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It may be the sale of the century, both literally and figuratively. Last March, Kamehameha Publishing, a division of Kamehameha Schools, began offering a 60 percent educational discount on all products purchased from its online store. The publisher’s inventory of more than 70 titles features everything from children’s storybooks to scholarly texts such as the famous “Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii” by S.M. Kamakau. Organizations which qualify for the discount include Hawaii public schools and libraries as well as Island private schools and nonprofit institutions or programs that serve preschool through grade-12 students.

The discount, which is offered indefinitely, is a part of Kamehameha Schools’ effort to extend its educational reach beyond its three campuses. Last year, the more than 70-year-old publishing house changed its name from Kamehameha Press and saw its budget grow by more than a third. In addition, its staff tripled from two full-time employees to six and, as a result, production has doubled. According to Kalowena Komeiji, Kamehameha Publishing’s marketing and community relations specialist, the press hopes to eventually produce one new product a month, not an easy task for an organization whose books and videos are rigorously screened for historical and cultural accuracy.

“We want to increase our outreach and engage and encourage Native Hawaiian children and their families to read more,” says Komeiji. “But there is a broader mission. We’d like to elevate Hawaiian literature and knowledge, not just in the state but in a global context. We work with Hawaiian-language purists, so we are talking about a very high caliber of content. Sometimes, it boggles the mind what is involved, but if you want to be absolutely accurate that is what it takes.”