A comet blazes across the night sky, heralding the birth of a powerful king who will rule the Islands. Then a baby is spirited away to the mountains to escape a jealous chief wary of the prophecy. As dramatic as a Greek myth, the story of Kamehameha the Great, Hawaii's warrior king, is retold here for readers of all ages. From his childhood in exile to his return to court and the lifting of the great Naha Stone, we follow this brave and ambitious youth as he paves his way to becoming first conqueror and then monarch of a unified Hawaiian kingdom. Recommended for ages 9 and up

Deeply researched and richly illustrated, and including images from the author's own archives, The Hawaiian Monarchy paints a colorful and multidimensional picture of life in old Hawaii and the nineteenth century, weaving together biography, history, and culture to bring Hawaii's royal past to life. A chronology of events, full index, and list of major personages is included for ease of reference.