Come meet author Malia Maunakea and chat with her about her heritage and the story behind the story! Thursday, June 15th from 10-2. 

Malia Maunakea is a Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) writer of middle-grade fiction and nonfiction and is the author of Lei and the Fire Goddess (Penguin Workshop, summer 2023) and Lightweight Backpacking for Families (CMC Press, spring 2023).

Malia grew up in the rainforest of Hawaiʻi Island before moving to a valley in Oʻahu in seventh grade to attend a school founded by a Hawaiian princess. Though she relocated to Colorado for college, Hawaiʻi has remained in her heart. Now, instead of tromping through the rainforest, she roams the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two children, and rescue mutt. To reconnect with her roots, Malia recently enrolled in an online program at Windward Community College to pursue a degree in Hawaiian Studies.

Growing up with ADHD kept her constantly jumping from idea to idea, but Hawaiian legends captured Malia’s imagination and stuck. Her ever-whirring brain is excited to spin new tales for the next generation, especially when she can weave in a whisper of island lore.

Malia is online at maliamaunakea.com and @MaliaMaunakea on Twitter and Instagram.