KINO and the KING: A Hawaiian Adventure

Kino Kahele was hoping for a mobile device but instead receives a shimmery rock as a present – given to her by her grandmother. She tells Kino the stone is filled with mana, the lifeblood of the islands. It had been passed down for generations specifically for Kino on her twelfth birthday – to help her find her destiny.
To keep her rock from bullies, Kino hides in the grass hut at Bishop Museum and drops her special stone into a conch shell. With a flash of bright light, she is transported to 1825, just five years after the missionaries arrived in Hawaii.
She meets an eleven-year-old boy, weeks before he is crowned Kamehameha III. Together, they go on an adventure filled journey around Oahu, braving encounters with sharks, wild boars, Night Marchers, and more, while gathering the four items a kahuna said she needed to fulfill her destiny and return home.
KINO and the KING is a novel filled with Hawaiian history, customs, language, and lore. Based on real people, places, and events, both historical and current, the story educates as it entertains. Written for middle grade, it’s an enjoyable read for kids and adults alike.