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Fountain Hills High School alumnus Kaylin Melia George is debuting her first book just in time for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) month.
Paying homage to her Hawaiian heritage, George’s children’s book, “Aloha Everything,” tells the tale of a courageous girl named Ano who learns about her Native Hawaiian heritage through hula and adventures.
The book takes readers on a journey through the islands of Hawaii, paying homage to Hawaiian history, culture, wildlife and ecology that make the islands so special. Through her journey, Ano begins to understand the true meaning of aloha through hula – a storytelling dance form that carries the folklore of the Hawaiian people.
As her first book title, “Aloha Everything” gives voice to Pacific Islanders who represent a very small piece of the pie when it comes to authors and creators in children’s literature.
Citing the 2023 diversity statistics from the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC), George says less than one percent of children’s books are written about Pacific Islanders.
“I felt like something was missing in my childhood and that there were probably other people who felt that way, too,” George said.
This lack of AAPI representation in children’s literature led George to double down on her goal to use Hawaiian folklore, mythology and stories of her youth to help children broaden their perspective of cultures outside their own.
"Aloha Everything" was initially launched by Mythify Inc. as a limited edition piece on Kickstarter. After becoming the #1 AAPI children's book to ever launch on the platform, the book's success garnered attention across social media, print, podcasts, radio and television.
It's since been awarded significant honors including a 2024 Pele Award and reviews from literary organizations such as Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly and Foreward.
Red Comet Press is now publishing the book nationally through all major online retailers, including Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, Amazon, Apple, and others. After launch day on April 23, "Aloha Everything" may be found in local bookstores, schools or libraries throughout the country.
“We believed and hoped that people would resonate with it the same way we did, but seeing the response has really been remarkable because it proves that these niche, really specific books are actually something that a lot of people are looking for,” George said, who has visited over a dozen classrooms, libraries and nonprofit groups to present her children’s book.
Homegrown talent
George is a 2015 graduate of FHHS who left Fountain Hills in pursuit of her dream of becoming a filmmaker.
Within the last decade, George, 26, has become an internationally award-winning writer and director, telling stories across a spectrum of mediums.
In creating the book, George gained feedback from educators who supported her work. She looks back fondly at her time at FHHS, interning at Town Hall, making PSA videos, joining the Mayor’s Youth Council, making school announcements and taking media classes.
“I am really grateful for the teachers there that inspired me to reach for my dreams and to take the leap of going to film school because that was a scary thing,” George said, who believes teachers are the true heroes of the world.
The illustrator
Bringing the book to life with brightly illustrated designs is Mae Waite, a Hawaii-based artist who graduated from the University of Hawaii Manoa with a B.A. in studio arts.
“Aloha Everything” was Waite’s first children’s picture book design. She has also worked as an illustrator for The Washington Post and an artisan for Louis Vuitton.
Despite combing through the pages thousands of times, George says she finds something new each time she picks it up.
“That was important to us,” George said, “every time you come back to the book you experience something new.”
George says the book ages with children, allowing students from preschool up to advanced fifth grade to interact with the book on different levels. The book also comes with teaching material for educators and libraries including an audio version, an animated short film and digital worksheets and activities for the classroom.
The protagonist of the book, Ano, is based on George’s mother, Carmella George, who would tell her daughter stories about growing up on the island of Moloka’i and the lessons she learned through hula. These stories were the inspiration for George to become a storyteller.
As a director, writer and now an author, George is eager to share the story she has always dreamed of telling.
“It’s really a coming-of-age story about a girl who is learning more about her home, and that’s something that no matter where you live, no matter where you’re from, whether you’ve been to Hawaii or not, it’s something that people relate to everywhere.”
We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Cyrus Guccione can be reached at cguccione@iniusa.org.
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