Vandalism at the Library

Our historic Molokai Public Library, built in 1937, is a wahi pana and pu’uhonua for our island. It is truly a hale, hosting guests and making people feel at home. We have all come to enjoy the cool comfort of its interior, an escape from the fierce Kaunakakai heat, the free WiFi provided both inside and out, the helpful staff who go above and beyond for our community members, and the plethora of information, community programming and valuable resources housed within. 

The Library’s lawn has hosted many special events and is home to the distinct “Pule Oʻo” copper sculpture by Bumpei Akaji, Nisei Veteran, installed in 1973. The Mala Pulelehua, “Butterfly Garden,” installed on the Makai side of the lawn in 2014, provides a safe habitat for the 1850’s introduced Monarch Butterfly, which enjoys the Pua Kalaunu, Crown Flower, our Queen Lili’uokalani’s favorite. It was created by Chevy Levasa and more than 30 organizations and people, including our Molokai Boy Scouts, and Friends of the Library, who help maintain it today. 

Sadly, on Feb. 22, someone vandalized our library grounds, tearing down our third grade reading program banner, toppling the plants on and around the porch, disturbing the edging rocks, knocking down the garden’s sign, and uprooting and bending the benches which have had to be removed. These benches were donated by a local family to honor their grandmother, and all grandmothers, providing a place for our kupuna and community to sit and enjoy the garden and watch the butterflies at play.

Aunty Wanda, our hardworking and dedicated groundskeeper, has been hard at work cleaning up the mess and the many other unpleasant things left around the grounds. Please kokua and makaʻala, help and keep watch, by reporting any disturbances you may see when no one is home at our Hale Waihona Puke, library. We want to continue to keep our puʻuhonua safe and clean for everyone to enjoy and will need your help to malama. Mahalo to the many hearts and hands that continue to malama our library.

A hui hou,

Anne Steinke
BSW Practicum Student