Tell us about your books
The Niuhi Shark Saga trilogy is about two brothers growing up in Hawai’i. Jay is a surfing star who is everyone’s buddy. Zader is the odd one who’s allergic to water. One drop on his skin burns like lava. Zader’s allergies make life difficult for him, and he’s often the target of bullies. But there is more to his allergies than meet the eye, and through the series Zader discovers who he really is what his destiny could be. Deeply embedded in authentic Hawaiian culture and mythology, the Niuhi Shark Saga is a series with island kids and their lived experiences at the center of the story.
Which books did you enjoy growing up?
I love all kinds of fantasy, mystery, and science fiction stories. Some of my favorites were the Narnia books, A Wrinkle in Time, and the Three Investigators books.
What is your favorite food or foods?
I love all kinds of Hawaiian and islander food. Some of my favorite dishes are kalua pork, poi, malasadas, and manapua.
Tell us about your pets
I have two new aussiedoodle puppies. We got them at Christmas and they are littermates. The grey striped one is called Sam and the black one is called Bo. They were both named after Kung Fu action stars, Sammo Hung and Bolo Yeung. They are very young, but super smart. They can sit, roll over, dance, lay down, spin, crawl, and play dead! It takes about three treats and ten minutes to teach them a new trick.
What inspired you to write your book series?
Growing up in Hawai’i, we spent all of our time in the ocean. I had the idea to write a series loosely inspired by the Hawaiian legend of Nanaue, a person who could take the form of a shark. I wrote from my experiences surfing, kite flying, studying martial arts and hula, dealing with bullies, and the power of friendship and wonder. Hawai’i is a place where the unseen is part of daily life, and I wanted to capture that along with ideas about what is family and destiny. I wanted to write stories that I wished existed when I was a kid looking for stories about my friends, family, and culture.
What is a writing tip for aspiring authors?
Read everything–the good, the meh, and the truly awful–and learn to tell the difference. Write the story you want to tell in your own voice using the language of your heart. The world needs all kinds of voices. Go for it!
You can find Lehua online in these places: