Makiki finally gets support for long-suffering library

Talking is good, action is better. After decades of denials, bureaucratic passive-aggressiveness and just neglect, Makiki may finally join the Hawaii communities enjoying a real state library.

Back when Frank Fasi was mayor and Neil Abercrombie was in the state Legislature, Makiki was in the running for a new state library because even back in the 1970s, Makiki was one of the most densely populated areas of Honolulu.

The state Department of Education, which runs the library system, decided against Makiki. Fasi, a longtime Makiki resident and blessed with a superb sense of political timing, knew a slight when he saw it and made sure everyone in Honolulu knew how Makiki denizens were being disrespected.

Soon Abercrombie, also a wily political counter-puncher, joined up with Fasi, telling the state, "We don’t need your library. We will make our own."

So in 1976, Mayor Fasi ordered city crew to help open the Makiki Community Library at the unused Hawaii Sugar Planters Association library building on Keeaumoku.

It worked. Using federal funds, the city hired a librarian and later added two assistants. It was never fancy or state-of-the-art, but it was the community’s library and the residents of Makiki loved it, because they helped create it and sustain it.

By 1996, the city was forced to stop and the library became a nonprofit living on donations.

Still it survived.

The library’s website says the building was "a focal point for various activities answering community needs. Cooking and drama classes were offered."

The "little library that could" had 30,000 books and boasted an annual patronage of more than 6,000 visitors.

Politicians appropriated much money to help, but little was ever actually spent. In 2005, the library was a neglected, dilapidated wreck. A state appropriation of $4.5 million was not spent because former Gov. Linda Lingle said it was a city facility and not the state’s.

Today, Acting Gov. Shan Tsutsui is announcing that a $250,000 appropriation is being released to start a search for a real Makiki library maybe on the existing site, maybe not.

Manoa Democratic Sen. Brian Taniguchi, who guided much of the work to rebuild the Manoa Library, is working with Rep. Della Au Belatti to push the planning forward.

Keith Fujio, special assistant to the state librarian, said the money will go to hire a consultant who will survey the area, look at what sort of library is needed, look at alternatives to the Makiki site and also look at the problems with the 67-year-old structure.

Suzanne Ivey, president of the Friends of Makiki Community Library, says the library board "is excited about the movement," adding that "Makiki deserves a state-of-the-art facility that will continue to house educational and community programs."

Taniguchi is thinking a new library can do many things. He said perhaps there is a way to actually rebuild an entire new community library and community center on the footprint of the old buildings.

"If there is a way to take off on honoring the original work done by the sugar planters association and move forward with a plan for the community, that might work," he said.

Makiki, with more than 30,000 tightly packed residents, needs the library and the opportunity it would offer. After years of being told "no," just planning for a future building is a good thing.

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Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.