Pahoa Library Overdue

[Punaperson]

Responding to Kalakoa: Your ideas of what current libraries are, and what services they provide seems to be quite dated. It might be useful for you to look at the state library system's website, and see the multitude of formats used to provide information, the services provided, and what anchors the branches are for their communities.

Your comment "a climate-controlled building for paper books seems like a bad investment" is off the mark. Pahoa Library does not have air conditioning. During both the 2014 and 2018 eruptions, the paper books did just fine, as the evolving collection had for the previous 50 years of the library's existence. It was the public and staff computers, and the wifi equipment , that suffered extensive damage from the highly acidic vog. The library system's IT techs who kept the only free 24/7 wifi in the area up and running, especially during the entire 2018 eruption, worked above and beyond requirements and expectations, never once using the excuse of "waiting for parts from the mainland".

[Olohana 1790]

maybe you clowns can go Library and check out a book on native plants and learn something for a change.. they have them all, even the rare rare old books.. Ive read them all a dozen + times each.. you try..
then trey the Hawaiian History Books Davida Malo kine.... maybe learn something... aroha

first lesson... know WHY we dont have a Hawaiian Kingdom anymore and who was responsible..
hint.... a greedy David who was elected King fauked all of us.... in reality...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tong_Kee

[AaronM]

Some things never change around here, Bribery being one of those things...

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

a greedy David who was elected King
…
The king's defense later claimed that the gifts were free-will offerings from Aki and that the money was accepted reluctantly by the king.

I get it.  I know I’d be reluctant to accept $71,000 in cash secretly brought into my home, considering the full amount was supposed to be $75,000.  In untraceable cash.

[Punaperson]

I'm not as plugged in to the coconut wireless as I once was, but maybe someone on here has heard more recent/better whisperings than I have.

Before announcing his run for governor, I had heard that Kahele was talking to the post office people about relocating to the old Malama Market location, using the argument that it would be faster and cheaper than going through the process of building a new one. Then I heard that for various reasons, the Feds quashed that idea.

I've now recently heard that the same old Malama Market space is being considered for the Pahoa Library. I am all for it. Reconfiguring the inside space would be much faster and cheaper than going through the process from 'buying land, infrastructure, etc." The parking is more than 10x the existing library lot. There is nighttime lighting for the safety of both patrons and staff. It's on a major transportation route/hub. I could go on and on about why I think it's a very good idea, but I want to know if anyone else has heard of this possibility. It's an election year, and the opportunity of bringing this up to candidates running for office will never be better.

[punikahakaiferret]

I'm definitely not plugged in to the coconut wireless...last I'd heard, Ace was going to move into the old Malama spot and the post office into Ace's old spot. As for the library...somewhere near the police/fire station?

No matter what, something needs to happen re: post office. It is simply beyond comprehension; the daily line there, and that people are *still* having to line up and wait to get their mail after 3 years.

Seems Puna /Pahoa still haven't figured it out, that if you *don't* build it (alternate route, larger post office, you-name-it other useful project), it won't stop people from coming here...it'll just make it suck all the worse for everyone.

[DaVinci]

that miniskirt really tied the room together...

The Dude abides…

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Update on Pahoa Library, meetings planned:

The first event will be at Maku‘u Farmers Market, located at 15-2131 Kea‘au Pāhoa Rd. in Pāhoa, on Feb. 26 from 7 a.m. to noon. The community meeting will take place March 1 at the Pāhoa Neighborhood Facility, located at 15-0322 Kauhale St., from 6-8 p.m.

A display with information about the project and ways to provide comments will also be available at Pāhoa Public Library starting Feb. 27. The community can learn about the project and provide comments through the project website: http://pahoatransithub.info/.

https://bigislandnow.com/2023/02/23/publ...d-library/

[kalakoa]

The former Malama Market will remain empty until someone is willing to pay the lease terms.

[Punaperson]

First, thanks HOTPE for bringing this up. Many things important to the Pahoa community don't get enough attention in time for input. This is important.

While I have major reservations about tying the library site to the bus transit hub (noise, the general working relationship between the county and the state on projects), it is what it is, and we definitely need a new community centered modern library. Many recent residents may not realize how vital the Pahoa Library has been during recent catastrophes. Being a statewide system paid for by state income taxes, not local property taxes like every other place on the mainland, it gives us equal access to all the state resources. It was the only free 24/7 free wifi available during the last eruption in the area, as an example of one of the many services provided. ( Having had several beers, I won't prattle on about how many wonderful resources (( databases, newspapers, magazines, language learning )) I have used to keep my sanity not only during the covid lockdown but also during the rains of the last week ).

Having looked at the sites on various county and state pages, it has been whittled down to 3. It seems to me that of the ones left up for consideration, the one on the Pahoa side of the shopping center ( #8 ) is the best choice at this point. The one at the lights ( #2 ), across from Longs, is already a busy intersection, and I can't see the busses making that turn easily in either direction. The last one still in the running ( #9 ), just seems it would add extra walking distance from the shopping distance, and is only 5+ acres instead of the 10 of the other two. My guess would be the extra space would come out of available parking, which would impact any community programs or events.

Again, while I'm hesitant about any project that requires county and state co-ordination, I think this is one that I hope the community supports.

PS to kalakoa: it seems Malama Market still being vacant has more to do with the terms they are asking for in the lease than the amount of interest of various parties using the space.