Friends of the Library of Hawaii

Promoting and supporting Hawai‘i's public libraries

Kiʻi Kon Series

 

Kiʻi Kon Series September 2025 – June 2026

A program of the McCully-Mōʻiliʻili Public Library Sponsored by Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi

Calling all comic book and graphic art fans to meet some of the greats in the industry. Amy Kim, Mari Morimoto, Ron Marz, Phil Jimenez, and Kazu Kibuishi, will all participate in this series that celebrates the visual arts. Meet these writers and artists at the McCully-Mōʻiliʻili Public Library. The Spring 2026 guests will appear for a talk story discussion, moderated by McCully-Mōʻiliʻili Public Library branch manager, Hillary Chang, as well as signings at the library. The talk stories will take place near the library at Washington Middle School to accommodate a larger audience. Bridging the gap between the Fall and Spring is the Kiʻi Kon Teen Art Contest. Teens are invited to re-imagine their favorite book or graphic novel cover to win an exclusive meet & greet with one of the Spring 2026 guests and other prizes.

Find more information below:

Amy Kim
at Mini Con 14
September 27, 2025 • 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
McCully-Mōʻiliʻili Public Library

Amy Kim is a graphic novelist and illustrator known for her work in children’s and young adult literature. She is the creator of The Rema Chronicles, a graphic novel series published by Scholastic Graphix.

Meet Amy Kim at Mini Con 14 along with Audra Furuichi, Brady Evans, Jon J. Murakami, Kevin Sano, Studio Pyro & Friends! Pick up some cool artwork, comic books, and other wonderful treasures! The library will be showing a variety of animation and attendees can earn free buttons while supplies last. Cosplay is encouraged and will be rewarded!

The big book sale has hundreds of comic books, graphic novels, and manga, while the silent auction features exclusive action figures, toys, and autographed books. Find out more . . .

Mari Morimoto
The Art & Science of Manga Translation
October 16, 2025 • 5:00 p.m.
McCully-Mōʻiliʻili Public Library

Mari Morimoto speaks about her experiences working on Naruto, Boruto, Dragonball, InuYasha, Manga Biographies: Charles M. Schulz, and more!! Find out more. . .

Mari Morimoto
at Kapolei Kon
October 18, 2025 • 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Kapolei Public Library

Special guest manga translator Mari Morimoto will be speaking about her experiences working on titles such as Naruto, Boruto, Dragonball, InuYasha, and her recent Manga Biographies: Charles M. Schulz.  Umamiplant will also speak about digital and graphic art ideas and knowledge!

Plus, join us for a wonderful Artist Alley event featuring guest artists Brady Evans, Jon J. Murakami, Kevin Sano, Tara Tamayori, and Umamiplant!  Get your Christmas shopping done early and pick up some wonderful artwork, comic books, and other one of a kind pieces!  Cosplay is encouraged. Find out more . . .

Kiʻi Kon Teen Art Contest
November 1st – January 15th
Statewide

Teens are invited to re-imagine their favorite book or graphic novel cover for this statewide art contest. The grand prize is an exclusive meet & greet with the visiting Spring 2026 artist of their choice. Find out more about the teen art contest here.

Ron Marz
April 16 – 18, 2026
McCully-Mōʻiliʻili Public Library

Acclaimed comic book writer best known for his work on Green Lantern, where he created the character Kyle Rayner. He has written for major publishers including DC, Marvel, Image, and Top Cow, earning a reputation for strong storytelling and character-driven narratives.

Signings at the branch – 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. on April 16, 17, and 18.
Talk-Story Discussion – 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. on April 18 at Washington Middle School Cafeteria.

Phil Jimenez
May 14 – 16, 2026
McCully-Mōʻiliʻili Public Library

An award-winning comic book artist and writer celebrated for his detailed artwork and contributions to titles such as Wonder Woman, The Invisibles, and New X-Men. A longtime advocate for diversity and representation in comics, he is known for blending dynamic storytelling with inclusive, human-centered themes.

Signings at the branch – 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. on May 14, 15, and 16.
Talk-Story Discussion – 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. on May 16 at Washington Middle School Cafeteria.

Kazu Kibuishi
June 18 – 20, 2026
McCully-Mōʻiliʻili Public Library

Graphic novelist and illustrator best known as the creator of the bestselling Amulet series and the editor of the Flight anthologies. Renowned for his cinematic story-telling, imaginative worlds, and emotional depth, He has become a leading voice in contemporary graphic literature for readers of all ages.

Signings at the branch – 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. on June 18, 19, and 20.
Talk-Story Discussion – 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. on June 20 at Washington Middle School Cafeteria.

 

 

Books for Teachers

The Books for Teachers program has been a part of the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i (FLH) Annual Booksale for more than ten years through ongoing grants from The Renee B. Fisher Foundation. Due to the cancellation of the 73rd Annual Sale presented by Hawai‘i State Federal Credit Union, FLH, the Renee B. Fisher Foundation, and Hawai‘i State FCU have partnered to continue the program independent of the sale.

More than 400 public school teachers from Title 1 Elementary and Middle Schools across O’ahu will be invited to the FLH warehouse to choose books for their classrooms and students. Teachers may give the books to their students to build home libraries rather than lending them out during the pandemic.

Book categories to choose from include:

  • Children’s
  • Young Adult
  • Music
  • Comics
  • Reference
  • Nature
  • Education
  • Science

Due to limited funding, the first five teachers from each school will be confirmed on a first come, first served basis. Additional teachers from each school will be placed on a waitlist. There are enough funds and book inventory to support 400 classrooms.

Teachers must register for a pick up time. Up to ten teachers will be allowed every half hour to choose their books. Masks are required and gloves and sanitizer will be provided. Teachers should bring reusable bags for their books and are welcome to bring their own gloves. Eligible teachers can register here.*

*The password is available from your Principal.

Pick up dates are:

  • Saturday, October 3
  • Sunday, October 4
  • Saturday, October 10
  • Sunday, October 11
  • Saturday, October 17
  • Sunday, October 18

*Dates may be changed based on government orders.

Directions to the FLH Warehouse

Imagination Library – Moloka‘i

Kualapuʻu, Hawaiʻi – Hawai‘i’s first lady Dawn Amano-Ige, together with state and non-profit partners, has launched the ʻOhana Readers program on Molokaʻi on October 19, 2019. ʻOhana Readers is a literacy program that focuses on reading with family.

The program will offer high-quality, age-appropriate Imagination Library books each month to children on Moloka‘i who are four years old and younger. Children who register for the program will receive one book each month via the U.S. Postal Service beginning approximately eight to ten weeks after their registration form has been submitted. The program operates through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and is free of charge.

The program is made possible through a collaborative partnership between the Office of the Governor, the State Department of Human Services (DHS), the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System, Rep. Lynn DeCoite, and nonprofit partners The Dollywood Foundation, Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i, Learning to Grow, and Read to Me International.

Watch the Hawaii News Now interview about Molokai’s Imagination Library Project.

The Hawai‘i State Public Library System is encouraging families to register for the ‘Ohana Readers program. The Moloka‘i Public Library will also offer programs that complement the books the children receive, and will provide other activities to promote literacy and reading.

“Research shows that children are ready to learn in their earliest years, and this program provides no-cost opportunities for learning from birth through age four. ʻOhana Readers encourages family read-aloud time, an activity that increases the vocabulary and language skills of our children and contributes to their growing knowledge of the world,” said Amano-Ige.

“This program encourages the youngest members of our community to develop a love of reading that will be important throughout their entire lives. TheHawai‘i  State Public Library System is very excited to partner with theʻOhana Readers program by being a place for families to sign up their little ones for story times at the Molokai Public Library to complement the books being mailed out,” said State Librarian Stacey Aldrich.

“It truly takes an ‘ohana for children to thrive. This collaboration is aligned with our foundational vision; that the people of Hawai‘i are thriving. We know that early literacy builds a strong foundation for life-long learning. Family bonding and the ability to explore new worlds and ideas through literature is something all families should be afforded. DHS is proud to be a partner in this community driven effort,” said DHS Director Pankaj Bhanot.

“Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i is pleased to be part of a program that helps build a life-long love of reading at home with family,” said Nainoa Mau, executive director of Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i.

“Reading with our keiki is one of the best things we can do with them, and it’s something the whole family can be a part of. I am so happy that we are able to bring ‘Ohana Readers to Moloka‘i so our community can showcase this program to the rest of the state,” said Rep. Lynn DeCoite.

Amano-Ige said Molokaʻi serves as the pilot program for ʻOhana Readers and she hopes to further expand this program to other communities throughout the state.

The Molokaʻi program is funded throughWindward Community College’s Learning to Grow (LTG) project in partnership with the Hawai‘i State Department of Human Services through monies from the Federal Child Care and Development Block Grant.

For more information about the ʻOhana Readers program contact Caroline Adolpho, Moloka‘i administrator at (808) 567-9050  during office hours or email caroline.adolpho@hawaii.edu.

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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