Books Like Percy Jackson, But Hawaiian: Mythology Adventures for Ages 8–12
Hawaiʻi has one of the richest storytelling traditions in the world: Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. Maui, the trickster demigod who slowed the sun. The Menehune, tiny master builders who could finish a fishpond in a single night. Moʻo, the giant lizard guardians of fresh water.
Here's a reading list for kids who've finished Percy Jackson and want more: middle grade adventures and story collections built on Hawaiian legend, plus a few more mythology series from around the world.
Middle grade series with Hawaiian mythology
1. The Lei series by Malia Maunakea
Ages 8–12 · 2 books · Best for: Percy Jackson fans who want humor and heart
Book 1: Lei and the Fire Goddess. Twelve-year-old Anna is part-Hawaiian. She heads to Hawaiʻi to visit her grandmother, expecting a fun vacation. Then she accidentally insults Pele by destroying her lehua blossom, and a giant hawk kidnaps her best friend. This is the closest thing to a "Hawaiian Percy Jackson" on shelves right now, and the author has said her son's love of Rick Riordan was part of her inspiration. It's a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and won a 2025 Nēnē Award, the children's choice award voted on by Hawaiʻi's kids.
Book 2: Lei and the Invisible Island. Lei and her friends search for a missing ʻaumakua (family guardian) pendant, and the trail leads to an island that can't be seen.
2. The Pacific Chronicles by James Eldridge
Ages 8–12 · 3 books, complete series · Best for: kids who love hidden worlds, magic powers and epic battles
Full disclosure: this series is mine. Hawaiian words are woven right into the dialogue, so readers pick up the language as they go. All three books are illustrated by my brother, Richard Eldridge.
Book 1: Islanders. Eleven-year-old Kilikina and her fourteen-year-old brother Kaimana stumble into a hidden, legendary world on Oʻahu and wake up with magical abilities. Their guides are Eleu and Molawa, two Menehune, the tiny builders of Hawaiian legend. One is so fast he disappears; the other looks lazy but secretly does good deeds across the island. The siblings learn they've been chosen to protect the islands from a great evil. Get Islanders →
Book 2: Mākaha. Every legend needs a villain, and this is his origin story. Mākaha is a mongoose who was banished from paradise and discovers he can't die. He builds an army of invasive creatures to take on the Menehune. It's a fantasy, but it's built on a real problem: mongooses really were brought to Hawaiʻi, and they really do threaten native birds today. Get Mākaha →
Book 3: Hāna. Mākaha returns with the ancient evil Moʻo Kuna. Kaimana and Kilikina must help every native creature, from the smallest gecko to the mighty ʻio hawk, stand together to defend the valley. The series ends with a story about courage, leadership and protecting the heart of aloha. Get Hāna →
Hawaiian legends for younger readers and read-alouds
3. The Shark King by R. Kikuo Johnson
Ages 5 and up · Graphic novel
A beautifully drawn comic retelling of the legend of Nanaue, the son of the Shark King. Nanaue has a huge appetite and a mysterious mark on his back that sometimes opens into a shark's mouth. It's a great pick for younger siblings or reluctant readers, and a perfect way into Hawaiian legend.
4. Hawaiian Myths of Earth, Sea, and Sky by Vivian L. Thompson
All ages · Story collection
Twelve classic Hawaiian myths that explain how the world works: how the earth was made, why the volcanoes erupt, why summer days are longer. It's illustrated by Hawaiʻi artist Marilyn Kahalewai. Read one at bedtime, or use it to look up the legends behind the novels above.
More mythology adventures from around the world
If your reader finishes the Hawaiian books and wants more, these Percy Jackson-style series each explore a different culture's mythology:
Bonus reads
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi: Hindu mythology
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia: African American folk heroes and West African gods
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao: Chinese mythology and history
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Percy Jackson-style series based on Hawaiian mythology? Yes. Malia Maunakea's Lei books (starting with Lei and the Fire Goddess) and my series, The Pacific Chronicles (starting with Islanders), are both middle grade fantasy adventures built on Hawaiian legends, written for ages 8–12.
What Hawaiian gods and creatures show up in these books? You'll meet Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes, the Menehune, Moʻo (lizard spirits), ʻaumakua (family guardians), and the Shark King, Kāmohoaliʻi.
Who are the Menehune? In Hawaiian legend, the Menehune are a race of small, hidden people who were master builders. Stories say they could build fishponds, walls and temples in a single night, and they're often described as mischievous and hardworking. In The Pacific Chronicles, two Menehune named Eleu ("quick") and Molawa (who only looks lazy) guide the main characters.
What age is The Pacific Chronicles for? It's middle grade, best for ages 8–12, and the books work well as family read-alouds too. Each book is about 160–180 pages.
Do I need to know Hawaiian to read these books? Not at all. Hawaiian words come up naturally, and their meaning is clear from the story. One reviewer of Islanders called that the most charming part of the book.
James Eldridge grew up in Hawaiʻi and served six years as an Air Force medic. He started writing The Pacific Chronicles with his brother, illustrator Richard Eldridge, while recovering from a near-fatal case of COVID in 2021. Explore the world of The Pacific Chronicles →
