The Cades Foundation and Friends of the Library of Hawai’i announce the opening of nominations for the 2025 Elliot Cades Awards for Literature.
Nominations will be accepted until July 1st.
The Elliot Cades Awards for Literature, given annually since 1988, were established by Charlotte and J. Russell Cades in memory of his brother, Elliot, a teacher and lover of literature. The awards are now administered by Friends of the Library of Hawai’i, who took over the administration from the Hawai‘i Literary Arts Council in 2025. The awards are accompanied by a substantial cash amount.
The awards are given to two writers whose published work demonstrates high literary quality. The first award is given to an established artist with a substantial body of work. The second award is given to an emerging writer whose work shows great promise. Work relating to life in Hawai‘i is sought, but so is fine literary writing of any kind by current or former residents of Hawai‘i.
Nominations should consist of a letter of nomination and supporting material(s), including published work, which will be used during the judging process. Nominees can be poets, playwrights, novelists, essayists, or others associated with the literary arts in Hawai‘i. Previous winners are not eligible (list shown below).
Nominations may be submitted online using the form below, or mailed to Friends of the Library of Hawai’i, 501 Sumner Street, Unit 614, Honolulu, Hawai’i 96817.
Established Writer Emerging Writer
1988 Cathy Song Pat Matsueda
1989 Phil Damon Reuben Tam
1990 Steven Goldsberry Dana Naone Hall
1991 Darrell Lum Juliet Kono Lee
1992 Nell Altizer Gary Pak
1993 Lois-Ann Yamanaka Mahealani Kamau‘u
1994 Craig Howes Larry Kimura
1995 Frank Stewart Marie Hara
1996 Eric Chock Sue Cowing
1997 Vilsoni Hereniko Joseph Stanton
1998 Tony Quagliano Kathy Dee Kaleokealoha Kaloloahilani Banggo
1999 Nora Okja Keller D. Mahealani Dudoit
2000 Lisa Matsumoto Chris McKinney
2001 James Rumford Cedric Yamanaka
2002 Eric Paul Shaffer Lee A. Tonouchi
2003 Lee Cataluna Stuart Holmes Coleman
2004 Rodney Morales Wayne Moniz
2005 Kiana Davenport Paul Wood
2006 Victoria Kneubuhl Ilima Loomis
2007 Ian McMillan Wendy Miyake
2008 Paul Theroux Joe Tsujimoto
2009 Lee A. Siegel Lisa Linn Kanae
2010 Todd A. Shimoda Alexei Melnick
2011 Garrett K. Hongo Janine Oshiro
2012 Pamela Frierson Mark Panek
2013 Wing Tek Lum M. Thomas Gammarino
2014 Adele Ne Jame Shawna Yang Ryan
2015 Susan M. Schultz Brenda Kwon
2016 Craig Santos Perez Christy Passion
2017 Tyler McMahon Donald Carreira Ching
2018 D. Nandi Odhiambo Jean Toyama
2019 Joe Balaz Scott Kikkawa
2020 Elmer Omar Bascos Pizo Kawai Strong Washburn
2021 Ann Inoshita Derek N. Otsuji
2022 Rita Ariyoshi Joseph Han
2023 Brandy Nalani McDougall Susan Scott
2024 Larry & Rosemary Mild Megan Kamalei Kakimoto
For questions or further information please contact us.
Elliot Cades Award for Literature
Please create a separate entry for each individual nominated.