Hawaii's Culture comes to Life at Borders Book Stores with a Hula Show and Book Signing of "KeAloha : The Keeper" by Emel Kay

Author Emel Kay of La Jolla tells us that her first book, "KeAloha - The Keeper" (an action/fantasy immersion into Hawaiian mythology) will be featured at a series of book signings at Borders book stores. Hula dancers will perform at all of these signings, and a discussion of Hawaiian culture followed by a demonstration of Hawaiian Hula instruments will be held. All royalties from this series of signings will be donated to Na Mamo - The Young Hawaiians of California, however, attendance is free and Emel will be happy to sign any book or item (purchase is not required). The first three signings in this series will be held in San Diego, California at the following times and locations:

Saturday, Sept. 17th, 2 pm – 4 pm at Borders – El Cajon, 159 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, CA, 92020

Saturday, Sept. 24th, 2 pm – 4 pm at Borders – Carmel Mountain, 11160 Rancho Carmel Drive, San Diego, CA, 92128.

Thursday, Sept. 29th, 7 pm – 9 pm at Borders – Mission Valley, 1072 Camino Del Rio North, San Diego, CA, 92108.

Emel tells us that her motivation for creating "KeAloha - The Keeper" was to spread knowledge and understanding of the Hawaiian people - the only American race at the brink of extinction. (Sociologists predict that in the year 2044, full-blooded Hawaiians will be extinct.) Through fun and exciting, interactive displays of their history, beliefs and social customs, Emel (a native Hawaiian) teaches her readers what it means to be Hawaiian, and how to live like a Hawaiian - in hopes that knowledge of this "all but lost" American culture will spark the interest of fellow Americans. Currently, Hawaiian history is not discussed at all, from kindergarten through 7th grade in the mainland, public school system - and in 8th grade history books, it is only allotted a mere two-paragraph description of Queen Liliuokalani's overthrow. Emel believes that because of this disinterest in the Hawaiian culture, Hawaiians tend to do poorly in public schools and in the workplace, a trend she hopes to change. Other book signings hosted by Emel Kay this year will benefit La Jolla Elementary School, the Boys and Girls Club of San Diego and Na Mamo - The Young Hawaiians of California.

Na Mamo - The Young Hawaiians of California is a non-profit organization (based in Southern California) whose mission is to perpetuate the "`Ohana Spirit" through social interaction and education. Na Mamo is the host of E Hula Mau, Southern California's only Hula and Chant competition, staged annually in Long Beach, CA, every Labor Day weekend since 1995.

***

About the Author: Emel Kay is a native Hawaiian who was schooled in Germany, Hawaii and San Diego. A successful virtual reality software engineer and an accomplished hula dancer, she lives in La Jolla, California with her husband and their two children. Firmly believing that children are the light of our future, Ms. Kay actively supports local children's charities and Hawaiian-based educational scholarship programs.

***

KeALOHA - The KEEPER by Emel Kay
Lulu Press | Paperback Original | 365 pages | April 1, 2005 | $19.95 | 1-4116-2675-3