PUNALU'U — The community celebrated life in Ko'olau Loa yesterday in an unusual way — with readings from preschool books in English and Hawaiian.

Na Kamalei-Ko'olau Loa Early Education Program's "Ho'ulu Hou Project: Stories Told by Us" is a community effort involving people from Waialua to Kane'ohe who are writing stories for the children and families of Ko'olau Loa district, which stretches from Ka'a'awa to Pupukea.

The stories give children a broader view of the Hawaiian culture and correct some misrepresentations about Hawaiians, said M. Nalani Mattox-Primacio, executive director of Na Kamalei.

"Things like how Pele is represented always as a destroyer, never as a regenerator," Mattox-Primacio said. "We're not saying that books from outside Hawai'i are bad. What we're trying to say is we should also have books that look like us."

The project, which will eventually produce 12 books, was made possible by a $1.2 million grant from the federal Administration for Native Americans. The books were distributed free to families in the Ko'olau Loa community. Although they are for children 18 months to 4 years old, elementary and high school students are using them to study the Hawaiian language.

A book-signing and readings were held yesterday at the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center in Punalu'u. More than 200 students showed up.

Reaction to the books from parents, teachers and children has been positive, and Kayne Oku, who has lived in Ka'a'awa for three years, said the books are good for newcomers, like himself, and longtime residents.

"A lot of kids in my neighborhood don't have any connection to the Hawaiian heritage," Oku said. "They don't have any Hawaiian influence. There's a lot of people coming from out of state, and it's a good way for us to get in touch and understand about where we live."

Ho'ulu Hou worked with four community groups to develop the books: Hui Makua o Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Hau'ula; Ko'olauloa Hawaiian Civic Club; Brigham Young University-Hawai'i; and Punana Leo O Ko'olauloa.

The books have simple, everyday stories that weave cultural aspects into the tales like the story "Is There An Alligator in Kaipapa'u?" where children learn of an important rock formation on the beach, or "Kuola and Iosepa" which is about how a community built a sailing canoe.

"Kuola and Iosepa" is told through the voice of a boy who helped build and sailed on the double-hull canoe when he was 7 years old.

"I wanted to tell a story as seen through the eyes of one of our kids," said author Bill Wallace III, with the Jonathan Napela Center for Hawaiian Language & Culture Studies at BYUH. Wallace, who is also the captain of the Iosepa, said he wanted children to see their opportunities.

"What I'm hoping is they see because ( Kuola) is involved then they can get involved," he said.

Dawn Wasson, from Punana Leo O Ko'olauloa, recounted a tale about children who were turned to stone at a cave because their father didn't take care of them.

"It's about a sense of place," Wasson said, explaining that "Keana" is about a cave, and it is also the true name of Kahuku. "We didn't want the story forgotten. We wanted the children to know that the place is called Keana."

The stories are illustrated with photographs of people who live and work in the community, making them an ideal transition to higher learning, said Barbara DeBaryshe, research specialist for the Center on the Family at the University of Hawai'i.

"When you try to introduce concepts or add to kids' knowledge base, the most effective way to do that is to build on something familiar to them," DeBaryshe said.

The center distributed surveys with about 4,500 books. Some 600 surveys were returned, she said.

The books have motivated families to visit the sites mentioned or to teach kids about things in the books such as fishing or gardening, DeBaryshe said. Parents mention using the book to brush up on their Hawaiian language skills and teachers use them in the classroom, she said.

"I was struck by a teacher who said when she read to the kids she discovered how little many of them even knew about their Native Hawaiian heritage," DeBaryshe said.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.