Heartbreak can sometimes spark the most beautiful acts of kindness. When Typhoon Halong ravaged communities, writer Lani Hulse, with deep roots in the Y-K Delta, felt compelled to act. But what could she do from afar? This is where the story of 'Aanaq? Am I your sunset?' begins, a children's book born from a desire to heal and help.
Published on December 22, 2025, by KYUK, the story unfolds from Lani's perspective. Witnessing the devastation from her home in Hawaii, she couldn't stand idly by. She recalled, "I couldn't help with each video that I watched online — people posting about the disaster, and afterwards — I just could not just sit there." This powerful feeling fueled her to find a way to make a difference.
Lani, who spent her formative years in Bethel and has family in the Yukon Delta village of Kotlik (which was significantly impacted by the October storm), was already working on a novel as part of her journey to reconnect with her Yup'ik heritage. Her father's role as a principal in schools across the region, including Kipnuk, further solidified her connection to the affected communities. This led her to a creative solution: a children's book. She explained, "I was like, wait, I could do something creative and connect with a nonprofit, and get something rolling, have something physical that's positive and connects to my culture as well."
She teamed up with the Alaska Community Foundation to organize a fundraising sale of her book. The heartwarming story, 'Aanaq? Am I your sunset?', is designed to support families impacted by the typhoon. And this is where the impact shines: Fifty percent of each book sale goes directly to the Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund. The other half covers production costs and taxes.
The book's inspiration came from a tender moment Lani shared with her son, Ashton. After a stressful day, they were driving when a stunning sunset captured their attention. Lani said, "During the drive, the most captivating sunset caught my attention and I paused. And I was like, 'Oh my gosh.' I was like, 'Ashton, look at that sunset. It's so beautiful,'" To which Ashton replied, "Am I your sunset?" This simple yet profound question became the heart of the story.
The book is written in the style of a poem, with an adult responding to a child's question, set against the backdrop of Yup'ik culture. "And then each page, it's almost like a poem goes over like, 'Yes, you are my sun. You are my moon.' And there's lots of culturally significant imagery in there as well, like eating salmonberries, tundra tea, as well as, like, fishing and Northern Lights," Lani shared. The book also includes a journal section for families to record shared memories.
Lani hopes the book will not only raise funds but also bring comfort to those affected by the typhoon. She expressed, "I can't imagine what these families are going through right now, and I wanted to bring something positive to their life. The main part of this story is what matters most is family moments with your family, these sweet moments throughout your day."
But here's where it gets controversial... While the book's intent is undeniably good, some might argue about the effectiveness of such initiatives in the face of large-scale disasters. What do you think? Does this approach offer genuine support, or are there more impactful ways to help? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
