Hero of Hawaii
By: Graham Salisbury
Grades 1-4; Genre - Fiction; Lexile 460L; AR pts: 2.0
Hawaii boy Calvin Coconut has come up with the best idea ever for his sister Darci's birthday party. But a huge tropical storm hits the islands and threatens everything! The river next to Calvin's house rises high, and when Calvin's friend Willy falls into the raging water, Calvin grabs his skiff to save him. As Willy is swept into the bay, Calvin struggles in the wild waves. What happens next shows Calvin what heroes are made of!
Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
- Who are Calvin’s friends? Julio Reyes, Willy Wolf, Maya Medeieros, and Calvin’s black and white dog Streak p.2
- What was the waterway that ran by Calvin’s house? It was a drainage canal that carried runoff from the lowlands out to the ocean. p.4
Chapter 2
- What chore does Calvin need to do? He needs to clean up after the dog
- What are they building for Darci’s birthday? A slip and slide.
Chapter 3
- Why are Stella and Clarence, her boyfriend, are taking Darci and Calvin to the Byodo-In Temple? It is Stella’s birthday present to take Darci because there are wild birds there you can feed right out of your hand and Darci loves birds. p. 16
- Why does Darci’s party get postponed? There is a massive tropical storm coming. p. 17
Chapter 4
- What do Darci and Calvin do at the temple? They ring the gong and feed the wild birds. p. 22 and p. 24
- Why do they leave the temple? It starts to rain. p. 25
Chapter 5
- Why does Clarence have to drive home very carefully? The rain was coming down so hard it was hard to see and the traffic lights were out. p. 28 and p. 29
- What does Calvin think a flood is? Lots of water making rivers where rivers shouldn’t be. P.29
Chapter 6
- As the storm continues Calvin sees what things floating in the river? Piece of lumber, a tree branch, carboard box, white packing foam, beach ball. p.35
- How does Calvin take care of his scared dog, Streak? He brings Streak into the house to keep her dry and to be with her. p.37
Chapter 7
- Who helps Calvin drag his boat higher? Clarence p.40
- Where does Calvin tell his mom he’s going? Julio’s house p. 43
Chapter 8
- Calvin goes to Julio’s house and then where do the boys go? They go to the beach
- Why does a police officer pick the boys up and take them home? He says it is too dangerous with the wind blowing and that they could get hit with something. P. 48
Chapter 9
- Why does Calvin’s mom have to go to the store? To get groceries and candles p. 52
- When Clarence leaves, he asks Calvin to do what? To watch the leak p. 54
Chapter 10
- What is the name of Clarence’s half-sister? Lovey Martino p 57
- Why is Willy not happy when he sleeps over and how does Calvin help him feel better? Willy does not like all the bugs that have come into Calvin’s room to get out of the rain and Calvin lets him have the top bunk of his bed. P. 63
Chapter 11
- What does Calvin’s mom warn him and Willy not to do? And Why? Calvin’s mom warns Willey and Cavin not to get to close to the river because it is going very fast. P 69
- What does Willy do to get into trouble? Willy grabs a branch that is floating by and gets pulled into the river. P 73
Chapter 12
- What three things does Cavlin immediately do? He tells Willy to let go of the branch and swim for shore, he runs to his boat, and he calls help. P76
- Instead of waiting for Clarence to come back what does Calvin do? Calvin gets his boat into the water and goes to try and get Willy. P 78
Chapter 13
- Where does Calvin almost get dumped out of the boat? Where the river empties into the ocean p. 81
- Calvin is not only worried about Willey, but who else puts themselves in danger? Streak races into the waves p 84
Chapter 14
- What does Calvin have to do to save Willey? Calvin dives in and grabs Willey and then then grabs an oar. P 87, 88
- Since the boys couldn’t get into the boat what did they do? They held on and waited for help. P89
Chapter 15
- Calvin puts Streak into the boat. Who puts Willy into the skiff? Clarence and Calvin push Willy into the skiff p.92
- After Clarence and Calvin pull the boat to Flat Island what do they do? Clarence gets the water out of the boat and Calvin takes care of Willy. P94
Chapter 16
- What does Calvin find out about Stella? That she said if Ledward stopped coming over their house would fall apart. P98
- Why does Willey feel so sick? Because he swallowed dirty water. P 99
Chapter 17
- Instead of returning in the rescue helicopter how do Calvin, Clarence and Stella get back home? They go back in the boat p. 102
- What is Calvin worried about? That his mom is going to kill him for scaring her. p 104
Chapter 18
- What does Clarence call Calvin? The hero of Hawaii p 110
- What does Stella tell Calvin? That what he did was brave. P 110
Chapter 19
- Who does Calvin try to call and why? Willy to make sure he’s ok. P p114
- What worries Calvin’s mom about Willy? That he’ll be afraid of the ocean after what happened. P 116
Chapter 20
- Ledward tells Calvin that once he had been similarly scared. What was Ledward scared of? A volcano p. 121
- What does Calvin thank Ledward for? For putting cables on the oars p. 123
Chapter 21
- What does Calvin’s mom’s fortune cookie say? That great riches are in her future. P. 125
- What does Darci get for her birthday? A silver bracelet p. 126
Chapter 22
- What idea does Darci get? To take some cupcakes to Willy and his family.
- Who else does Calvin think are heroes? Clarence, Ledward, his mom, and Streak.
Chapter 23
- Who was afraid of the Slippery slide? Carlos. P 137
- How does Calvin help Carols? By going down the slippery slide with him. P 140
Chapter 24
- What is Calvin’s first present to Darci? A book on the birds of Hawaii. P144
- What is Calvin’s second present to Darci?Clarence. He is going to teach her how to swim. P. 144