Author Emel Kay will host a Book Signing of "KeAloha - The Keeper" and a Hula Show at the Grand Opening of the Carlsbad Village Farmers' Market.

On June 25th, from 9 a.m. to noon, Emel Kay will host a book signing and hula show to benefit both the Carlsbad Village Farmers' Market and Kids Are Worth a Million™. 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. 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. 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 summer will benefit La Jolla Elementary School, the Boys and Girls Club of San Diego, Na Mamo (The Young Hawaiians of California) and the Keiki Children's Hula Group.

The Carlsbad Village Farmers' Market promotes Carlsbad Village in order to support small, local businesses. Their mission statement is: Uniting to prosper together. Open every Saturday from 8 am - noon, on Roosevelt Street (between Grand Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive).

KIDS ARE WORTH a MILLION! ™ is a non-profit program of the Carlsbad Education Foundation. This program channels private funds into public education excellence. The success of the Kids Are Worth A Million™ program is being used to launch the next campaign to fund: Science, Technology, Arts and Reading. The Kids Are Worth A Million™ goal is to provide a broader spectrum of opportunities for students to excel, and to provide teachers with what they need most in the classroom.

The Carlsbad Educational Foundation is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization founded in 1983 by business and community leaders who recognized the vital need to support education in Carlsbad.