More than 30 local authors and illustrators will be at Bishop Museum to sign books nominated for the 16th annual Ka Palapala Po'okela awards from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight.

While the awards are invitation-only, the public is welcome to meet the authors after the ceremony and have them sign their books, which will be sold at the event.

This year, the biggest awards will be kept secret until the ceremony, but some winners have already been announced and have confirmed their attendance at the book signing, including chef Chai Chaowasaree, Caren Loebel-Fried, Jon Van Dyke, Joe Tsujimoto, MacKinnon Simpson, John Wythe White, Lurline McGregor, Matthew Kaopio and Bill Riddle.

The sale and signing will be in Bishop Museum's Hawai'i Hall Atrium and Courtyard.

"Who Owns the Crown Lands of Hawai'i?" by Van Dyke, and the late Nona Beamer's "Naupaka," illustrated by Loebel-Fried, are among the titles to win in multiple categories.

Proceeds from the book sales will benefit Read to Me International, Hawaii Literacy and Bishop Museum. For more information, call 848-4135.