Easy Butterfly Origami

My new book, Easy Butterfly Origami features 30 bold full-color patterns designed to accurately portray the dorsal and ventral sides of some of the most beautiful butterflies from around the world!

Origami Folding Tips

Origami, from the Japanese ori (to fold) and kami (paper), began in the 6th century when Buddhist monks introduced paper to Japan. The print-and-fold crafts and easy diagrams are designed to help children with fine motor skills, directions and hand eye coordination. Some basic origami folding tips:
  • Print and cut out patterns carefully.
  • Fold with clean, dry hands.
  • Follow the instructions. Study the diagrams and be patient.
  • Be precise: fold each crease well, flattening the creases by running your fingertip over the fold.
  • Folding the paper away from you is easier than folding towards you.
  • Be creative...use your origami on greeting cards, holiday decorations, table place cards and bookmarks.

Owl Mask (Pueo)

Pueo (Hawaiian Short-eared Owl)
Scientific name: Asio flammeus sandwichensis


What is it about owls that inspires so many myths and legends? Owls are a symbol of wisdom; their watchful eyes penetrate the darkness, seeing all. Flying by night, they are guides, messengers and navigators of the supernatural. The Romans saw owls as omens of death, while the Greeks saw owls as a sign of victory in battle. To the Hawaiians, the pueo, or Hawaiian Short-eared Owl, was worshiped as a god or a guardian spirit.

The Hawaiian Short-eared Owl is the only native owl in Hawai'i (the common barn owl was introduced in the 1950's as rodent control). Most active at dawn and at dusk (and sometimes, at mid-day), Pueo have large eyes that allow them to hunt in dim light. In fact, the eyes of owls are so large, relative to their heads, that they can't look from side to side; that's why owls have such flexible necks.

Soft, specialized feathers help the pueo to hunt in silence. Besides rodents, pueo also eat insects and rarely, birds in open, grassy fields and dry forests.

2003 Ka Palapala Po'okela Award Winner, Excellence in Children's Books




Lullaby Moon
Written by Elaine Masters
Illustrated by Tammy Yee
Music by Malia Elliot
Island Heritage Publishing, 2002

A dreamy adventure about Koa, a little Hawaiian boy who would rather play outside than fall asleep. Koa soon finds himself befriended by an owl, or Pueo, who takes him on a magical exploration of the island's wildlife. Under the watchful gaze of Lullaby Moon, Koa learns how bats, bees and green sea turtles spend their night.

Featuring boldly illustrated lift-a-flaps and a CD by Malia Elliot, of the popular performing and songwriting duo, Leon & Malia.



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