The Brave Little Opihi Is Back

Juliet Kono’s book ‘The Bravest ‘Opihi’ has been re-released in a smaller format. Photo from Beach House Publishing.

“Everything is the same,” she reassured.

The book promotes life lessons regarding perseverance and bravery.

Little opihi save Nani’s brother from giant eel Great Puhi, when other sea creatures of tall stature and strength deny the request to help. But the small opihi lend a hand without hesitation.

“Even if you’re small, you can still be brave,” she explained.

The inspirational story is accompanied by illustrations by Dennis Fujitake.

Kono has been an instructor at Leeward Community College for about 25 years and currently teaches creative writing and English 100.

She also has written poetry books Hilo Rains and Tsunami Years, as well as the short-story collection Ho’olulu Park and the Pepsodent Smile.

Kono is a winner of the Elliot Cades Award for Literature, American Japanese National Literary Award, and a recipient of a U.S./Japan Friendship Commission Creative Artist Exchange Fellowship.