THE READING ROOM OF HOʻOKENA.

The Reading Room at Hoʻokena has been opened for the benefit of everyone who visits; it is a room behind the Post Office and the Office of Taxation here in Hoʻokena.

This room was built by the one named below because of the encouragement and the support of the esteemed Theodore Richards, former principal of Kamehameha School; and the assistance of the gentlemen below for pledging their help every month to pay for the wages of the one who guards the room. And it is to them that I give my highest appreciation for their kind hearts and so too to the esteemed Mr. Theo. Richards, who is providing some newspaper issues as well as entertaining and educational literature.

This room was established for the benefit of the public as seen below.

1. For the benefit of the children who wander about other people’s doorways at night with michievous thoughts because they have nowhere to spend time after their usual day’s work is done. This will become a place to lounge, read, and maybe look at pictures; this will then prevent their thoughts to deface.
2. A place to become educated by reading many stories, educational books, books on trade, scientific books, political ideas, news, and so on.
3. Collecting all types of books into a single room, saves money for the person who wants all the knowledge found in books and newspapers.
4. The reading room is a quick help for those in the business of law, teaching, priesthood, farming, trade, and so forth.
5. It is a blessing for the poor, who cannot supply themselves with books and newspapers.

Just like the strength of a fire’s heat when you gather together charcoal or perhaps charred wood in one place, likewise are the benefits from gathering books and newspapers into one room. If left apart here and there, they would not be beneficial.

The gentlemen who have given a helping hand to support this educational endeavor for this year in motion, 1899, are:

The esteemed ones, Judge Thomas H. Wright, $6.00; Deputy Sheriff S. Lazaro, $6.00; O. M. Kekuewa, $6.00; H. J. Ahu, $6.00; G. Kauhaihao, $3.00; Joseph K. Kaupu, $3.00; John Nahinu, $3.00; George P. Kamauoha, $3.00; Mrs. A. Miller, $2.00; John S. Kauwe, $3.00.

They are the open-hearted ones who gave assistance prior to the opening of the reading room. I don’t think that only they have hearts filled with gifts of kindness and aloha for their people, but I believe that there are many more in this tiny town, and in the outer districts and islands.

I believe that should the esteemed William C. Achi hears of this educational effort, he will send all of his newspapers to this room after he is done reading them; not only his newspapers, but his books as well.

In the year 1897, His Excellency William D. Alexander sent two educational books along with entertaining stories for children and they were brought into this room for its benefit; the heart of someone of foreign blood and not of this race has already opened up; how could it be that we will lack the loving assistance from the hearts of Hawaiʻi’s own, the bone of our bone, the flesh of our flesh; whereas the blessings from establishing this reading room will be for them.

I have faith in the aid and goodwill donations of aloha to support this reading room from the other districts and islands, with books, newspapers and perhaps small amounts of money in order to properly supply the needs of this reading room. That is with lamps, oil, desks, chairs, bookcases, a guard, and other things to make the visitor comfortable.

With hope that this becomes a room that benefits the public.

With appreciation,

T. K. R. Amalu,
Hoʻokena, February 13, 1899.