity that make Hawaii such a special place.

A is also for the Aloha Tower. In the early 1900s, travel to and from the islands was done entirely by steamship. The people of Honolulu built the tower on the harborside of the piers to greet passengers or send them home with a fond farewell. The building was originally used as a maritime communications and harbor control center. Today the observation deck is open to the public.

A is for Aloha Aloha is our letter A.

It means so many things: hello, good-bye, and love to you.

Fair wishes this word brings.

In 1957 the nn goose became our state bird. This distant cousin of the Canada goose is brown, with black and white feathers lined up in diagonal rows. Scientists believe that the n were blown off course during one of their migratory journeys from Canada to Mexico, and landed on the islands of Hawaii. Today, the nn lives on the slopes of the great volcanoes, and is on the list of endangered species.

B is also for the Bishop Museum, established in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop to honor his late wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha family. Her final wish was to help Hawaiis children develop a greater pride in their heritage. Located near downtown Honolulu, the museum is the largest in the state, and has over 25 million items that tell the natural and cultural history of the islands, including ancient wooden surfboards, canoes, finely carved tikis, and royal feather capes. The exhibits tell the story of the extinct and endangered plants and animals.

B is for state Bird

The nn is a Hawaiian goose, with feathers beige and brown.

It lives atop the great volcanoes and never goes to town.

Honolulu is Hawaiis capital city, on the Island of Oahu. The word Honolulu means protected bay. The city and county of Honolulu is the biggestby areain the world. Its land stretches out nearly 1,500 miles long, because it includes all of the islands north of Niihau up to Kure Atoll. The city of Honolulu lies on Oahus south shore. It was once called the white city because of all its coral buildings. With a population of 879,156, Honolulu is the 11th largest city in the United States.

C is also for our state capitol building in downtown Honolulu, which was designed to resemble a volcano. Forty large pillars support the roof and represent coconut palms, and the eight smaller pillars that hold up the top floor symbolize Hawaiis eight major islands: Hawaii, Kahoolawe, Kauai, Lnai, Maui, Molokai, Niihau, and Oahu. The main courtyard opens to the sky with a domed top in the shape of a volcanic cinder cone, and a reflecting pool that represents the Pacific Ocean surrounds the entire building.

C is for Capital Hawaiis capital, Honolulu, is like a jewel so bright.

It shines against the lush green mountains, and sparkles in the night.

The ancient Hawaiians didnt have a written language. So they chanted their stories, and to add drama they danced. The hula portrayed tales of heroism and harvest, god-worship, and fertility. They were passionate dances done by torchlight. When Christian missionaries came to Hawaii, they did not understand the hula, and they didnt like Hawaiians worshipping the ancient gods. The missionaries made the hula illegal for anyone to practice or dance. Today, when you come to the islands, youll see the ancient or kahiko hula (performed to the sound of drums and chanting), and the modern or auana hula (with smoother movements, and guitars and singing).

D is also for drums. The ancient Hawaiians used drums of all sizes. Small ones sounded like heavy rain on a grassthatched roof, and large ones rumbled like booming thunder. Chanters used a