"Honolulu Stories," edited by Gavan Daws and Bennett Hymer, was named book of the year at last night's Ka Palapala Po'okela Awards, and Benjamin "Buddy" Bess was honored for his lifetime contribution to Hawai'i book publishing.

The awards ceremony recognized books published in 2008, choosing winners from among 117 nominations.

The winners were selected by voters from the Hawai'i Book Academy, which includes librarians, booksellers, educators, publishing and media professionals and other members of the community.

Many of the winners were revealed prior to the event, but Daws and Hymer weren't notified in advance that they'd won the Samuel M. Kamakau Award for the 2009 Hawaii Book of the Year.

Nor was Bess, publisher and founder of Bess Press, warned that he'd be recognized with the 2009 John Dominis Holt Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Three books won in multiple categories: "Who Owns the Crown Lands of Hawai'i" by University of Hawai'i law professor Jon Van Dyke; "Naupaka," retold by the late Nona Beamer and illustrated with block prints by Volcano artist Karen Ke'ala Lobel Fried; and "Sublime Beauty: Hawai'i's Trees," written, photographed and designed by Jim Wageman.

Other winning titles included "The Island Bistro Cookbook" by chef Chai Chaowasaree; "Blazing Stars and Shark Eyes" by David Kawika Eyre; "The Maui Book of Lavender" by Alii Chang, Lani Medina Weigert and Jill Engledow; and "Glory by the Wayside" by William and Susan Ecenbarger.