How can you contribute to make the world a better place? That’s the question educator Joyce Iwashita asks in her new book, What the World Needs Now: A Guide for Helping Kids Make Good Choices. Simple actions and positive choices are rendered in vivid digital illustrations by Kelson Gallano, a senior at Ka‘ū High School on the island of Hawai‘i.

A retired school teacher and principal, and a graduate of Ka‘ū High herself, Iwashita found herself wondering during the pandemic, How could I help children, if I were still a school principal? “A global pandemic impacts everyone,” she notes, “but it presents especially great challenges for children and their families. Teaching students that they can make choices that will improve or enhance their lives—or someone else’s—helps bring out their best.” With that in mind, she wrote What the World Needs Now to spread the message that “Everyone can contribute to making things right in their schools, in their communities, and throughout the world.” 

When it came time to bring her lessons to life with artwork, Iwashita turned to her alma mater for a recommendation to a student illustrator. “I completed the writing in 2020, and in May of 2021 I was connected with Kelson,” Iwashita recalls. “He and I started communicating via Zoom and exchanged ideas and reviewed drafts in monthly conferences with his teacher and his parents.” Adds Gallano, “It was a great learning expererience for me and brought me out of my comfort zone—I taught myself to use the Procreate app on the iPad and used Mrs. Iwashita’s storyline paired with illustrations of what we as students go through every day. I’m thankful that she trusted and believed in me.” Gallano’s cover depicts the flowers spread across the hillside of Pu‘u Makanau, where the early Hawaiian navigators of Ka‘ū observed the stars—the “twinkling eyes” in the mountain’s name. The flowers, he explains, represent all the children of Ka‘ū.

The 48-page softcover, full-color book is a custom-quote project illustrated with original artwork provided in digital format by the client.

What the World Needs Now is available via our online store and at local bookstores and online retailers.

Cover and sample pages from the interior:

Beautiful, sweet, stunning Mango is praised by everyone. Compared to the leaves, the tree branches, the other mangoes, Mango is just…better…isn’t it so? When confronted with the sacrifices of those around them, Mango learns a valuable lesson in humility.

Written by Thao “Kale‘a” Le, PhD, MPH, a professor in the Human Development and Family Studies program in the Family Consumer Sciences Department at the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa, Ha‘aha‘a is a creative narrative for encouraging humble appreciation of one’s own gifts and the contributions of others. Ha‘aha‘a is one of the components of ALOHA, as espoused by the teachings of Native Hawaiian poet and philosopher Aunty Pīlahi Pākī, otherwise known as the “Aloha Spirit Law,” HRS [§5-7.5].

Covers Hawaii Content & Performance Standards Database III Content Area: Health
Standard 1: Core Concepts – Understand concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention (Mental and Emotional Health); Standard 3: Self-Management – Practice Health: Enhancing behaviors and reduce health risks (Mental and Emotional Health, Factors Influencing Health Across Topic Areas); Standard 5: Interpersonal Communication – Use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health

This is the third book in Dr. Le’s series designed to teach children about ALOHA and mindfulness. 

The 32-page hardcover, full-color book is a custom-quote project illustrated with original artwork provided in digital format by the client.

Ha‘aha‘a is available via our online store and has been distributed through the author’s efforts via partnerships with educational organizations.

Cover and sample pages from the interior:

What does it mean to be kind? How do we decide who deserves kindness? Venturing through the beautiful Hawai‘i rainforest, Keiki encounters Nēnē, Pueo, Kolohala, Moa, Poloka, and Pua‘a, who provide the perfect opportunity for Keiki to practice loving kindness with the magical Akahai backpack. But does Kopiana, who hurt poor Nēnē, deserve Keiki’s help?

Written by Thao “Kale‘a” Le, PhD, MPH, a professor in the Human Development and Family Studies program in the Family Consumer Sciences Department at the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa, Akahai is a creative narrative for encouraging loving kindness. Akahai is the first concept in ALOHA, as espoused by the teachings of Native Hawaiian poet and philosopher Aunty Pīlahi Pākī, otherwise known as the “Aloha Spirit Law,” HRS [§5-7.5].

Covers Hawaii Content & Performance Standards Database III Content Area: Health
Standard 1: Core Concepts – Understand concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention (Mental and Emotional Health); Standard 3: Self-Management – Practice Health: Enhancing behaviors and reduce health risks (Mental and Emotional Health, Factors Influencing Health Across Topic Areas); Standard 4: Analyzing Influences – Understand the influences of culture, family, peers, media, technology, and other factors on health; Standard 5: Interpersonal Communication – Use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health; Standard 6: Decision-Making and Goal-Setting – Use decision-making and goal-setting skills to enhance health

This is the second book in Dr. Le’s series designed to teach children about using breath to connect with ALOHA as a mindfulness practice. 

The 36-page hardcover, full-color book is a custom-quote project illustrated with original artwork provided in digital format by the client. In addition to the print edition, Akahai was converted to e-book format for Amazon Kindle and Apple Books platforms.

Akahai is available via our online store and has been distributed through the author’s efforts via partnerships with educational organizations.

Cover and sample pages from the interior:

Written by Thao “Kale‘a” Le, PhD, MPH, a professor in Human Development and Family Studies, Mindfulness with Aloha Breath incorporates Aunty Pilahi Paki’s meaning of aloha as designated in the “Aloha Spirit Law” (HRS [§5-7.5]) and basic concepts of neurological and biological function in a simple, expressive lesson for children.

Dr. Le created the book to teach children about using breath to connect with ALOHA as a mindfulness practice. 

The 36-page hardcover, full-color book is a custom-quote project illustrated with original artwork provided in digital format by the client. In addition to the print edition, Aloha Breath was converted to e-book format for Amazon Kindle and Apple Books platforms.

Mindfulness with Aloha Breath is available via our online store and has been distributed through the author’s efforts via partnerships with educational organizations.

Cover and sample pages from the interior: