Book lovers packed into Ward Centre on Saturday as the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i launched their 77th annual booksale, a nine-day hunt for bargains featuring more than 125,000 books, CDs and other media. Shoppers streamed into the former Roger Dunn/Famous Footwear space at the Ala Moana end of the mall, scooping up everything from children’s picture books to out-of-print Hawaiiana. With rotating inventory and special clearance days lined up, the long-running sale doubles as a neighborhood ritual and a major fundraiser for the state library system.
According to Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i, the sale runs June 13–21 at Ward Centre (1200 Ala Moana Blvd.) and features more than 125,000 titles across genres including manga, comics, music and film. Organizers say stock will be refreshed during the run so there are new finds each day.
Schedule, deals and highlights
Honolulu Magazine lays out the daily hours and special discount days, including a half-price event on Saturday, June 20 and a final-day everything-for-50-cents clearance on Sunday, June 21. The Creative City event calendar also flags a 10%-off day for teachers, librarians, military members and seniors on Wednesday, June 17, giving regulars a little extra incentive to time their visits.
Members, parking and preview night
Members of the Friends and Hawai‘i State Federal Credit Union get first crack at the stacks, with a members-only preview from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 12, per Hawai‘i State FCU. Free self-parking is available at the Ward Centre parking garage, according to the Ward Village listing for Village Books & Music, which should make hauling home those overstuffed boxes a little easier.
Why the sale matters
The booksale is the Friends’ biggest annual fundraiser, and the organization says proceeds support library programming and purchases across the state. The Hawai‘i State Public Library System operates 51 branches statewide, and local reporting has noted that hundreds of volunteers help sort donations and staff the event each year, turning the sale into a community-powered operation as much as a shopping spree.
The sale is unfolding as Ward Centre prepares to close later this month. Hawaii News Now reports the mall will shut at month’s end, and coverage and organizers note Village Books closed May 31 and plans to reopen at 610 Ward Ave in mid-July. For many regulars, that timeline makes this year’s sale feel like both a fundraiser and a farewell tour for a familiar shopping spot.
