I would recommend getting a photoetched for her...you have 3 choices, Tom's Modelworks, White Ensign, or Gold Medal Models. Without getting into details on each, you can see all of these frets, and contents, in the review section of Modelwarships.com
Hornet (CV-8) carried a Measure 12 Modified camo scheme. This means, in laymen's terms, that you need 6 colors, 5-N Navy Blue, 5-O Ocean Gray, 5-H Haze Gray, Norfolk 250 Flight Deck Stain, and 20-B Deck Blue. You'll need Anti-Fouling red if you intend to do the model full hull. I typically use a model railroad color called Oxide Red, although Tuscan Red or Boxcar Red will work just as well.
Here's how it works...paint the hull 5-O Ocean Gray, then paint the darker 5-N Navy Blue over that color. Paint your lower hull Oxide red if you're doing full hull. The split in the kit hull is the demarcation line.
For your island, paint it overall 5-H Haze Gray, and then paint your 5-O pattern over that.
Flight deck is Norfolk 250 stain, other horizontal surfaces are 20-B deck blue.
I would strongly suggest getting either the White Ensign Colorcoats if you prefer enamels, or Testor's Acryl if you prefer acrylics. Both companies produce those specific colors.
Email me if you have any other questions.
Jeff Herne
Modelwarships.com