The Beginning

 

The nineteenth century was a period of immigration to the Hawaiian Islands from America and Europe. The families brought books with them and shared them with their friends including native Hawaiians who were learning to read and write. With a limited number available, the sharing of books became a part of everyday life and reading circles and clubs were formed. 

 

In 1901, a reading room was established at the Alexander House Settlement building in Wailuku and it was opened to the public. Later, a facility in Lahaina, the Baldwin House Settlement, provided a similar service for west Maui. These reading rooms were sponsored by the Congregational Churches of Maui and although the books were not exclusively religious, reading was encouraged by the church as a wholesome activity. 

 

In late 1911, a group of about twenty-five citizens met to consider how they might form an organization to establish a true public library for the island. A committee chaired by Rev. Rowland B Dodge was appointed to draw up a constitution and by-laws. On January 8, 1912, the members met and approved these regulations and the Maui Library Association began its work. 

 

The 88th Annual Report of the Hawaii Evangelical Association of 1915 contains this paragraph: 

 

The Library, which for years has been struggling for existence, is now in the hands of the Maul Library Association. The Settlement gives the use of the rooms, provides a janitor and furnishes lights and magazines for the reading room. The Maui Library Associations constantly supporting the Library with new books and also pays the salary of the librarian. This cooperation with the Library Association Is making it possible for the English reading public to have good books for home reading and free use of the reading room. Mrs. Cora C. Gossin, the librarian, is a resident of Alexander House Settlement and has proven to be a great help to the work in many ways. 

 

The library was open to the public but only members who paid annual dues of two or four dollars were allowed to borrow one or two books at a time. At first, the number of books available was limited to those donated by interested citizens. The salary of the librarian was paid by the Association and the annual budget for new books and supplies was set at $350.

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The limited supply of books was alleviated in 1913. The library in Honolulu which was established with funds from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation was opened as the Library of Hawaii and its objective was to provide books for all of the Islands. Boxes of fifty to one hundred volumes were shipped to the Alexander House Settlement and other stations around the Island. These books would remain for a period of time and then returned to Honolulu. In July, 1913, the Association sponsored an exhibition of a well-known photographer, J.Linker. Slides of beautiful scenery throughout the islands, some of them in color, impressed the audience at the Kahului Lyceum. The proceeds helped to defer the costs of transporting the books between Oahu and Maui.

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By 1914, there were over 100 members of the library, and it continued to grow.

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A new era began in 1919 when the Maui Women's Club was organized. One of its aims was to promote the establishment of a free county library. They lobbied for their goal with the Territorial Legislature which enacted a bill for this purpose in 1921. The Maui Board of Supervisors established a special committee, which recommended the purchase of a property at Wells and High Streets in Wailuku. The existing building, a private residence was remodeled and opened as Maui County Free Library on September 14, 1921. All of the books purchased by the Association and those provided by the Library of Hawaii were used as the initial stock. Another more extensive alteration was made and when it reopened in January, 1922, it had a large reading room, a children's area, rest room, office and work room. By June of that year, there was a circulation of over 17,000 books, 19 school branches, 7 community branches, 750 card holders and a collection of over 3000 books. 

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Further Expansion of Services

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The Maui County Free Library became so popular that the building was soon Inadequate to house the books and provide the services. The Legislature approved the construction of a new building, which was complete in 1929.

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During this period, books were distributed to several sites in the county, which were first called stations and then branches. These were facilities which had developed in previous years as reading circles or clubs and were in locations such as post offices, churches, schools and plantation buildings. In order to deliver a supply of books to these places, the library purchased a Ford panel truck which made regular runs around the island. It can be thought of as the first "Bookmobile" on Maui.

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The "branches" soon began to evolve into independent libraries. At Hana, where the books were integrated with the school, a room in the Kaeleku Sugar Mill gymnasium became the Hana Branch Library, opening in May of 1922. Other locations followed until today when there are eight libraries serving the people of Maui County.

 

The Maui Library Association, having accomplished its mission, became inactive. There was still support given to libraries but it was of a different nature. Interested individuals helped their neighborhood institution by serving as a volunteer or donating books or other reading material. Unfortunately, no record exists of this assistance, but we know that it was a significant effort.

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Advent of the Maui Friends of the Library

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In 1957, group of citizens got together and formed an organization they called Friends of the Maui County Free Library. These farsighted and dedicated people were as follows:

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• President: Kay Boyum, Wailuku 

• 1st Vice President: Paul Van Zwalenburg, Pu’unene 

• 2nd Vice President: Stephen Okada, Kahului 

• Secretary: Virginia Wirtz, Wailuku 

• Treasurer: Henry Vincent, Waiakoa 

• Membership Chair: Jane Taura, Wailuku 

• Program Chair: Eileen Webster, Pu’unene 

• Publicity Chair: Nora Cooper, Kahului 

• Projects Chair: Mary Ellen Lindley, Kihei 

• Legislative Chair: Toshlo Ansai, Wailuku 

• Book Sales Chair: Cecilla Kern, Kahului

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On June 16, 1957, a Charter of Incorporation was granted to the "Friends of the Maui County Free Library," signed by Mr. H. H. Adams, Treasurer of the Territory of Hawaii, and approved by Peter A. Aduja, Deputy Attorney General and Samuel Wilder King, Governor of the Territory of Hawaii, with a stated duration of fifty years. The word "Free" has since been dropped from our name, and we are now known as Maui Friends of the Library. 

The MFOL mission has not changed since the charter was issued in 1957, and is as follows:

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The objects and purposes of the corporation shall be to assist in maintaining the Maul County Free Library as a free public library; to promote the extension of library services throughout the County of Maui; to increase the facilities of the Maui County Free Library by securing the materials beyond the command of the ordinary library budget; and to enrich the cultural opportunities available to the people of Maui.

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In 1957, although the exact date is not known, the Friends began to sell donated used books as a principal source of funds. Arrangements were made with the management of Kahului Shopping Center to set up 4-6 large tables adjacent to Ah Fook's supermarket. Books were laid out in several categories and volunteers would stand by to take donations, make change and answer questions. The sale would last three or four days, usually including a weekend. A cover might be used to protect the books overnight but they were fair game for anyone. Surprisingly, there was very little pilferage and money would often be found on the tables in the morning. Storage of donated books was a continuing problem but it was solved when lge Warehouse offered us the use of some space.

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Much has happened in the 55 years since the organization began its work. Records for the early years are not available, but here is a chronological list of significant events in which the Friends had a part:

 

1984 Herman and Joyce Adalist arranged for MFOL to open their first book store at the lge Warehouse on Waiehu Beach Road. 

 

1989 The Friends were invited to take over the Artful Dodger, a used book store in the A&B building opposite Maui Mall, which the owners had abandoned. The stock of paperbacks and hard cover books were sold at rock bottom prices In two weeks. 

 

1990 Mary Helen Ivey was elected President. She had been operating a library in Kihei with donated books and a volunteer staff and was named Chairman of the Maul Library Advisory Commission which was working on plans for the construction of a new Kihei Library. Herman and Joyce Adalist arranged for the store to be moved to an unused building behind the old school in Pu’unene. Alyce Haines began weekly readings for children at the Kahului Library. She was also involved in Reading is Fundamental (RIF), a National program which MFOL supports. 

 

1993 The Friends began to provide books for Inmates at the Maui Community Correction Center. 

 

1994 Andrew Bonfield was elected President The organization published its first newsletter. A site in Kihei was picked for the construction of the new library. It will be the first such facility to be built by the State in many years. 

 

1996 The Kihei Library opened. 

 

1998 Andrew Bonfield departed Maui and Mary Helen Ivey was elected President. A joint project with Rotary International sent 7,000 books to Russian orphanages. Herman and Joyce Adalist received the National Golden Rule award honoring their outstanding contributions to the community, including a check for $250.

 

1999 A total of $1000 was given to each library branch to compensate for reduced support from the State. A program called "Reading Magic" was produced for showing on the Akaku public TV channel and copies were provided for the libraries, A donation of $500 was given to the newly opened Katz Library in honor of former active friends Suzi and Mitch Katz who were killed in an airplane accident two years earlier. 

 

2000 The State announced that no new books would be purchased this year due to financial problems. The Friends gave each branch $1000 for this purpose. MFOL joined the Hawaii Library Association. 

 

2002 Hertha Orzula was elected President. MFOL joined the Center for the Book, a part of the Library of Congress. A financial crisis caused a curtailment of Library hours throughout the State. Members were urged to con- tact Legislators so that some funding could be restored. Another gift of $1000 was made to each branch in Maui County. 

 

2003 MFOL sent two branch managers to a seminar in Honolulu. There was a further cut in financing, resulting in another reduction in operating hours. 

 

2004 A grant was given to the Maui Historical Society to fund a project for the indexing of the Maui News from 1951 to 1973. We had previously given $1,700 for an index of 1900-1950 editions. 

 

2005 Jan Van Zwalenburg became President. Each library was given $1,000. In addition, two special gifts outside of Maui County were given as a result of disastrous flooding and $500 to the Louisiana Library Relief Fund. 

 

2006 John Clark was elected President. The name of the Pu’unene store was changed to MFOL Used Books. 

 

2007 Support for the Maui Historical Society continued. Mary Helen Ivey was honored as Director Emeritus. Ed Heller took over as editor of the newsletter, replacing Bob Gilroy. The MFOL charter was renewed with the phrase "The duration of the incorporation shall be in perpetuity." The store closed for two months for a major renovation. 

 

2008 As a result of receiving a major legacy, the sum of $8,000 was awarded to each of the eight libraries. The renovation of the store was completed. A special event at the store in which many free books were given away was a big success.

 

2009 The state proposed drastic financial cuts and the possible closure of some branches. A call for action to prevent this was announced. A new program was begun to provide a scholarship fund of $2,000 for Maui County residents working for a degree in a Library and Information Science Studies program. Three applications were approved. 

 

2010 Dorothy Tolliver was elected President. The operating hours of libraries throughout the state were further reduced with the advent of "Furlough Days". MFOL received a bequest of $205,000 from the C. Bruce Staiger estate plus $40,000 from his widow, Anne. A joint program began with the Rotary Club to refurbish the Lahaina library. With support from the Edwards Kihei Library Trust, MFOL purchased an automated checkout system for both Klhel and Lahalna branches. 

 

2011 The Kahulul Library reopened after an extended renovation project. The joint effort with Rotary to improve the Lahaina Library continued. MFOL had a huge book sale at the Kahului Shopping Center, using the stock of the Lahaina Book Emporium donated by Tom and Machele Stabler. In ten days of operation, proceeds were close to $10,000. Whole Foods offered space In front of their Kahului location to sell books. Secretary Sharon Woodall set up and managed this operation with great success. A second MFOL Used Book Store was given a grand opening in Lahaina at the Wharf Cinema Center on December 27. With JoAnn Carroll as the manager and a group of willing volunteers, this enterprise has had a very successful beginning.

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2012 The Atherton Family Foundation contributed $30,000 toward the renovation of the Lahaina library which was scheduled to begin in July. Also in July, MFOL opened a store in the Queen Ka'ahumanu shopping center, destined to bring the book sales to a much higher level. 

 

There were many events, most of them happy ones, which occurred during the MFOL years. We have tried to set down the most significant, but someone who is interested in more details could find them at MFOL's web site: http://www.mfol.org 

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Sources of material for this history: 

 

• The Development of Public Library Service in the County of Maui by Sakiko Okubo, 1941. This booklet may be found in the reference department of the Kahului Public Library. 

• Past issues of the MFOL Newsletter, edited and published by Bob Gilroy (1998-2006) and Ed Heller (2007-2012). Copies of this publication may be found at the MFOL website http://www.mfol.org 

• Photographs and text were taken from the 88th Annual Report of the Hawaii Evangelical Association, the files of the Maui Historical Society, and from members of the MFOL Board of Directors. 

• News articles taken from The Maui News files by Dorothy Tolliver