A colorful, squat building in Kakaako where volunteers collect and sort donated books to support Hawaii’s public libraries is expected to be torn down this year to make way for a high-rise.

The Friends of the Library of Hawaii needs a new home for its volunteers for a few years until construction is complete at the new development known as 690 Pohukaina, where it has been promised space so it can return.

"The governor has allocated 5,000 square feet for us in the new building, so we’re very excited," said Byrde Cestare, executive director of the nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. "We are just temporarily displaced, for three or four years. This location is going to be unavailable as early as June of this year. We have to move."

The Hawaii Community Development Authority has chosen Forest City Enterprises Inc. to construct either a rental apartment tower that could be the tallest in the state at 650 feet, or two shorter buildings, on state land on Pohukaina Street.

The Friends of the Library has been at the site next to Mother Waldron Park for more than 15 years, Cestare said, and has enjoyed free rent for the 5,000-square-foot facility because its mission is to raise money for the state’s 50 libraries by selling donated books. It hopes to find a similar-size space in the downtown area with parking — at little or no rent if possible.

"We don’t want much," Cestare exclaimed with a laugh, adding that she remains hopeful that something will come through.

"There are buildings that seem to be vacant forever," she said. "Why not put one to good use? We are hoping someone out there will read your article and say, ‘I could maybe get a tax break.’ This could be a win-win situation."

The organization had hoped to consolidate its operations at its Kakaako Makai warehouse on Keawe Street, but its future there is in flux after its lease expired in November. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs agreed to extend the lease through the end of this month, allowing the Martin Luther King holiday weekend book and music sale to proceed.

The two sides are now renegotiating the lease. The Friends group has pointed out how widely used the public libraries are by all segments of Hawaii’s population and the many services they provide, she said. The organization funds the popular Summer Reading Program, which attracts 30,000 participants, as well as the fall and spring programs.

"We are hoping OHA will agree that we have value and they will give us consideration in keeping our rent reasonable," Cestare said.

Allen Kam, who handles development at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, was out of the office Friday and could not be reached.

The Friends of the Library handles 500,000 items a year and raises about $300,000 annually, Cestare said. All items are donated, and all proceeds go to the libraries. Its biggest sale is in June at McKinley High School. Books at its sales cost an average of $2. Those that don’t sell are donated to various organizations, from literacy programs to schools, prisons and hospitals.

Roughly 100 volunteers come to the Pohukaina facility each week to sort, clean and price the books and music.

"It’s a big volunteer group, and they are all very well educated and very dedicated to what they are doing," said Marlisle Tellander, a book lover who comes to help out twice a week. "We would really like to keep the libraries going as well as we can."

Their next book and music sale, featuring 10,000 vinyl records, will be held Jan. 18 to 20 at the Friends of the Library Kakaako Makai warehouse, Ewa of the University of Hawaii Medical School, behind Re-use Hawaii on Keawe Street. For more information, visit www.friendsofthelibraryofhawaii.org.