Blazing Stars and Shark Eyes

Blazing Stars and Shark Eyes is the third in a 12-book series for young readers about the life of Kamehameha the Great. David Kawika Eyre's series is entitled Kana'iaupuni (the Conqueror of the Islands). The series is illustrated by Native Hawaiian artist Imaikalani Kalahele.

Based on Hawaiian sources and years of research, the story sheds new light on the people and places that nurtured Kamehameha in his early years and depicts the relationship of Kamehameha and Kekuhaupi'o, the fierce warrior-chief from Ke'ei, who was instrumental in young Kamehameha's training in becoming a warrior.

The Kana'iaupuni series is a work of historical fiction about Kamehameha, the great hero of Hawai'i. The series highlights the people, places, and events that shaped Kamehameha's life and led him to become Kana'iaupuni (the Conqueror of the Islands). The twelve stories in this series are based on Hawaiian sources and are intended for young readers, families, and educators.

About the Author

David Kawika Eyre was raised on the islands of O'ahu and Hawai'i. He has taught at elementary schools for 10 years and prior to that, classes in English, history, and French at the college level. For the past 17 years he has taught Hawaiian language at Kamehameha's Kapalama High School. His most recent work, By Wind and Wave: An Introduction to Hawaii's Natural History won the Ka Palapala Po'okela Award for best natural science book of the year in 2000.

About the Illustrator

Imaikalani Kalahele is a poet, artist, and educator. His work has been featured in Honolulu galleries and exhibited in Germany, as well as throughout the South Pacific. In 2006, he received the MamoAward for lifetime artistic achievement.