Kaua Māhoe Adams

2024 was pretty neat (it changed my life) / extra grateful today for this life I get to live (trying to figure out what I did to deserve it) and can’t wait to keep it going in 2025 / here’s to more writing, more reading, more hula, more puppy cuddles, and more time with my people—oh! and a wedding!!

🩷🩷

Thank you! Congrats to you, too!!

Thank you 🩷🩷🩷

my poem HAWAIIAN BABY FOOD, CIRCA 1997 is a finalist for the Steve Kowit Poetry Prize ✨and will be published in the upcoming San Diego Poetry Annual

A green promotional graphic decorated to look like a starry night sky above a line of pine trees in the forest. There is a colored overlay on top of the design, making the night sky appear to be dark green. At the top of the graphic is light yellow text that says, “Cover Reveal.” Under the text is a thumbnail image of the book cover for the upcoming picture book “Firefly Season” by Cynthia Leitich Smith and illustrated by Kate Gardiner. The cover depicts two Native girls wearing colorful dresses and catching fireflies at night in the middle of a green field. In the bottom left-hand corner of the graphic is the logo for Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins.

A green promotional graphic decorated to look like a starry night sky above a line of pine trees in the forest and sharing a brief synopsis for the upcoming picture book “Firefly Season”. The synopsis reads as follows: “Written by the award-winning, bestselling author of Jingle Dancer, Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee), and filled with tender illustrations by Kate Gardiner (Nipmuck), this unforgettable, warmhearted picture book is for family and the friends who become family. Piper feels grateful for visits with her relatives, especially for the time spent with her cousins in Cherokee Nation and Muscogee Nation during summer vacations, fishing on misty mornings and playing on firefly-filled evenings. Piper's family lives a road trip away in Kansas City. So when a neighbor named Sumi moves in next door, Piper is excited to share her stories and seasons with a new friend. The two are inseparable—until Piper's family moves to another city. Their bond overcomes distance, and with time, Piper dreams up a plan to reunite with the people she loves most of all.” At the bottom of the graphic is yellow text that says, “Releasing May 13th, 2025.”

Written by the award-winning, bestselling author of JINGLE DANCER, Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee), and filled with tender illustrations by @kategardinerillus.bsky.social (Nipmuck), this unforgettable, warmhearted picture book is for family and the friends who become family.

📖 bit.ly/4eMCjoa

🩷🩷🩷 thanks for making the magic happen Cyn!!

Wisdom from Martha Stewart’s Netflix documentary.

Darcie Little Badger, David A. Robertson, Andrea L. Rogers, Cynthia Leitich Smith, and Brian Young.

Featuring stories and poems by: Kaua Māhoe Adams, Marcella Bell, Angeline Boulley, K.A. Cobell, A. J. Eversole, Jen Ferguson, Eric Gansworth, Byron Graves, Kate Hart, Christine Hartman Derr, Karina Iceberg, Cheryl Isaacs

Featuring the voices of both new and acclaimed Indigenous writers, and edited by bestselling Muscogee author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of interconnected stories serves up laughter, love, Native pride, and the world's best frybread.

LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith, cover art by Paula TopSky Houtz, cover design by Molly Fehr (Heartdrum, Aug. 26, 2025). Ages 12+ (middle school and high school).

kānaka get to go to the drive-in too!!!! obsessed with this cover art by Paula TopSky Houtz & beyond honored my short story in verse has such a beautiful home in this anthology

@cynleitichsmith.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social @harperkids.bsky.social

🥹 thank you

This cover!!!!! My first published short story in verse is so lucky to be apart of this collection 🥹

*immediately follows everyone*

Get ready, YA readers! The cover artist and designer really outdid themselves on this one. 🥤

I cannot wait 👀. So honored to be apart of this amazing anthology.