Hawai'i

We loved looking at pictures from Hawai'i and learning about its unique history. A friend from Hawai'i gave us some pointers that were some of our favorite parts of our Hawai'i study. Specifically, watching hula videos from the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo (on the Big Island), and listening to music on the Kanikapila Sunday program on Hawai'i Public Radio.

Books:

• Georgia in Hawaii, Amy Novesky

• The Last Princess, Fay Stanley

• Sun and Rain, Stephanie Feeney

• Hawaii is a Rainbow, Stephanie Feeney

• Grandma Calls Me Beautiful, Barbara Joosse

• Duke Kahanamoku, Laurie Calkhoven OR

• Surfer of the Century, Ellie Crowe

• A is for Aloha by U’ilani Goldsberry

• Hawai'i (A True Book: My United States) by Joanne Mattern

• Flight of the Golden Plover: The Amazing Migration Between Hawaii and Alaska by Debbie S. Miller

• Welcome to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park By: Teri and Bob Temple

• A President from Hawaiʻi by Dr. Carolan Terry and Joanna Carolan

• The Last Hawaiian Queen: Liliuokalani by Paula Guzzetti 

• Honey Girl: The Hawaiian Monk Seal, by Jeanne Walker Harvey

• Aloha, Kanani and Good Job, Kanani American Girls books

• Growing Up with Aloha and Hula for the Home Front by Kirby Larson

• American Girls books about Nanea growing up in Hawaii during WWII

• Butterfly for a King: Saving Hawaiis Kamehameha Butterflies by Cindy Trumbore

• This is brand new so not available yet, but looks like it would be a good addition.

Art Project:

Hawai'i Volcanoes

The kids were really interested in pictures from Volcanoes national park where you see lush tropical foliage giving way to barren lava landscapes. They wanted their Hawai'i art project to show a volcano with lava flowing, and also show some of the tropical plants, and specifically hibiscus flowers. We looked at lots of photos for inspiration for different parts of the art piece we put together. Ultimately the materials and process were the same as in many of our projects as the multi-media approach allows us to get the look and control we want: sketch in pencil, go over outlines / details in sharpie, then color in with oil pastels, leaving bare only the liquid lava flow and sky, which were done with water color.