Discotopia | Diverse Books | Kapaemahu

Kapaemahu

An Indigenous legend about how four extraordinary individuals of dual male and female spirit, or Mahu, brought healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii, based on the Academy Award–contending short film.

In the 15th century, four Mahu sail from Tahiti to Hawaii and share their gifts of science and healing with the people of Waikiki. The islanders return this gift with a monument of four boulders in their honor, which the Mahu imbue with healing powers before disappearing.

As time passes, foreigners inhabit the island and the once-sacred stones are forgotten until the 1960s. Though the true story of these stones was not fully recovered, the power of the Mahu still calls out to those who pass by them at Waikiki Beach today.

With illuminating words and stunning illustrations by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, and Daniel Sousa, KAPAEMAHU is a monument to an Indigenous Hawaiian legend and a classic in the making.

Posts about this title from Discotopia | Diverse Books

Sci-fi / fantasy recs for AAPINH month

Loved all of these! Books listed:

Other Recommendations

  1. The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho

    A fun, queer novella about a nun who joins up with a group of bandits. This was the first Zen Cho I ever read and I became an instant fan.

  2. The Nameless Restaurant by Tao Wong

    A cosy fantasy novella about a retired mage who runs the best restaurant in the world, hidden in Toronto, catering to humans and magical folk alike.

  3. Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min

    A YA romance between a Korean-Japanese trans boy and a Filipino-Latino boy who connect over anime and music. Both deal with their painful pasts as their friendship blossoms into something more.