A Keiki Guide

A Keiki Guide to the Hawaiian Islands is a 90-plus-page children’s travel guide created for kids ages 5 to 12. The self-published, crowd-funded book was the first in what will become a series of travel guides for young explorers. I was brought on to design the page layouts and prepare the complete print-ready files, ensuring the final piece was as educational as it was engaging.

Senior Designer: Page Layout, Print Production, Photo Editing

MY ROLE

Illustrator: Kelsie Dayna, Authors: Priscilla and Daniel Soulé, Art Director: Laura Stull

CREDITS

In addition to type and layout, I edited and optimized dozens of photos, organized an extensive library of illustrations from the talented Kelsie Dayna, and established a layout system that could handle dense information without overwhelming readers. The result was a design that felt both structured and full of life.

Designing for a young audience meant balancing clarity and playfulness in every detail. I selected bright, accessible color palettes and friendly, legible typefaces that felt adventurous yet easy to read while also supporting special Hawaiian diacritical marks. I carefully proofed and edited every page to ensure consistent and correct use of Hawaiian language punctuation throughout the book.

The finished book is vibrant, cohesive, and culturally accurate, reflecting Kelsie Dayna’s joyful illustration style and the authors’ deep respect for Hawai‘i. The launch was a success, with readers and backers praising its engaging visuals and thoughtful design. Following the book’s reception, the authors are now expanding the series to destinations around the world.

See more work.

See more work.