Mahalo Award – Legislator of the Year

2024 Legislator of the Year

Photo credit: Hawaii State Senate

We are honored to present the Mahalo Award to State Senator Lynn DeCoite as the 2024 Legislator of the Year. The Mahalo Award is presented annually to a state legislator who has demonstrated exemplary support of Hawai‘i’s public libraries during the prior legislative session.

Senator DeCoite has been involved in the state legislature since 2015 when she was appointed to represent District 13 the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives. Since 2021 she has represented District 7 in the Hawaiʻi State Senate. In addition to her commitment to increasing food production in our islands, protecting our environment, advocating for greater access to affordable housing and reliable inter-island transportation, Senator DeCoite is a leader in promoting literacy and elevating the public libraries in her district, including the Lānaʻi Public Library, the Hāna Public & School Library, Makawao Public Library and the Molokaʻi Public Library.

Senator DeCoite’s support for the libraries and literacy extends far beyond the 2024 legislative session. Since 2019 she has promoted childhood literacy through ‘Ohana Readers, an affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that offers free, monthly, age-appropriate books to Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Hāna keiki ages under the age of five. The program was launched as an initiative of then First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige in partnership with then Representative DeCoite, the Learning to Grow program of the state Department of Human Services, the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System, Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi, and Read to Me International.

It’s been a pleasure to work with Senator DeCoite to bring books into the homes of her constituents through the ‘Ohana Readers program,” said Nainoa Mau, Executive Director of Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi. “We are delighted to honor her with the Mahalo Award as our 2024 Legislator of the Year.”

Senator DeCoite knows the power a library has to be a community resource, and she has been an advocate for the renovations at the Molokaʻi Public Library to make it a bright and welcoming place for residents to learn and gather. And she has promoted the free employment training resources at the Molokaʻi Public Library, which is a partnership between Goodwill Hawaiʻi, the American Job Center, and the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System.

State Librarian Stacey Aldrich remarked, “Senator DeCoite cares deeply about her community and the library, and works to build bridges to make it a resource for all.

Photo credit: Hawaii State Senate

Senator DeCoite was honored by Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi at their Annual Meeting on February 19, 2025 at the Hawai‘i State Library. Additionally, copies of her favorite book, Curious George by H. A. Rey, will be donated to the Molokaʻi Public Library and the Hawaiʻi State Library in her honor.

2023 Legislator of the Year

HONOLULU – The Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi (FLH) presented the Mahalo Award to State Representative David A. Tarnas as the 2023 Legislator of the Year at the FLH Annual Meeting on February 28^th at the Hawai‘i State Public Library. The Mahalo Award is presented annually to a state legislator who has demonstrated exemplary support of Hawai‘i’s public libraries during the prior legislative session.

State Representative David A. Tarnas is a strong advocate for the long-planned Waikoloa branch of the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System. With his support, planning and design for this project, which has been steadfastly promoted for 14 years by the Friends of the Waikoloa Public Library, is underway.

Rep. Tarnas has been in regular contact with the Friends during this process, and the partnership is producing results. Features planned for the 12,000 square foot library include a Friends of the Library bookstore, early learning classroom space and play area, small meeting spaces, and a community meeting room.

Thanks to Rep. Tarnas, the project has more than half the funding needed for construction, and his top priority for this Legislative Session is to secure the remaining funds. His support ensures that this branch will be the next exciting addition to the statewide public library system. We share his vision of a library that will nourish minds and contribute to this thriving community.

Rep. Tarnas represents the Hawai’i Island House District 8 (North and South Kohala) and serves as the Chair of the House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

Rep. Tarnas is now serving his fifth term as State Representative for the Kohala districts, having first served from 1994-1998, and from 2018 to present. He has lived in the district for over 37 years and brings extensive experience to his role.

As a professional environmental planner, Rep. Tarnas has consulted on a wide variety of projects in Hawaiʻi and overseas in the Pacific, Southeast Asia, Middle East, and North Africa. He and his wife Carolyn live in Waimea and have raised two children, one of whom is currently a public health graduate student, and the other is a planetary scientist working in the private space industry.

“Our public library offered our family a gateway to explore and learn,” said Rep. Tarnas. “I am very grateful for the positive impact the library had in our lives and am committed to do everything I can to support our State Public Library System.”

The continued support of Rep. Tarnas ensures that the dreams of the Waikoloa community for a Waikoloa Public Library will be realized for the 52nd branch of the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System. The Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi is thankful to have such a strong supporter in our legislature.

2020 Legislator of the Year

FLH 2021 Legislative Event

Legislative Event Presentation on YouTube Live!

The Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i (FLH) has awarded Senator Gilbert Keith-Agaran the Mahalo Award as the FLH 2020 Legislator of the Year. Senator Keith-Agaran represents Senate District 5 – Wailuku, Waihe‘e, and Kahului. The award was presented at the FLH Legislative Event held January 27, 2021 virtually. See the event recording above.

State Librarian, Stacey Aldrich, welcomed invited guests from the Hawai’i State Legislature, Hawai’i State Public Library System, and Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i Affiliates and volunteers. FLH Executive Director, Nainoa Mau, State Librarian Stacey Aldrich, and Senator Keith-Agaran were the featured speakers, sharing successful Friends and library accomplishments for 2020 and looking forward to 2021 when library services will remain critical for digital equity.

Senator Keith-Agaran has served in the state legislature since 2009, beginning as a state representative and moving to the state senate in 2013. Senator Keith-Agaran is the Vice-Chair of the Senate Water and Land and the Senate Ways and Means Committees and is a member of the Higher Education Committee.

Senator Keith-Agaran has been a lifelong public library user and has a keen interest in the success of our public libraries. He has been a strong supporter for increases in the 51-branch library system budget as well as supporting the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i with their FY2020 grant-in-aid request. Senator Keith-Agaran has been important to the Maui public libraries and the current renovation of the Kahului branch.

The Mahalo Award is presented annually to a State legislator who has demonstrated exemplary support of Hawai‘i’s public libraries.

2019 Legislator of the Year

The Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i (FLH) has awarded Representative Scott Nishimoto the Mahalo Award as the FLH 2019 Legislator of the Year. He represents House District 21 – McCully, Mō‘ili‘ili, Kapahulu. The award was presented at the FLH Legislative Breakfast held January 29th at Hawai‘i State Library.

State Librarian, Stacey Aldrich, welcomed invited guests from the Hawai’i State Legislature, Hawai’i State Public Library System, the First Lady, and Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i Affiliates and volunteers. FLH President Lynnae Lee, State Librarian Stacey Aldrich, and Representative Nishimoto were the featured speakers, sharing successful library initiatives for 2019 and looking toward a bright future for library services in 2020.

Representative Nishimoto was first elected to the Hawai‘i State House in 2002. He is currently the chair of the House Judiciary Committee and a member of the Finance, Intrastate Commerce, and Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs committees.

Representative Nishimoto understands the value that public libraries bring to our communities and has been a strong supporter for increases in the 51-branch library system budget as well as supporting the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i with their FY2020 grant-in-aid request.

The Mahalo Award is presented annually to a State legislator who has demonstrated exemplary support of Hawai‘i’s public libraries.

2018 Legislator of the Year

The Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i (FLH) has awarded Senator Glenn Wakai the Mahalo Award as the FLH 2018 Legislator of the Year. He represents Senate District 15 – Kalihi, Mapunapuna, Airport, Salt Lake, Aliamanu, Foster Village, Hickam, and Pearl Harbor. The award was presented at the FLH Legislative Breakfast held January 23rd at Hawai‘i State Library.

State Librarian, Stacey Aldrich, welcomed invited guests from the Hawai’i State Legislature, Hawai’i State Public Library System, and Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i Affiliates and volunteers. FLH President Lynnae Lee, State Librarian Stacey Aldrich, and Senator Wakai were the featured speakers, sharing successful library initiatives for 2018 and looking toward a bright future for library services in 2019.

Senator Wakai was first elected to the Hawai‘i State Senate in 2010 following eight years in the Hawai‘i State House of Representatives. He is currently the chair of the Senate’s Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology. Wakai also partners with many community organizations in his role as President of Reach Out Pacific, collecting shipping containers full of excess supplies from Hawai‘i businesses and community groups to share with our Pacific island neighbors.

Senator Wakai understands the value that public libraries bring to our communities, not only as a location to find books, but as places to access new resources and learning opportunities. For example, despite a busy schedule, Senator Wakai has supported and participated in statewide discussions for collaboration around maker spaces and public libraries to bring new opportunities to our communities. He is also constantly looking for opportunities to match up resources for communities in need, making sure that places throughout the Pacific have access to books for reading and learning.

In his home community, Senator Wakai has been a staunch supporter of the Salt Lake-Moanalua Public Library and is supporting efforts to improve library services at the branch through a $0.5 million renovation project to improve the traffic flow for library patrons, staff, and the adjacent school.

In addition to supporting Hawai‘i’s Public Library System, Senator Wakai has partnered with Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i on projects to promote literacy and libraries in the South Pacific. Through the organization, Reach Out Pacific (REPAC), Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i has sent over 100,000 books to fill the collections of public and school libraries on a number of islands including Pohnpei, Kosrae, Saipan, Yap, and Tinian.

The Mahalo Award is presented annually to a State legislator who has demonstrated exemplary support of Hawai‘i’s public libraries. Senator Wakai has been a strong voice for technology solutions at Hawai‘i’s public libraries and has partnered with Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i for the last seven years in supporting library services across the Pacific.

2024 Legislator of the Year

2023 Legislator of the Year

2020 Legislator of the Year

2019 Legislator of the Year

2018 Legislator of the Year

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