American Library Association Annual Conference Extras–Click Here!
Hawaiian islanders at the center of their authentic stories.
Every island keiki deserves to be the hero
and to see themselves and ʻohana
at the center of the story.
#RealRep
– Lehua Parker
One Boy, No Water
Book 1 of the Niuhi Shark Saga trilogy
When you’re allegic to water, growing up in Hawaiʻi isn’t always paradise.
Set in comtemporary Hawaiʻi, this coming of age series explores belonging, destiny, adoption, being different, turning weaknesses into strengths, defining yourself, and creating family. There’s a secret about Zader that challenges everything you thought you knew about growing up Hawaiian.
For readers 10 and up.
Kanaka Maoli Author
Lehua Parker
LEHUA PARKER writes speculative fiction for kids and adults, often set in her native Hawai‘i. Her award-winning and best-selling series include the Niuhi Shark Saga trilogy, Lauele Fractured Folktales, and Chicken Skin Stories. Her short stories have appeared in Va: Stories by Women of the Moana, Dialogue, and Bamboo Ridge, and are collected in Sharks in an Inland Sea. Her plays have been performed by The Honolulu Theatre for Youth.
A Kamehameha Schools graduate, Lehua is a passionate advocate of indigenous voices and authentic representation in media. She is a frequent speaker at conferences, schools, and symposiums, and mentors through the Lehua Writing Academy and PEAU Lit. When the right project wanders by, she’s also a freelance editor and story consultant.
Now living in exile in the high Rocky Mountains, during the snowy winters she dreams of the beach.
Published Books
Short Stories
Happy Readers
Featured Books
Pua & Justin’s Story
When you’re dating a Niuhi shark in human form, there’s no such thing as a casual vacation fling.
Collected Short Works
Stories for adults that explore sideways worlds where things aren’t always what they seem.
Sweet YA Romance
Rell never imagined an 18th birthday like this. Inspired by Cinderella with a Hawaiian twist and set in the Lauele Universe.
Upcoming Events
Oct 17-19, 2024
LDSPMA Conference
Presentation: Writing Through Different Lenses
Nov 6-9, 2024
American Folklore Society Conference
Panel: Mo’olelo vs Fairy Tales
Book Reviews & Musings
Talking Story Blog
Introducing Tatou Publishing
I’ve often thought that rather than wait patiently in the shadows for someone at the publishing table to notice and make room, it’s better to build your own table. Tatou Publishing has not only built a table, they’ve prepared a feast. Traditional publishers in the USA...
#RealRep: Just Dare
"How did you dare?" After talking with students at Kealakehe Intermediate over the internet for a bit, I read chapter one from ONE BOY, NO WATER, and looked up. Most of the kids seemed stunned. "I've never heard anyone read a story that had Pidgin in it before," one...
#RealRep : Keeping the Focus on Authentic Representation
It was maybe eight years ago that I noticed a lot more awareness, more buzz, about the startling lack of diversity in middle grade and young adult literature. In the USA, it started with recognizing we were a multicultural nation that woefully underrepresented the...
