A PRESIDENT FROM HAWAII

A Book About President Obama with Audio CD

by Dr. Carolan
Illustrated by Joanna F. Carolan
Hardbound, 64 pages
For ages 8+
Featuring the artists Amy Hanaiali'i and Keli‘i Kaneali‘i.

Dr. Carolan's exhilarating children's book "A President from Hawaii" teaches children about the history, cultural values and language that are unique to the Aloha State, values that President Obama experienced growing up in Hawai‘i. Photographs of President Obama as a child in Hawai‘i, together with original artwork, have been combined in a collage-style by Kauai artist Joanna Carolan.

The book comes with an audio CD featuring award-winning Hawaiian recording artists Amy Hanaialii and Kelii Kanealii. In addition to the narration of the book, the CD includes oli (Hawaiian chant) by Kumu Hula Healani Youn, and the song "These Islands" which Amy Hanaialii recorded exclusively for the book.

Click to hear audio sample:

Price: $18.95

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A word from Dr. Carolan
and Joanna Carolan

There are unique aspects about Hawaii that influence anyone who lives here, and especially those who are born and raised here. In 2007 and 2008, when Barack Obama was campaigning for the Democratic nomination, we noticed in almost all of his speeches he referred to concepts that are a strong part of the Hawaiian culture and cultural values here in the islands. In addition to the well-known concept of aloha, in this book we explore Hawaiian values such as lokahi (unity, cooperation), ohana (family) and kokua (helping), among others. We have included quotes by Barack Obama to illustrate how he referenced these values in his speeches.

This is not a political book. This is a book about aspects of Hawaii's history and culture. While the concepts we explore in this book are universal, looking at them through a Hawaiian world view gives them a unique and, we hope, fresh perspective. This is a book about how we think growing up in Hawaii contributed to making President Obama the man he is today. We were inspired to write it, in part, by a statement made by Michelle Obama to biographer, David Mendell (Obama: From Promise to Power, HarperCollins 2007), "You can't really understand Barack until you understand Hawaii."

ARTISTS

Amy Hanaiali'i

Three-time Grammy® Award Nominee for Best Hawaiian Music Album and winner of 12 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, Amy Hanaialii is one of Hawaii's most prominent performers. She began singing almost before she could walk, and comes from a family of famous Hawaiian entertainers. Amy has won the hearts of many with her resurrection of ha‘i (female falsetto singing). When Amy is not recording or touring, she lives with her husband and daughter on their shrimp farm on the island of Molokai.

For more information please visit: amyhanaialiigilliom.com

Keli‘i Kaneali‘i

Keli‘i Kaneali‘i began singing at the age of six with his church choir. Born and raised on ‘Oahu, he is the youngest of 15 children. Keli‘i was a founding member and former lead vocalist for the music group Hapa. After 18 years with Hapa, during which time he was awarded six Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, Keli‘i left to pursue his solo career. When Keli’i is not recording or performing his contemporary ballads, traditional Hawaiian songs and sharing his aloha around the world, he enjoys spending time in his garden on the island of Kaua‘i where he lives with his wife and sons. Keli‘i says he gets his song writing inspiration while working with the land.

For more information please visit:
keliikanealii.com