The Hawaiian Survival Handbook
The Hawaiian Survival Handbook
by Brother Noland | Watermark Publishing, 2014
The Hawaiian Survival Handbook is a just-in-case bush guide for when things go wrong—from flash floods to shark attacks, from rip tides to box jellyfish.
Celebrated Hawaiian musician Brother Noland sees music as just one way to connect with his heritage and the ‘aina. A steward of the land and Hawaiian culture, Noland is also a dedicated tracker. “We are and have always been hunters, trackers, and fishermen,” he says. In The Hawaiian Survival Handbook, he shares the outdoor skills he has developed over a lifetime spent in Hawaii’s forests and waters. These essential tips and tricks will prove handy for the casual day-hiker, intrepid seashore adventurer and hardcore overnight camper alike.
Role:
- Editor, project manager
Contributions:
- Substantive structural and content editing, including establishing book structure and identifying areas requiring further development; balance author’s spiritual attitude toward nature with publisher’s desire for a practical, grounded skills manual.
- Organized contributions, set timelines and facilitated communication between publisher, author, illustrator and design/production team
Project Scope:
A light-hearted, common-sense outdoors guide by Native Hawaiian musician and outdoorsman Brother Noland. Organized by Land, Ocean and General Skills, the handbook has a weathered look and features line drawings to illustrate plants, animals and skills.
Awards:
- Hawaii Book Publishers Association, Ka Palapala Po‘okela Honorable Mention in Special Interest Books, 2014
Events:
Brother Noland’s SurvivALOHA Pā‘ina book launch celebration.
An exclusive, intimate event at Highway Inn Kaka‘ako in a casual, “survival-style” atmosphere featuring a “From the Wild” menu cooked up by Highway Inn (ingredients foraged by Brother Noland and his family and friends) and two stages of musical entertainment by Brother Noland and others, including Henry Kapono, John Cruz and Raiatea Helm. Event decor: Faux “lawn” laid down in Highway Inn’s parking lot; burlap table runners; taxidermy boar and deer heads.
Pre-event coverage: Hawaii News Now, KHON, KITV, Hawaii Book Blog, multiple radio stations
Publicity Campaign:
In addition to standard media outreach, a special hands-on Media Day Outing to give journalists a first-hand experience at trying survival skills from the book. Resulting coverage: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, The Cat Dish, HONOLULU Magazine, HMSA Island Scene Online. Also, “Surviving Hawaii’s Great Outdoors” exclusive pre-publication excerpt in HAWAI‘I Magazine (originally published May/June 2014 print issue, republished online).