Hawaiʻi State
Public Library System

Posted on: October 9, 2026 | Category: News

October is Filipino American History Month, a time to celebrate Filipino heritage, culture, traditions, and stories. In Hawaiʻi, Filipino culture has been part of island life for generations, enriching our communities through food, family traditions, language, and the arts. From the early days of plantation life to the present, Filipino families have contributed to the diverse cultural heritage that makes Hawaiʻi special.

Explore a selection of books that highlight Filipino and Filipino American experiences, traditions, cuisine, and stories. All titles are available at Hawai‘i’s public libraries. Request a copy today!

Children’s Picture Books & Graphic Novels

• Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore
• Lakas and the Makibaka Hotel by Anthony D. Robles
• Pedro’s Yo-Yos by Rob Peñas
• Mabuhay! by Zachary Sterling
• When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling

Filipino Cuisine

• The Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook: Classic and Modern Filipino Recipes for Your Electric Pressure Cooker by Tisha Gonda Domingo
• A Filipino Kitchen: Traditional Recipes with an Island Twist by Adam Tabura
• Make It Plant-Based! Filipino by Ria Elciario-McKeown
• Pulutan! Filipino Bar Bites, Appetizers and Street Eats by Marvin Gapultos
• Quintessential Filipino Cooking by Liza Agbanlog

Filipino History & Experiences in Hawaiʻi

• America Is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan
• Building Filipino Hawaiʻi by Roderick N. Labrador
• Filipinas! Voices from Daughters and Descendants of Hawaiʻi’s Plantation Era by Dr. Patricia A. Brown
• Hawaiʻi: A Pilipino Dream by Virgilio Menor Felipe
• Sakada: Filipino Adaptation in Hawaii by Ruben R. Alcantara

Contemporary Fiction

• Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
• Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
• Something in Between by Melissa de la Cruz
• The Takeout by Tracy Badua
• When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe