Aloha Everything - by Kaylin Melia George (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In this exciting adventure, you'll encounter mighty canoes crashing over ocean waves, regal hawks soaring high above the clouds, and brilliant lizards jumping nimbly through forest trees! Most importantly, you'll meet a courageous young girl named Ano who learns, grows, and comes to love her island home with all her heart. Since the day that Ano was born, her heart has been connected to her home. But, this adventurous child has a lot to learn! When Ano begins to dance hula-a storytelling dance form that carries the knowledge, history, and folklore of the Hawaiian people-Ano comes to unde rstand the true meaning of aloha"--

Book Synopsis

Winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature
Winner of the Hawaiʻi Keiki Book Award
An ALA Notable Children's Book
★ "A stunning tribute to Hawaiian culture and identity."-starred review, Kirkus
New York Public Library Top Ten Best Kid's Book of 2024
A Center for the Study of Multicultural Literature Best Book of 2024
A 2025 Notable Book for a Global Society - International Literacy Association

Aloha Everything is a magical story that will take you on a thrilling journey through the breathtaking islands of Hawaiʻi!

In this exciting adventure, you'll encounter mighty canoes crashing over ocean waves, regal hawks soaring high above the clouds, and brilliant lizards jumping nimbly through forest trees! Most importantly, you'll meet a courageous young girl named Ano who learns, grows, and comes to love her island home with all her heart.

Since the day that Ano was born, her heart has been connected to her home. But, this adventurous child has a lot to learn! When Ano begins to dance hula -- a storytelling dance form that carries the knowledge, history, and folklore of the Hawaiian people -- Ano comes to understand the true meaning of aloha.

Aloha Everything is both a captivating read and a fantastic educational resource for learning about Hawaiian history, ecology, and culture. With breathtaking hand-painted illustrations and beautiful rhyming poetry that will lull little ones into brilliant dreams of vibrant adventure, this book is sure to capture the hearts of both children and parents alike.

The beautiful poetry--weaving its way through every page--artfully blends 25 Hawaiian words into the English prose and provides a thoughtful exploration of the meaning of aloha in relation to the land, the people, and the lore. There is also a pronunciation guide and glossary providing additional information for those looking to learn more about the rich language and culture of Hawai'i.

Review Quotes

A 2024 Best Book of the Year-- "Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature" (12/11/2024 12:00:00 AM)

An American Library Association Notable Children's Book -- "ALA/American Library Service to Children" (1/29/2025 12:00:00 AM)

New York Public Library Top Ten Best Kid's Book of 2024
"This poem sings off the page, encompassing the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands. An enchanting vision of a girl experiencing her extraordinary home through lyrical verse and stunning collage."--NYPL (11/26/2024 12:00:00 AM)

Winner of the Hawaiʻi Ānuenue Keiki Book Award-- "Hawaii Library Association" (4/14/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Winner of the Asian/Pacific American Library Association Award for Literature

-- "Asian/Pacific American Library Association" (1/27/2025 12:00:00 AM)

★ "Mesmerizing, metered verse combines English and Hawaiian words for a rich tale of Hawaiian history, culture, ecology, and legends. Making deft use of light and shadow, the vibrant images bring the text to life. . . A stunning tribute to Hawaiian culture and identity."-starred review-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Lush illustrations by Waite and rhythmic quatrains by Melia George paint the story of a Hawaiian girl who learns about her cultural heritage through hula. . . . acrylic and gouache paintings linger on the eye in this gossamer work."-- "Publishers Weekly"

About the Author

KAYLIN MELIA GEORGE grew up listening to the stories of Molokaʻi. She breathed in the epic Hawaiian legends her mother gifted her as bedtime stories. It was the planting of these early seeds that drove Kaylin to dedicate her life to storytelling. Before working in children's literature, Kaylin began her professional journey in filmmaking as an award-winning director and screenwriter. Working across the United States and Japan, her portfolio has included narrative work recognized by The Academy (of Oscars notoriety), as well as documentary pieces created for some of the most recognizable non-profits, including the World Wildlife Fund and The Asian Cultural Council, and national commercials for publicly traded companies.
Today, Kaylin collaborates with Mythify Studios in the creation of epic world-building art books. With Aloha Everything, Kaylin found a story close to her heart and celebrates her native Hawaiian ancestry. This is the story she has always dreamed of telling.

MAE WAITE was adopted at the age of three from Yunnan, China and she found her home in Hawai'i. From that point on, the sparkling vibrancy and rich texture of the islands would become a constant source of inspiration for Mae's work. Mae is a graduate of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa where she earned a B.A. in Studio Arts. She has won many accolades for her artwork from around the globe, including the Lorenzo De' Medici Student Exhibition in Florence, Italy; the Honolulu Printmakers 91st Annual Exhibition; the Exhibition at the ʻIolani Gallery in Kaneohe; and the Hankyu Hawai'i Fair in Osaka, Japan. In 2019, Mae won the Kailua Night Market Urban Art Battle amongst many other spectacular showings.