The Upper Puna District is gearing up to welcome a significant addition to its community infrastructure. State and local dignitaries, alongside community supporters, marked the beginning of construction for a new public library on November 10. The ceremony included a traditional Hawaiian blessing led by Cultural Practitioner Kumu Moses Kahoʻokele Crabbe, which aimed to pay respects to the land and to seek blessings for the upcoming project, detailed in an announcement published by the Governor's Office.
State Librarian Stacey A. Aldrich was present to put forth the vision of the library as a future community nexus. According to the Governor’s Office, she explained that the facility is designed to be a true "hub for reading, learning and connecting," set to feature expanded space for collections and flexible arrangements to swiftly adapt to ever-changing community necessities. The planned structure will include modular shelving, a tech lab, and rentable spaces to facilitate a broad spectrum of educational programs and events.
A poignant moment during the groundbreaking paid homage to Maxine Aki, the late manager of the Keaʻau Public and School Library, who passed before the library project could take off the ground. In recognition of her contributions, a room within the new library will be dedicated in her memory, as revealed by Aldrich.
The upcoming one-story library will encompass 13,885 square feet and is situated on the vacant lot next door to the Keaʻau Public and School Library. Its construction, running a bill at $20 million, is projected to span at least two years. Once open, it will merge the services currently provided by Keaʻau and Mountain View Public and School Libraries, thus streamlining resources to better service the entire Upper Puna community, as per the Governor’s Office announcement.
