FLWRHI.ORG
Friends of the Library - Talk Story
Thank you so much to all of you who attended the screening and discussion of Voices Behind Barbed Wire: Stories of Hawaii.
It was a great afternoon. The video and the discussion were thought provoking. We hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did bringing it to you.
Save the Date: November 18th will be our next Talk Story Program with Captain Kimo, Looking forward to seeing you all there.
Calling All Handy Volunteers: Help Us Save the Pergola! 🛠️
The Friends of the Library Bookmobile team needs a little handy help! We’ve been doing our best to keep up with repairs on the outdoor pergola and picnic benches, but it’s officially time to call in someone with more experience.
If you have carpentry skills and would be willing to lend a hand with repairing and painting the pergola and picnic area, we would be so grateful for your help!
Interested in volunteering? Please reach out to us at bookmobile@flwrhi.org.
Chapter's Monthly Book Review
Everything to the Sea
Author: Alicia Upano
By David Giff
I would be happy to lend my copy to anyone - but I will hound the borrower until I get my copy back. This is one for my permanent book collection. A first edition - I pay attention to that stuff.
This is an achingly beautiful romance set in Hilo during and after a fictional tsunami in current times. It creates the tsunami based upon the tsunami that Hilo has experienced in history, so the setting and the town are absolutely believable - a requisite for me for a fiction.
I admit to not being a huge fan of romances, but I couldn’t resist being drawn in to the story of Jane, hoping to leave her home environment she feels is suffocating, and Kenji, former high school mate who stays and only wants to work in construction and stay in his ‘ohana - both personally and the greater ‘ohana of community.
As this tsunami collides with Hilo once again, the lives of Jane and Kenji cross paths, move apart, and cross again and again.
What else is a romance novel?
But Upano is so accurate and moving in her prose - her descriptions of Hilo, especially, are easily pictured in my mind from my familiarity to Hilo. Her tsunami descriptions are definitely based on reality - in the Author’s Note among others, she acknowledges Walter Dudley and the Tsunami Museum in Hilo - Does anyone remember when Dr. Dudley’s presentation to the Friends of the Library - Waikōloa Region talk he gave a couple of years ago?
I leave any review of the romance aspect to someone who has more experience with that genre, but I can say I liked both characters. Sweet, interested, but maybe struggling with philosophies, words outspoken, missed meanings in conversations.
Like I said at the beginning, if you want to borrow my copy - let me know.
Available at the Bookmobile.
david giff
Mahalo to David Giff for always coming up with our Monthly Book Reviews - we truly appreciate it!
Bookmobile Notes
A Heartfelt Mahalo to Our Amazing Volunteers! ❤️
Your hard work is the true driving force behind the bookmobile, and we are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated team. This summer, our volunteers went above and beyond by stepping up to cover extra shifts while others were away on vacation. September has come and gone and things have settled back into our normal routine. Your willingness to pitch in whenever needed is appreciated more than you know. You are the best.
We Need a Little Extra Help!
We are currently looking for one or two volunteers to help open and close the bookmobile (operating hours are 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily).
This is a wonderful, quick way to support the community—especially if you live in the nearby condos! You could easily open or close the bookmobile as part of your regular morning or evening walk. If you are interested please contact us at Bookmobile@flwrhi.org
Save the Date!
Our next keiki event will be on Saturday, November 14th, 10 AM til noon. We will be celebrating the Fall season by decorating pumpkins, turkeys and leaves ( all foam of course). As always there will be books to choose from and snacks to munch on.
Want to Join the Fun?
We are always looking for friendly faces to help our program grow. If you have a passion for community service, consider joining our team! We ask for just a small commitment of 1–2 hours per week (ideally on a set day).
Get in Touch: Reach out to us at bookmobile@flwrhi.org for more information or to sign up today!
📚 Book Donation Reminders
A huge thank you to everyone who generously donates books! Your support helps us keep our collection vibrant and appealing for all our readers.
Because we have very limited space, we need to ensure our collection stays current and in great shape. To make sure we can accept and utilize your donations, please keep these quick guidelines in mind:
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Age Limit: Books should be less than 10 years old.
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Condition: Please ensure all donations are in clean, gently-used condition.
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What We Can't Accept: Textbooks, magazines, workbooks, and jigsaw puzzles.
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Drop-Off: Please hand donations directly to a volunteer or place them safely inside the bookmobile. (Items left outside the vehicle can easily be damaged!)
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Safety First: For the safety of our little ones, please make sure all children are accompanied by an adult at all times.
Thank you so much for your understanding and continued support of our 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
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Waikoloa Library Updates
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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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