The “Kai and Friends” series comprises seven books. Each follows the story of a creature dealing with a struggle common to keiki – such as bullying – and shows the importance of elders.

The characters use inter-generational wisdom to find solutions to their problems. Each of the stories is grounded in contemporary issues, from ocean pollution to the Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death fungus impacting Hawaiʻi Island and Kauaʻi.

The creators of the books were at the event: co-authors PIDF president Jan Dill, Judy Dill, and Gail Omoto, and the illustrator, Gary Omoto. Gail gave several lively readings of the books to families visiting the museum, and all four creators signed books for the keiki.

In between readings, Jan shared other stories relating to the books, and Gail had activities to keep the participants active and involved. It was our second book event at Bishop Museum, and was a great success!

Our books make wonderful gifts for keiki 10 and under. They include audio CDs to help with reading and comprehension, narrated by Jack Johnson, Aaron Mahi, and others. The stories are a great way to introduce or reinforce Hawaiian language and cultural traditions.

To purchase any of our books, contact our office at (808) 595-2752. Our online bookstore will be available soon!

“Maka” is the seventh in our Kai and Friends series. It tells the story of Maka, a young tree snail, on his journey of humility and self-acceptance. As with the other books, it teaches the importance of inter-generational wisdom through a contemporary story.

In the case of “Maka,” the contemporary story is the case of the Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death fungus that has impacted over 100,000 acres on Hawaiʻi Island and was discovered on Kauaʻi earlier this year. In the book, Maka and his friends ponder why other trees in the forest are dying while their tree remains healthy.

All three co-authors were present, including our president Jan Dill, his wife Judy Dill, and Gail Omoto, who gave three readings to children attending the launch and visiting the museum that day. Keiki and kupuna alike loved Gail’s animated presentations and activities!

Bishop Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Pacific land snails, and staff set up tables outside the gift shop where families could learn more about Hawaiʻi’s tree snails. There were dozens of shells on display and take-home magnets and information.

“Maka” and the rest of our Kai and Friends book are on sale at Bishop Museum’s gift shop, and can also be purchased by contacting our main office in Honolulu at (808) 595-2752.

“The book follows a tree snail and his journey of self-acceptance and humility, and also ties into the Rapid ʻŌhia Death that’s now occurring on the Big Island and also on the island of Kauaʻi,” explained Lei Furtado, Tūtū and Me’s Data and Operations Manager.

To ensure accuracy within their storytelling, co-authors Gail Omoto and Jan and Judy Dill worked closely with cultural and scientific consultants like Brenden Holland, PhD, a professor at Hawaiʻi Pacific University.

Dr. Holland and his colleagues at the Hawaiian Biodiversity and Conservation Lab, and Native Ecosystems Protection and Management, study the tree snails’ diet and their impact on Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems.

PIDF Development and Communications Manager Keala O’Sullivan also mentioned that the books also come with an audio CD narrated by musician and cultural practitioner Aaron Mahi. These CDs can be used to help keiki follow along in reading.

To learn more, come out to the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum tomorrow (Saturday, October 20). We will be hosting a launch party at the museum’s Shop Pacifica to celebrate “Maka the Tree Snail,” and museum educators will be there to teach about the tree snails and show the world’s most extensive collection of Pacific mollusks! The event is free and runs from 10am to 1:30pm.

A big mahalo to KHON2 news anchor Kristine Uyeno and the rest of the WakeUp2Day team for having us on the show this morning! To watch the full clip, go to their website here.

Our books can be purchased at Bishop Museum’s gift shop and by calling our office at (808) 595-2752.

We designed the float to include our Kai and Friends children’s book characters — marine creatures that fit perfectly with this year’s festival theme: “No Ke Kai Kākou Ē.” A phrase meaning “We Are of the Sea,” the theme celebrated “the seas and oceans that have shaped these islands and the many people who call them home,” according to the Aloha Festivals website.

Our mākua and keiki loved seeing the many colorful and elaborate floats, especially the horses with the costumed paʻu riders at the end of the route. PIDF staff assisted in every aspect of the day to ensure everything ran smoothly for our families, from preparing the float early that morning to the lunch hand-out and clean up that afternoon.

“This is probably the hottest parade we’ve ever done,” said Crystal Mariñas, PIDF’s accounting manager. She was one of several staff in the parade, passing out school supplies and helping to get the crowds going to cheer on the keiki as they sang songs on the trolley. By the end of the three-hour parade everyone was tired, but spirits were high and even Kai and his friends made it to the end.

Kai the ʻOpihi (mollusk), Mele the Crab, Pili the ʻIwa Bird, Noa the Puhi (eel), Holu the Heʻe (octopus), and Moana the Honu (green sea turtle) are all characters in our children’s book series co-authored by our president, Jan Dill. All six characters were featured on our float. In the books each marine creature confronts real life challenges, such as bullying. Each goes to their elders for help and guidance. The stories encourage children and their families to recognize the power and importance of inter-generational wisdom and traditional Hawaiian values.