Friends of the Library of Hawaii

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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.

Filed Under: 6-Blog, Mahalo Award - Legislator of the Year

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.

Filed Under: Mahalo Award - Legislator of the Year

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.

 

 

Filed Under: Mahalo Award - Legislator of the Year

2017 Legislator of the Year

 


 

The Friends of the Library of Hawaii (FLH) has awarded Senator Michelle Kidani the Mahalo Award as the FLH 2017 Legislator of the Year.  She represents Senate District 18 – Mililani Town, a portion of Waipio Gentry, and the communities of Waikele, Village Park and Royal Kunia.  The award was presented at the FLH Legislative Breakfast held January 23rd at Washington Place. 

Governor and Mrs. David Ige welcomed invited guests from the Hawai’i State Legislature, Board of Education, Hawai’i State Public Library System, and Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i Affiliates and volunteers. FLH Vice-President Maia Rosen, Public Libraries Branch Director Stacie Kaneshige, Governor Ige, and Senator Kidani were the featured speakers, sharing successful library initiatives for 2017 and looking toward a bright future for library services in 2018.

Senator Kidani was first elected to the Hawai‘i State Senate in 2008 and has been a member of the Senate Committee on Education for much of that time. Senator Kidani then became the Chair of the Education Committee that oversees the state’s public libraries. Senator Kidani has supported efforts to improve library services at the Mililani Public Library through a $1.26 million renovation project to repair and improve the roof, upgrade support systems, and to convert an under-used atrium into a multi-use study and research room, adding almost 900 square feet to the library. The addition of the new space has also allowed for another area in the library to be repurposed into a much-needed program and meeting room, a commodity in short supply in  Mililani. These additions to one of the state’s busiest libraries directly support not only the library patrons and residents in Mililani, but the many diverse information needs of residents throughout Central Oahu and beyond.  

 Senator Kidani has worked with a number of community organizations in both Mililani and Waipahu, including the Waipahu Community Association and for ten years as a member of the Mililani Neighborhood Board.  She is currently Vice President of the Board for Mililani Town Association.  As a State Senator, she is also active in several policy groups at the regional and national level.

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 Kidani has been a steady supporter of library services in her community of Mililani and has been strong advocate for library services across the State in her position on the Senate education committee.

Filed Under: Mahalo Award - Legislator of the Year

2016 Legislator of the Year

Back Row: Alan Yamamoto, FLH Board of Directors, Kathy Fay, FLH Board of Directors, Jane Dickson, FLH Board of Directors, Marlene Booth, FLH Board of Directors, Stephanie Rezents, FLH Legislative Committee, Nainoa Mau FLH Executive Director 

Front Row: Dawn Amano-Ige, First Lady of the State of Hawai‘i, Stacey Aldrich, State Librarian, Representative Della Au Belatti, State Representative and FLH Legsilator of the Year 2016, Wendy Maxwell, Makiki Community Library Board President, Susan Li, FLH Board of Directors, Rebecca Nadler, FLH Board of Directors

Photo courtesy of Paul Mark, Information Specialist III – HSPLS


 

The Friends of the Library of Hawai'i (FLH) has awarded Representative Della Au Belatti, who represents House District 24 (Makiki, Tantalus, Papakolea, McCully, Pawaa, Manoa), with the Mahalo Award as the FLH 2016 Legislator of the Year. The award was presented at the FLH Legislative Breakfast held on January 10th at Washington Place in Honolulu.

First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige welcomed invited guests from the Hawai’i State Legislature, Board of Education, 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 Representative Della Au Belatti were the featured speakers, sharing successful library initiatives for 2016 and looking toward a bright future for library services in 2017.

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. Representative Belatti has been a staunch supporter of the only community-run library in the state: the Makiki Community Library at Makiki District Park. Representative Belatti and the Hawai‘i State Public Library System have worked closely in recent years to incorporate the Makiki Community Library into the state public library system. This effort is gaining momentum and we look forward to making the Makiki Public Library branch as the 52nd Hawai‘i public library.

The Makiki Community Library originally opened its doors in September of 1976 due in large part to the work of Mayor Frank F. Fasi.  Since that time, it has continued to be an asset to the community, providing not only books for adults and children, but adult computer classes and holiday activities as well.  Representative Belatti serves on the board of the Makiki Community Library and continues to work toward the now 40-plus year dream of having a state library within this urban community.  She follows in a long line of elected officials who have recognized the great need for a public library in one of the most densely populated areas in the state.

Representative Belatti was elected in 2007 and has served as the Chair of the House Committee on Health since 2012.  She is also a member of the Committee on Human Services and the Committee on the Judiciary.  She is a graduate of Princeton University and the William S. Richardson School of Law and is a full-time practicing attorney.

The Legislative Breakfast provides a unique opportunity for supporters of the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i State Public Library staff to discuss the needs and concerns of Hawai’i’s public libraries with their legislators and to thank them for their support.

Filed Under: Mahalo Award - Legislator of the Year

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Welcome!

The Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i is a nonprofit organization whose primary objective is to maintain free public libraries in the State of Hawai‘i, to promote extension of library services throughout the State of Hawai‘i and to increase the facilities of the public library system of Hawai‘i by securing materials beyond the command of the ordinary library budget. Other objectives are to focus attention on libraries and to encourage and accept, by bequest or gift, donations of books, manuscripts, money, and other appropriate material that can enrich the cultural opportunities available to the people of Hawai‘i.

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Founded in 1879, Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i has assisted in establishing and sustaining our public libraries over the last 140 years!

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Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Our mission is to support and promote Hawai‘i’s public libraries.

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