October heralds a season of change, the first nod toward the holidays and the coming of cooler weather (we hope). If you’re starting your holiday shopping early, you’ll find a variety of new books to excite local bibliophiles of all ages. And you might find something for yourself, too. See the full list here.

Kapaemahu

by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson, illustrated by Daniel Sousa

Kapaemahu is a powerful picture book, written in ‘ōlelo Ni‘ihau and English, about the four travelers who held both male and female spirit, brought healing to Hawai‘i and imbued their healing powers into four large stones that sit in Waikīkī today. Vivid imagery by Daniel Sousa recalls the illustrative style of the Oscar-nominated animated short film of the same name. It’s a moving story from Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, known to many as Kumu Hina, that teaches and affirms Native Hawaiian healing practices, the honored role of māhū in Hawaiian culture, and the history of the healer stones of Kapaemahu.

SEE ALSO: Experience the Story Behind Waikīkī’s Healer Stones of Kapaemahu