Hawaiʻi State
Public Library System

“I am forever grateful to our public library system and the opportunities to learn and live and grow.”

I was born on O’ahu and moved all over the island, starting in Kapālama, then to Kaimukī, to Waialua, back to Kapālama, Waiʻanae, and currently both ‘Aiea and Nānākuli part time. While my home was always changing and I felt out of place like I didn’t belong anywhere, I found comfort in my local library. The first library I frequented was the Kalihi-Pālama location. Minutes from my house, I got my own library card when I was 5 years old and begged my parents to take me whenever possible. I discovered myself, lived thousands of lives between those 4 walls, it was my favorite place in the world. Whenever we moved, I made sure to locate the library and the best route there from my house. I was home among the pages, despite feeling disconnected from my actual house. As I’ve gotten older, this has not changed. Whenever I had to go somewhere, like work in Mōʻiliʻili or paddling practice in Waikīkī, visiting friends in Hawaiʻi Kai or my aunty in Kāneʻohe, the library was a pit stop, and I would get lost there for hours. I am forever grateful to our public library system and the opportunities to learn and live and grow. Living in Nānākuli now, I am so out of my mind jumping out of my skin excited for the new library that is being constructed. I know once the Nānākuli library is completed, I will definitely have found my way back home.

– Kamanukea

Kamanukea’s favorite book

Stargirl
Jerry Spinelli