2023 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.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 21-23, 2023
FanX • Salt Lake City, UT
October 2, 2023
Granite School District Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Night
For teachers, librarians, & paraprofessionals
5:00 pm #RealRep: Why Curating Diverse Collections Matter
Nov. 5-10, 2023
20BooksVegas• Las Vegas, NV
Book Reviews & Musings
Talking Story Blog
Lauele Shorts: ‘Alika and Arnold
PEAU Women's Writing CrewDecember 9, 2020Prompt: pig, string or rope, bicycleabout 500 words 'Alika and Arnold by Lehua Parker Tuna burst through ‘Alika’s bedroom door. “‘Alika! Aunty—” WHAM! ‘Alika’s punch landed solidly in her gut. “How many times I wen tell you no...
Hello 2021!
Ever enter a time warp? Sometimes it's a good thing, like when you're on a long plane ride and you fall asleep and 10 minutes later you're landing halfway around the world. Score! Other times you turn around and it's been SIX MONTHS since you wrote a blog post. Or...
One Dance, No Snow
In mid-June, I gave a three day workshop at University of Hawaii, Manoa, via Zoom about how to take traditional stories—Western fairy tales, Hawaiian mo’oleleo, Asian folktales, whatever—and turn them into something new. We spent some time talking about simple vs....