What do you think?
Rate this book
Lei and the Legends #2
Lei and the Invisible Island
An exciting follow-up to Lei and the Fire Goddess features a mysterious, invisible island, dangerous spirits, and a newcomer who does not need Lei's help...or does she?
It turns out that curses are real.
After saving her best friend and ancestral guardian, Kaipo, from Pele the fire goddess’s traps and successfully preventing lava from destroying her tūtū’s house, all Lei wants to do is take a nap. The only problem? Kaipo’s ʻaumakua pendant is missing, and without it, he will soon rot . . . emotionally and physically.
So Lei, Kaipo, the shapeshifting bat Ilikea, and newcomer Kaukahi—a fiercely independent fashionista—set off on a journey to an invisible island where they hope to find Kaipo’s pendant. To get there, they’ll have to jump off the edge of their world, contend with sharks, and cross an ocean. And when they arrive? The crew realizes that the missing pendant is the least of their problems. For there are evil spirits gathering, and they’re out for blood.
In this exciting follow-up to Lei and the Fire Goddess, Malia Maunakea crafts a tale about friendship, family, culture, and what it means to forgive each other and yourself.
It turns out that curses are real.
After saving her best friend and ancestral guardian, Kaipo, from Pele the fire goddess’s traps and successfully preventing lava from destroying her tūtū’s house, all Lei wants to do is take a nap. The only problem? Kaipo’s ʻaumakua pendant is missing, and without it, he will soon rot . . . emotionally and physically.
So Lei, Kaipo, the shapeshifting bat Ilikea, and newcomer Kaukahi—a fiercely independent fashionista—set off on a journey to an invisible island where they hope to find Kaipo’s pendant. To get there, they’ll have to jump off the edge of their world, contend with sharks, and cross an ocean. And when they arrive? The crew realizes that the missing pendant is the least of their problems. For there are evil spirits gathering, and they’re out for blood.
In this exciting follow-up to Lei and the Fire Goddess, Malia Maunakea crafts a tale about friendship, family, culture, and what it means to forgive each other and yourself.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2024
11 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
About the author
Malia Maunakea
4 books107 followersMalia Maunakea is a Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) writer who grew up in the rainforest of the Big Island before moving to a valley in Oʻahu in seventh grade to attend a school founded by a Hawaiian princess (Imua, Kamehameha!).
Though she relocated to Colorado for college, Hawaiʻi has remained in her heart. Now, instead of tromping through the rainforest, she roams the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two children, and rescue mutt, Peggy.
Growing up with ADHD meant school could be tough, but Hawaiian legends managed to captivate Malia’s imagination and stuck. Her ever-whirring brain is excited to spin new tales for the next generation, especially when she can weave in a whisper of island lore.
Though she relocated to Colorado for college, Hawaiʻi has remained in her heart. Now, instead of tromping through the rainforest, she roams the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two children, and rescue mutt, Peggy.
Growing up with ADHD meant school could be tough, but Hawaiian legends managed to captivate Malia’s imagination and stuck. Her ever-whirring brain is excited to spin new tales for the next generation, especially when she can weave in a whisper of island lore.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 21, 2025
fun follow-up, with a new character who has a different viewpoint to Lei, which I really liked, as well as more mythology and criticism for the over-tourism of Hawaii. I also liked that this was about the consequences of the first book even though the goal was achieved there.
Read
June 13, 2024
Trigger & Content Warnings
Animal attack & death (giant magical sea cucumber)
Animal attack & death (giant magical sea cucumber)
July 14, 2024
Please, if there is a book diety out there, please let this not be the last in the series. I can't begin to tell you how much I love Lei, Kaipo, Ili, and Kaukahi. And Pele! I love all the characters and this beautiful world the author has created, filled with myths and heart and difficulties and joys. It is one of my favorite worlds to sink into!! This story is every bit as wonderful as the first one!!
June 5, 2024
What worked:
The main conflict involves Lei’s family’s aumakua, their ancestral guardian, as Kaipo may rot away after losing his pendant. Lei lives in Colorado so she’s still learning about her Hawaiian heritage during her visit to the islands. Kaipo is reluctant to help Lei find the invisible island since he doesn’t want her to risk her life to help him. Also, grumpiness and lack of cooperation are signs of rotting which causes Kaipo to dampen Lei’s mood and hinder her efforts. Shaky connections between characters present a wide variety of feelings and conflicted relationships and Lei struggles to navigate the murky emotional waters. The conflict involving Kaipo’s lost pendant is resolved halfway through the book but Lei inadvertently creates another major crisis in the process.
Everyone knows about the beauty of Hawaii but using its culture as the setting for a novel is not commonly done. The characters frequently use Hawaiian vocabulary that adds authenticity to the story. These terms aren’t limited to individual words as characters sometimes use the Hawaiian language in phrases or sentences. The story includes Hawaiian geography, food, and music and the plot includes various gods. Pele was the main antagonist in the first book and the fire goddess returns in the later chapters. Lei’s interactions with her family, aumakua, friends, and other characters communicate a strong sense of Hawaiian community and heritage.
The cast of characters is comprised of unique personalities to create entertaining moments for readers. A highlight is a wind spirit called Makani who behaves as a loyal friend to Lei. Makani is invisible air and can’t speak but they communicate emotions by soft breezes to a cheek or strong gusts that can almost knock someone off their feet. Ilikea is the aumakua for another family but she’s also Lei’s friend. Lei agrees to help her develop a more meaningful bond with Kaukahi but that’s a very daunting task. Ilikea and Kaipo take the form of teenage girl and boy but they can also transform into a bat and owl, respectfully.
What didn’t work as well:
The book is based on Hawaiian folklore and many cultural terms are used right away. Readers may be confused by some of the references as they can’t always be interpreted by using context. I was forced to look up some terms I couldn’t figure out. Perhaps the vocabulary is better explained in the previous book, which I haven’t read.
The final verdict:
The conflict in the second half of the book is more dramatic than the first. Elements of friendship are explored and Lei battles an internal struggle to bring peace and balance to her own life. This book will appeal to readers interested in Hawaii or other cultures and I recommend you give it a shot.
The main conflict involves Lei’s family’s aumakua, their ancestral guardian, as Kaipo may rot away after losing his pendant. Lei lives in Colorado so she’s still learning about her Hawaiian heritage during her visit to the islands. Kaipo is reluctant to help Lei find the invisible island since he doesn’t want her to risk her life to help him. Also, grumpiness and lack of cooperation are signs of rotting which causes Kaipo to dampen Lei’s mood and hinder her efforts. Shaky connections between characters present a wide variety of feelings and conflicted relationships and Lei struggles to navigate the murky emotional waters. The conflict involving Kaipo’s lost pendant is resolved halfway through the book but Lei inadvertently creates another major crisis in the process.
Everyone knows about the beauty of Hawaii but using its culture as the setting for a novel is not commonly done. The characters frequently use Hawaiian vocabulary that adds authenticity to the story. These terms aren’t limited to individual words as characters sometimes use the Hawaiian language in phrases or sentences. The story includes Hawaiian geography, food, and music and the plot includes various gods. Pele was the main antagonist in the first book and the fire goddess returns in the later chapters. Lei’s interactions with her family, aumakua, friends, and other characters communicate a strong sense of Hawaiian community and heritage.
The cast of characters is comprised of unique personalities to create entertaining moments for readers. A highlight is a wind spirit called Makani who behaves as a loyal friend to Lei. Makani is invisible air and can’t speak but they communicate emotions by soft breezes to a cheek or strong gusts that can almost knock someone off their feet. Ilikea is the aumakua for another family but she’s also Lei’s friend. Lei agrees to help her develop a more meaningful bond with Kaukahi but that’s a very daunting task. Ilikea and Kaipo take the form of teenage girl and boy but they can also transform into a bat and owl, respectfully.
What didn’t work as well:
The book is based on Hawaiian folklore and many cultural terms are used right away. Readers may be confused by some of the references as they can’t always be interpreted by using context. I was forced to look up some terms I couldn’t figure out. Perhaps the vocabulary is better explained in the previous book, which I haven’t read.
The final verdict:
The conflict in the second half of the book is more dramatic than the first. Elements of friendship are explored and Lei battles an internal struggle to bring peace and balance to her own life. This book will appeal to readers interested in Hawaii or other cultures and I recommend you give it a shot.
May 2, 2024
I loved Lei and the Fire Goddess and was lucky enough to interview author Malia Maunakea for an event at The Bookies bookstore in Denver last year. Malia brings her enthusiasm and passion for Hawaiian culture to her books, continuing this strong middle-grade series with the second book, Lei and the Invisible Island. What makes this series so great is the blend of mythical adventure, mystery, and strong voice that hooks you from page one. This second book shows Malia Maunakea’s confidence that she brings to her book events, her energy that translates into Lei, the book’s protagonist.
Lei’s character and the plot drive the action forward, while plenty of dialog, adventure, and mythology will appeal to reluctant and avid readers alike. The missing pendant propels the story, but just like in the first book in the series, Lei has to embrace her family ancestry and (new!) friendships along the way. In addition, Lei and the Invisible Island carries a strong and important lesson to forgive yourself, without being didactic.
This uniquely Hawaiian book series is a true breakout in the middle-grade genre, and I hope to see lots more from Malia Maunakea. If you have the opportunity to attend one of her author events, do yourself a favor and go! You will come away inspired by her passion for story and Hawaiian culture.
Lei’s character and the plot drive the action forward, while plenty of dialog, adventure, and mythology will appeal to reluctant and avid readers alike. The missing pendant propels the story, but just like in the first book in the series, Lei has to embrace her family ancestry and (new!) friendships along the way. In addition, Lei and the Invisible Island carries a strong and important lesson to forgive yourself, without being didactic.
This uniquely Hawaiian book series is a true breakout in the middle-grade genre, and I hope to see lots more from Malia Maunakea. If you have the opportunity to attend one of her author events, do yourself a favor and go! You will come away inspired by her passion for story and Hawaiian culture.
August 16, 2024
I knew I would like this book because I loved the first in the series, Lei and the Fire Goddess, but I didn't know I'd love it even more than the first one. This book introduces delightful new characters and lets us get to know familiar characters in new ways. Lei delves even more deeply into her Hawaiian identity during her adventure, and it happens naturally and doesn't feel forced at all. This series will especially speak to native Hawaiian kids who don't see themselves in stories nearly enough, and to kids of mixed ethnicity who struggle to embrace their whole selves. But all kids go through a process of figuring out who they are during adolescence, and any kid or kid at heart can enjoy following along with Lei's adventures and learning to love who they are in the process.
July 9, 2024
The perfect series for your summer reading! Here is the next adventure for Lei and her friends.
Lei has come to the conclusion that curses are real! After battling mythical creatures and angering Pele the fire goddess, Lei is back for her next adventure: to find her best friend’s pendant. Kaipo ‘aumakua pendant os hopefully on an invisible island where they will have to cross the ocean and encounter…. Who knows what? Evil spirits are all around so Lei, Kaipo, Ilikea, and a new Kaukai will have to work together to make it through.
Packed with adventure, culture, and some Hawaiian mythology, your reader will love this next story involving Lei and her friends.
Lei has come to the conclusion that curses are real! After battling mythical creatures and angering Pele the fire goddess, Lei is back for her next adventure: to find her best friend’s pendant. Kaipo ‘aumakua pendant os hopefully on an invisible island where they will have to cross the ocean and encounter…. Who knows what? Evil spirits are all around so Lei, Kaipo, Ilikea, and a new Kaukai will have to work together to make it through.
Packed with adventure, culture, and some Hawaiian mythology, your reader will love this next story involving Lei and her friends.
July 21, 2024
Maunakea is back at it again as she inscribes more legendary, more harrowing adventures for her heroine Lei to traverse on her path to making things right with the Hawaiian Gods, Goddesses, and Spirits. Her protagonist must learn the hard way that friendship has to take priority over selfish desires at times, but in the end, everyone is grateful for the extra support that friends and family can provide. The book is intended for middle grade level students and above, but even as an adult I had a great time learning about Hawaiin Mythology while Lei fights twist and turn for her aumuka's lost pendant.
February 11, 2024
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus
After her adventures in Lei and the Fire Goddess, Lei is back. Her guardian Kaipo is struggling since Pele and her evil hawk Io have taken Lia's pendant, and Lei consults Kaukahi to try to borrow hers. She still has a lot of support from her Tutu, but with only two weeks of her vacation left, it's imperative that she get her pendant back so that Kaipo doesn't remain a human. I was suprised to see a sequel, but it has all of the action, adventures, and details of Hawaiian life of the first.
After her adventures in Lei and the Fire Goddess, Lei is back. Her guardian Kaipo is struggling since Pele and her evil hawk Io have taken Lia's pendant, and Lei consults Kaukahi to try to borrow hers. She still has a lot of support from her Tutu, but with only two weeks of her vacation left, it's imperative that she get her pendant back so that Kaipo doesn't remain a human. I was suprised to see a sequel, but it has all of the action, adventures, and details of Hawaiian life of the first.
June 10, 2024
Lei and her friends return in this exciting sequel to retrieve Kaipo's pendant and protect the children of Hawai'i from vengeful spirits. The story features all the humor, adventure, and Hawaiian mo'olelo of Lei and the Fire Goddess, with the addition of a new friend Kaukahi and, as the title implies, an exciting trip to an invisible island, where more mystery and mayhem await them. I loved it even more than the first book! Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan Presents.
August 16, 2024
An action-packed follow-up that pulls you right back into Lei's world! As Lei and her friends hunt for a lost pendant on a mysterious invisible island, they find themselves up against dangerous spirits and plenty of challenges along the way. Rich in Hawaiian culture and blending adventure with themes of friendship and forgiveness, Maunakea keeps the excitement high while diving into deeper emotions, making this sequel a truly unforgettable read.
October 1, 2024
I really love this book, which is book #2. Easily 10 times better than the first one. Kids in Grade 4-6, especially in Hawaii, will LOVE this book. I will let my students know that book 2 is even better than book 1. There's a much heavier dose of Hawaiian mythology and Hawaiian language in this book compared to the first one. I got halfway through the book and figured we were winding down when all of the sudden no, mega action was just being unleashed.
October 5, 2024
The second in a series with Pacific Islander characters, this is an enjoyable middle grade adventure that includes magical, journeys, and friendship. Plenty of action with Lei and her group, the settings of the islands, and it's really best (for non-natives) as an audiobook with so many words and names spoken by a native narrator which enriched the reading of the book.
It's well developed and the voices of the characters are vivid.
It's well developed and the voices of the characters are vivid.
October 28, 2025
I needed another read for the flight home, and I was able to check out this follow-up to Lei's first legendary adventure. While she accomplished her primary objective in that one, unforseen consequences are giving her nightmares. She must venture farther afield, with companions who are even grouchier than she is. She learns a lot about listening, trusting, and asking for help, as well as more about her legendary heritage. And she visits more places that I did on my trip!
June 24, 2024
I really enjoyed Lei’s character arc from Maunakea’s debut coming-of-age novel “Lei and the Fire Goddess” to her sophomore adventure follow up “Lei and the Invisible Island.” In this action packed and heart felt sequel, she spends most of the narrative taking responsibility for and fixing mistakes of the past, while she finally fully embraces her Hawaiian roots.
June 25, 2024
Sadly, I did not like this one as much as the first. I think Lei was mostly okay, but Kaipo, Ilikea, and Kaukahi were all unpleasant, even though they had their reasons. I need to actually like the majority of characters I'm reading about, so that was not enjoyable for me. It was probably not helped by my listening to the audiobook and maybe not paying the best attention to it.
June 24, 2024
Great second book. The first one was all about accidentally breaking things and this one was about fixing what is broken and forgiving yourself. Lots of action and myth and legends. So full of the aloha spirit.
June 29, 2024
I hope there is a third story. I've loved every word of this series.
July 12, 2024
This one didn't hold my attention as well as the first one did. I read the first one close to publication and didn't reread before diving into this one.
August 23, 2024
I really enjoyed this one so much. I really hope there is more in this series and more books by this author!
September 22, 2024
The beginning was just v frustrating to get through with Kaipo being a grump and not himself, but I enjoyed the emphasis on the ties of family, both blood-related and otherwise
January 21, 2025
Excellent follow up to Lei and the Fire Goddess.
Want to read
April 16, 2025O
June 12, 2025
Packed full of Hawaiian cultural references. Great that Lei and the Ohana are back for another adventure. 🤙
October 14, 2025
I liked the Hawaiian culture and emphasis on family. Good sequel to her other one.
September 26, 2024
🌈🌺 Lei and the Invisible Island picks up a few days after Lei and the Fire Goddess ends. We’re back with Lei, Kaipo, Ilikea, Makani, and a new friend, Kaukahi, a feisty fashionista. They travel to the Invisible Island to get Kaipo’s lost ʻaumakua necklace back, and then to OAHU (!!) to save everyone from kuewa. Imagine my surprise when they pull up to the beaches of Waikiki and then go west side 😍 My heart just burst with joy when seeing my part of the island on the page!!
I love this series for MANY reasons:
1. Pacific Islander mo’olelo (story) written by a PI!
2. High stakes and adventure (think Rick Riordan Presents!)
3. Characters you will relate to and root for!! Seriously, I love Lei so much and wish I could give her a hug 🫂
4. Found family 🧡 Yes they make mistakes and yes they disappoint each other, but in the end, they forgive and make right. The ending of this one especially made me tear up 🥹
5. The narration for the audiobooks is excellent!! Highly recommend to get the full experience with the ʻŌlelo Hāwai’i (Hawaiian language) pronounciation. Also, oral storytelling is a big part of Pacific Island culture, so another bonus 😉
I love this series for MANY reasons:
1. Pacific Islander mo’olelo (story) written by a PI!
2. High stakes and adventure (think Rick Riordan Presents!)
3. Characters you will relate to and root for!! Seriously, I love Lei so much and wish I could give her a hug 🫂
4. Found family 🧡 Yes they make mistakes and yes they disappoint each other, but in the end, they forgive and make right. The ending of this one especially made me tear up 🥹
5. The narration for the audiobooks is excellent!! Highly recommend to get the full experience with the ʻŌlelo Hāwai’i (Hawaiian language) pronounciation. Also, oral storytelling is a big part of Pacific Island culture, so another bonus 😉
July 28, 2024
I feel like this book gave way too much of the middle grader sass - everyone kept complaining about everything and I understand what the author was trying to do, but it made it very hard and frustrating to read for the first quarter. Once we got back into the adventure and the mythology, it felt a lot better.
I really do think this book is important due to how it builds relationships - we don't know what other people are going through, we never know what will hurt others, and we never know what others will need from us to help support them if we don't ask. It was a strong testament to their friendships and relationships in the way they supported each other (even when everyone protested way too much).
Seeing everything come together in the end was nice and the overall story had the same energy as book one, which was fun and challenging in the best way. This is another great book, just wasn't as much for me as book one.
TW: bullying, injury detail, violence; mentions parent neglect
eARC gifted via NetGalley by Penguin Teen Canada in exchange for an honest review.
I really do think this book is important due to how it builds relationships - we don't know what other people are going through, we never know what will hurt others, and we never know what others will need from us to help support them if we don't ask. It was a strong testament to their friendships and relationships in the way they supported each other (even when everyone protested way too much).
Seeing everything come together in the end was nice and the overall story had the same energy as book one, which was fun and challenging in the best way. This is another great book, just wasn't as much for me as book one.
TW: bullying, injury detail, violence; mentions parent neglect
eARC gifted via NetGalley by Penguin Teen Canada in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2025
3.75 stars
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews