The Ho'ulu Hou Project -
Stories Told By Us

was aimed at increasing the availability of early childhood books for children, ages two to four, from stories that permeate the Native Hawaiian community in Ko'olauloa, Hawai'i. Children’s storybooks in Hawaiian and English were created, produced and printed for a series of twelve books.

Four community partners and a kupuna review committee directly concerned about the education of young children joined the project: Brigham Young University Hawaii - Jonathan Nāpela Center for Hawaiian Language & Cultural Studies, Hui Mākua o Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Hau'ula, Ko'olauloa Hawaiian Civic Club and Pūnana Leo O Ko'olauloa.

By directing intellectual properties (stories) for families with young children, the project and the participants articulated cultural identity and maintained the island native culture embraced by Ko'olauLoa.

This project was written, produced, photographed, edited, designed and published entirely by Ko’olauloa residents and native organizations.

This project distributed the books to young children ages 2-4 in Ko’olauloa. The full series of Ho’ulu Hou books are available for public purchase now.

Click here for the books