Ilima LoomisOhana Means Family

My sister gifted us a copy of this book and my daughter loves the colorful pages and lyrical storytelling. She’s a bit young to fully understand it, but she pulls it out of her bookshelf during her daily story times and we read it at least twice a day. It’s so beautiful that I had to gift this for someone else that loves food culture.

They repeat the same thing over and over in the book saying the steps to make poi. I’d rather borrow this book from the library than purchase it.

my grandson enjoyed reading it over and over, before going on his first trip to Hawaii at 5 years old

I expected a little more Hawaiian history. It was good though. I read it to my 3 yo grandson.

another great book I brought to read to my sister and she loved it. the pictures catches her eyes and it's one of her fav.

Love the story. and the illustrations are stunning.

Ohana Means Familyby Ilima Loomis , Kenard Pakthe cd version of the book shows not only the method of creating Poi, but also the Hawaiian culture, from the definition of words, and recipe of Poi. The meaning of family and how important the food is not only for survival, but for cultural and social reasons. The added music and meanings enhance the story for young students as they learn about different indigenous cultures and peoples.

Even those of us who have never traveled to Hawaii will still be familiar with the words and concepts of POI and LU'AU. 'OHANA MEANS FAMILY is a delightful new picture book that joyfully proclaims the heritage of native Hawaiians and the role of POI and LU'AU through the familiar literary structure and cumulative text of THIS IS THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT.NEAL PORTER BOOKS2020Author Ilima Loomis and illustrator Kenard Pak provide readers with a virtual visit to a Hawaiian fictional family's experience with a joyous gathering and all that goes into making it possible.Lyrical lines elevate a simplistic structure to follow POI on a journey backwards from meal preparation, through every step in the process. The taro root (kalo) is traced from planting, to care, and on through the eventual growth and harvest as Hawaii's staple food, all within the embrace of loving families, an ideal tropical climate, and rich volcanic soil.The luminous glow of sunshine, intense greens and blues, sunlit faces and bodies, and a landscape both natural and cultivated invite readers to join 'Ohana (Family) throughout their multi-generational experiences, giving thanks, and sharing a table to celebrate their lives in a paradise of bounty and grace.The center spread is one of my favorites in a book filled with quiet wonder, each offering unique and suitable angles and lighting and interacting forms. This central spread features a background of tangerine sun and sprawling mountains with a midground of backlit figures of every age, working and playing in the shadowed waters of a kalo field, with its heart-shaped leaves forming a foreground base."This is 'ohana, the loved ones we hold,who give thanks for the sun, all bright and bold,that warms the wind on which stories are told, that lifts the rain to the valley fold,"...This small snippet of the work is a tasting portion of text, images, and story, balanced and blended to create an informative picture book. This also reflects layers upon layers of Hawaiian heritage: musical and oral storytelling, community collaboration, family-centric celebrations, appreciation of nature and its bounty, welcoming of others, patience, and peace. The concepts and themes developed in this picture book are especially suited to this structural choice because there is a tune/chant associated with the centuries-old "This Is The House" text, making the lovely lines of this work singable.The author note in back matter describes the Lu'au and Kalo and Poi traditional practices using a wide array of Hawaiian vocabulary, followed by a brief note from the author and a glossary of those actual words. This lifts the appeal from a song-like circle story to a brilliant addition to cultural studies, geography, and agricultural studies. Once again, a seemingly simple picture books proves itself worthy of an expansive audience.

It’s unfortunate when a Haole tries to write about Hawai’i like they are native. If you are looking for a traditional tale of “‘Ohana” and not just an explanation of how poi is used and made, there are better childrens’ books. A quick 1 page history blurb/glossary for non-native adults as an afterthought in the back of the book about our heritage really doesn’t help teach children. :(