"Lei and the Fire Goddess blends preteen angst and beloved Hawaiian
moʻolelo in a way that hasn't been done before." --Auliʻi Cravalho,
actress and voice of Disney's Princess Moana
Curses aren't real.
At least, that's what twelve-year-old, part-Hawaiian Anna Leilani
Kamaʻehu thinks when she listens to her grandmother's folktales about
sacred flowers and family guardians. Anna's friends back home in
Colorado don't believe in legends, either. They're more interested in
science and sports--real, tangible things that stand in total contrast
to Anna's family's embarrassing stories.
So when Anna goes back to Hawaiʻi to visit her Tūtū, she has no interest
in becoming the heir to her family's history; she's set on having a
touristy, fun vacation. But when Anna accidentally insults Pele the fire
goddess by destroying her lehua blossom, a giant hawk swoops in and
kidnaps her best friend, and she quickly learns just how real these
moʻolelo are. In order to save her friends and family, Anna must now
battle mythical creatures, team up with demigods and talking bats, and
evade the traps Pele hurls her way.
For if Anna hopes to undo the curse, she will have to dig deep into her
Hawaiian roots and learn to embrace all of who she is.