By AJ Eversole

Super excited to chat with debut author, Kauakanilehua Mahoe Adams today on Cynsations. Reading An Expanse of Blue (Heartdrum, 2026) was a transformative experience for me. From the opening to poem I was hooked and ready to follow main character Aouli along on her journey. So far the young adult novel-in-verse has received a stunning three stars and released on May 19th!

You’ve mentioned that an anchor poem became pivotal in writing An Expanse of Blue. Can you talk about how that single poem evolved into a full novel-in-verse? 

Yes! The first poem I wrote for this project takes place during Catholic mass. Aouli and her best friend are joking around when they are supposed to be praying. On the outside, Aouli appears confident and silly and even a little rebellious. But it is revealed only to the reader that, on the inside, Aouli is holding onto a lot of shame. The poem reveals so much of who Aouli is—and who she wants to be. Writing this poem felt like one of those magical light bulb author moments I never thought would actually happen to me— I could actually her voice in my head. That poem became the guiding light that eventually revealed the rest of Aouli’s story to me.

You’ve described your own journey as, ‘trying to figure out how I merge two worlds’. Your Native Hawaiian heritage and Catholicism. How does Aouli’s story reflect this personal navigation between faith traditions? 

I only found peace with my faith once I allowed it to be shaped my culture and guided by my ancestors. The journey one must take to understand all the parts of themselves—both inherited and found—is one I really started on in earnest during the process of writing this book. Readers will find that Aouli begins to find peace in a similar way by turning to her kūpuna (elders), specifically her beloved Aunty Ehu, when her own questions of faith start to bubble up.

The novel follows the Catholic liturgical calendar. Why was this structure important to the story, and how does it interact with Aouli’s struggle with faith and identity? 

The majority of the story takes place during Lent—a time of reflection and self-sacrifice that leads to Easter. Since I decided to write An Expanse of Blue in verse, the form allows the reader to spend much of the book inside of Aouli’s head and up close and personal with her most vulnerable thoughts. The reader becomes a witness to Aouli’s reflection on herself, her family, her friends, and the worlds swirling around and inside of her, so it felt like a natural choice to structure the story around a season dedicated to self-reflection and growth.

What drew you to verse as the form for this particular story? 

The magic of verse is that it is a malleable form. As the writer, I was able to tell the story not just through the words I wrote but through the use of white space, image systems, repetition, and rhythm. That freedom to play on the page allowed me to write a story that covers some pretty tough and mature topics in an accessible way for young readers!

You’ve said you have a passion for telling stories about the native diaspora. What’s unique about the experience of being Native Hawaiian in Western Washington, and why was it important to center this community? 

It was important for me to center this community because I don’t think many people outside of it even realize that we exist. As a kid, people often questioned me and my identity, suspicious of me simply because I didn’t live in Hawaii. The truth is, as of the last US Census, 55% of Native Hawaiians are living outside of the islands. I feel that part of my kuleana (responsibility) as a storyteller is to shine a light on the community that raised me.

Can you talk about the significance of extended family and community gatherings in Native Hawaiian culture? 

Community is the center of which my culture revolves. Gathering together with extended family and close friends is a reminder to cherish those relationships, an opportunity to celebrate them, and, most importantly, a time to see and be seen by those who love you most. There is often lots of food, music, dance, and gossip—the best bits of life in my opinion. These gatherings act not only as a safe place to come as you are but as a source of energy to carry with you in our day-to-day lives.

You’ve mentioned wanting to give young readers characters you didn’t have growing up. What do you hope mixed Native Hawaiian readers find in Aouli’s story? 

I hope mixed Kānaka readers find comfort in knowing that colonizer-imposed concepts like blood quantum don’t define us. Your ancestors know you! They claim you! You are the answer to their prayers!

And, most importantly, I hope mixed Native Hawaiian readers find the confidence to tell their own stories. I hope they see that stories by us, about us, and for us deserve to be heard.

What are you working on next? 

I am currently writing what hopefully will be my next novel-in-verse (slowly though…very slowly).

Cynsational Notes:

Kauakanilehua Mahoe Adams is a Kanaka Maoli/Native Hawaiian, Asian, and white author and poet originally from Seattle, Washington. Today, Kaua lives in sunny southern California on a bird sanctuary with her partner, where she spends her time writing, reading, daydreaming, dancing hula, and bending to her dogs’ every wish and whim. An Expanse of Blue is her debut novel.

A.J. Eversole is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation and a writer of adult and children’s literature. Her work appears in Legendary Frybread Drive-In (Heartdrum/HarperCollins), a Michael L. Printz Award–winning anthology, Beyond the Glittering World, and Never Whistle at Night Part II (Vintage, 2026). She also reports on Native voices in literature for Cynsations. Find her online @ajeversole.