A newly released book entitled “Butterfly for a King” aims to educate children of all ages about the Kamehameha butterfly, which is native to Hawaii.
“Some of the text is very simple so young keiki can follow the story and then it includes an appendix for older children who want to learn more,” Will Haines, an entomologist and butterfly researcher with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife, said in a DLNR news release.
The book, illustrated by Susan L. Roth and authored by Cindy Trumbore, traces the history of Hawaii’s official state insect and discusses how the Kamehameha butterfly is a unique member of the insect kingdom. Roth and Trumbore visited the state to learn about the butterfly.
“When the author and illustrator were here, we took them into the field as a sort of ground-truthing exercise,” Haines said. “They interviewed me, visited our butterfly rearing facility, and saw butterflies and the plants that support them.”