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Big Island of Hawai'i's 2026 Heluhelu Quiz Bowl
We are just two weeks away from the Big Island Heluhelu Quiz Bowl! We have 15 teams registered with some 83 participants (plus five 8th grade student coaches from Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi - how sweet to have former participants return to coach their younger schoolmates!). We are looking forward to having Kristiana Kahakauwila, author of Clairboyance (and an adult book This is Paradise - see the book review below). Participants will each receive a signed copy of Claireboyance and winning teams will receive gift certificates from some Island sponsors - we are keeping those prizes a secret for the moment.
Please come out and support all of the Participants in this years Heluhelu Quiz Bowl being held
April 16, 2026 at the Kahilu Town Center in Waimea.
For more information on our Heluhelu Quiz Bowl, please see our link here!
Chapter's Monthly Book Review - This is Paradise, by Kristiana Kahakauwila
This is Ms. Kahakauwilaʻs powerful debut collection of short stories, originally published in 2013. The stories cover the many facets of life here in Hawaiʻi, from the tensions between locals and tourists, Hawaiian traditions and inheritances, and a contemporary view of Hawaiʻi. I cannot do more than provide Joyce Carol Oatesʻ review of This is Paradise:
“Vividly imagined, beautifully written, at times almost unbearably suspenseful—the stories in Kristiana Kahakauwila’s debut collection, This Is Paradise, are boldly inventive in their exploration of the tenuous nature of human relations. These are poignant stories of ‘paradise’—Hawai'i—with all that ‘paradise’ entails of the transience of sensuous beauty.”
2026 Friends of the Library - Waikoloa Region FLWR Walk/Run and Auction Update
As one of the key literacy projects of Friends of the Library (FLWR) - Waikoloa Region, the 2026 FLWR 5K Walk/Run for Literacy held on Saturday, February 7th was a fun-filled morning. The ticket sales and auction raised funds that will support the bookmobile, interactive activities for children and adults, funds for supporting future library, and Literacy Projects on The Big Island of Hawai'i's future.
Contributors and volunteers made the difference. Mahalo to everyone who participated. With the support of our community the success 2026 walk/run raised over $10,000 towards FLWR's initiatives that support literacy.
SHOUT OUT TO Our Platinum Contributors for their Generous Donations to our 5K Event:
C.J. Kale
Waikoloa Development, Co.
Waikoloa Green, LLC
We'd also Love to thank our Beyond the Start/Finish Line Volunteers and all the behind the scenes people who helped make this event such a wonderful success!
Why We Run:
Did you know 1 in 5 adults nationwide struggles with basic literacy? That means reading a job application, understanding a prescription, or helping their child with homework can be a daily challenge. At The Literacy Project of FLWR, we believe literacy changes lives. Join us next year in making that change possible—one step, one book, and one learner at a time.
Want to get involved? go to flwrhi.org
Together, We Ran the Distance for Literacy!
A massive THANK YOU to everyone who laced up their sneakers, donated their time, and opened their hearts for our annual Friends of the Library Waikoloa Region (FLWR) 5k Walk/Run for Literacy. Because of your energy and generosity, this year’s event was a resounding success!
"Literacy is a bridge to hope."
Waikoloa Reads is looking for a new location in Waikoloa Village
Waikoloa reads is looking for a new permanent home here in the Village. If you know of a Great space where this wonderful event can be held, please reach out. For now current members of the group will be updated of the next location. This is a FREE "Drop-Everything-and-Read!" gathering! For all ages -- keiki through kupuna.
This event is held normally on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 3:30-4:45pm @ Waikōloa Reads! If you are interested in attending, please reach out to Tanya at: https://linktr.ee/BigIslandReads or you can email for more information at BigIslandReads@gmail.com. For more information go to:
https://www.librarieshawaii.org/summerreading/
"When we read together, we connect. Together, we see the world. Together, we see each other."
- author Kate DiCamillo
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Meet other readers -- without the commitment of a traditional book club.
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Enjoy unplugged downtime.
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Celebrate reading with family and friends.
BYOBooks or whatever you're reading, or borrow from our book collection. We will keep updating the Waikoloa Reads information here in Chapters as well!
A collaborative project by Hawai'i Community College @ Pālamanui and Friends of the Library - Waikōloa.
Bookmobile Notes
Heartfelt Mahalo to Our Amazing Volunteers!
A huge mahalo to our dedicated volunteers! Your hard work is the driving force behind the bookmobile, and we are incredibly fortunate to have you on the team. This past April, our volunteers logged a total of 75.5 hours, ensuring our community stays connected through the joy of reading.
We are always looking for new faces to help us grow. If you have a passion for service, consider joining our team! We ask for a small commitment of just 1–2 hours per week (ideally on a set day).
For more information or to sign up, please reach out to us at bookmobile@flwrhi.org.
Keiki Spring Event
Join us on Saturday April 18th from 10am til Noon for our next Keiki Event. We will be planting some seeds to take home to start your garden and continuing to work on our "Hands-On" Banner. And as always there will be snacks and drinks to keep everyone energized and books to take home to read later. Hope to see you all there.
Book Donation Reminders
A huge thank you to all of you who generously donate books! Your support truly helps us keep our collection vibrant.
While we sincerely appreciate every donation, we have very limited space, and we must ensure our collection remains current and appealing for everyone. To make sure your kind donations can be accepted and used, we kindly ask that you strictly follow these important guidelines:
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Age Limit: Books must be less than 10 years old.
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Condition: All donations must be in good, clean condition.
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We Cannot Accept: Please do not donate textbooks or magazines.
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Drop-Off Location: Please hand donations directly to a volunteer or place them inside the bookmobile. Do not leave donations outside the vehicle, as they can be damaged.
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Supervision: For safety, all children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Thank you so much for understanding and helping us maintain a wonderful collection!
- Donna Konie
Our new book acquisition will be placed in the Bookmobile. Look for this label on the book cover.
The bookmobile is open every day from 9am - 5pm (weather permitting)
Please return borrowed books to the donations bin inside the bookmobile.
Contact us at: bookmobile@flwrhi.org
GET THE LATEST UPDATES ON
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Waikoloa Library Updates
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Monthly Book and Beverage
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Bookmobile Notes
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Big Island Heluhelu Quiz Bowl
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Volunteers are Needed!
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FL-WR Board of Directors seeking new Director of Fundraising
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FL-WR Book Club Coordinator Needed
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If interested, please contact FL-WR Board President, Micheal Gaston at: president@flwrhi.org
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