Review by Booklist Review
According to legend, four dual-spirited travelers (known as mahu) journeyed from Tahiti to Hawaii, bringing their gentle ways and miraculous cures. To thank the mahu for their gifts, Hawaiians transported four large boulders to Waikiki Beach, and the mahu transferred their healing powers to the stones. Revered for generations, the stones were forgotten during colonial times but have since been recovered. Based on the award-winning documentary film of the same name, this bilingual picture book (Olelo Niihau and English) attempts to reacquaint readers with this traditional Hawaiian story, promote Olelo Niihau (the only form of Hawaiian continuously spoken since precontact days), and remind readers that mahu have traditionally been revered in Hawaiian culture. Sousa's dreamy illustrations--taken from the film--reflect the text's thoughtful tone. Legendary characters are stylized and often depicted in profile without facial features, while contemporary figures appear in greater detail. Brown shades predominate, with ocher used prominently in the magical scenes. Author and source notes are appended.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--5--A solemn drumbeat welcomes listeners to discover the Kapaemahu, four ancient Tahitian healers of Hawaii. Neither male nor female, "they were mahu--a mixture of both in mind, heart, and spirit." The people built a monument in gratitude, but the "four great boulders" were eventually lost to U.S. colonialism and destructive tourism. When the stones were recovered, their crucial provenance was erased. This book gorgeously reclaims the monument's origins. Native Hawaiian Wong-Kalu, who is also mahu, reverently embodies the bilingual text, fluently narrating between Olelo Niihau and English over a richly enhancing background soundtrack. Olelo Niihau, she explains, is "the only uninterrupted form of Hawaiian in continuous communal use since prior to the arrival of foreigners." Also appended is a glossary and, surprisingly, well-deserved credit citation for "music and sound effects by Kanaka Pakipika." VERDICT Every library should consider creating or augmenting sparse Pacific Islander collections with this work.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A rich retelling of an ancient Indigenous Hawaiian legend. Long ago, four mahu (spirits) traveled from Tahiti to Waikiki, Hawaii. Neither male nor female, they were "a mixture of both in mind, heart, and spirit." Each had a specific "skill in the science of healing." Their leader, Kapaemahu, "healed by laying on hands." Kapuni "possessed great spiritual power." Kinohi could look inside a person and see what was ailing them. Kahaloa had the gift of distance healing. The mahu shared their wisdom with the islanders, who, in turn, erected a monument in their honor; four enormous boulders were moved down a mountain and placed together on the beach. The mahu ceremonially transferred their powers to the rocks then vanished. For centuries the stones remained on Waikiki Beach; times changed, and eventually the monument lay forgotten under the city. It has since been recovered, but its history and meaning continue to be erased. Written in both Olelo Niihau and English, this picture book, based on the authors' Academy Award--shortlisted animated short, underscores the importance of preserving sacred spaces and is a powerful reminder of how story honors our ancestors. Filled with cultural details and beautifully illustrated in vibrant tropical colors, the book pays homage to Indigenous Hawaiian healing traditions and affirms two-spirit people. The fascinating backmatter provides background information about the original Hawaiian legend and Niihau dialect. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A poignant monument to the power of hidden Indigenous histories. (author's note, glossary) (Picture book. 7-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
