Counting down to midnight Friday, hundreds of Kaua‘i’s Harry Potter fans rambled about Borders Books & Music in Kukui Grove, dressed as recognizable characters from the books. The seventh and final installment of the enchanted tales of a young magician
Counting down to midnight Friday, hundreds of Kaua‘i’s Harry Potter fans rambled about Borders Books & Music in Kukui Grove, dressed as recognizable characters from the books. The seventh and final installment of the enchanted tales of a young magician was released around the world at one minute past midnight, with Kaua‘i as the last United States outpost to ring a sale. The magical mania of this modern classic was celebrated by local readers, emcee Ron Wiley, and special community guests David Penhallow, Roland Sagum and Mel Repoza.
“Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows,” written by J.K. Rowlings, closes the chest of magical episodes embraced by millions of fantasy readers worldwide. While every book in the series has been met with frenzied anticipation, perhaps this last one has outdone previous expectations due to a foreboding rumor: “Either Harry or Ron is going to die,” claimed 12-year-old Nadine Ornellas.
“Ron can’t die,” Nadine’s friend Mia Tjarks, also 12 and an avid reader of the Harry Potter series, seemed flabbergasted at her friends’ contention.
“Ron can’t die … because he’s Ron,” added 13-year-old Kaylyn Shirra, the third of the trio. The girls, dressed in white shirts, ties, and school-girl skirts began a serious debate about which character would possibly be lost in “The Deathly Hallows.”
Among the rows of cookbooks, dictionaries, fiction and non-fiction books, CDs, DVDs and magazines, costumed fans, sleepy siblings and dedicated parents took part in a Potter spelling bee, Snape debate and fantastic costume contest. Emcee Ron Wiley and Kaua‘i County Council member Mel Rapozo pulled names from a box that garnered a free book for several lucky residents who had entered the drawing sometime within the previous month. And David Penhallow, dressed as a wise magician gave palm readings to anxious teenage boys, seemingly more interested in their own intelligible future than the finale of the Potter saga.
“It’s clear, you’re not using all your potential,” said Penhallow to a wide-eyed, open-palmed customer.
The Pasclea family wouldn’t miss this night for anything. While 12-year-old Jansen and 10-year-old Janica were the ones in full costume, it was mom, Veda, who is the biggest fan. “She’ll have the whole thing read in one week,” Jansen claimed. “She read the entire sixth book in two weeks.”
With only one book for the entire family reserved, which child would get to read it first? The two kids point to a giggling mom: “I love these books. I prefer them over the movies because you get to imagine more of the story yourself and also they leave out little details that are really important.”
When asked if the shadowy character of “Snape” is a friend or foe Janica said, “I’m going with my mom on this one — he’s a foe.”
Border’s in Lihu‘e was shipped 1,680 books for the launch, with many more to follow. For now, the books cannot be bought by employees of the store, and most have been reserved by Kaua‘i residents. Under lock and key until “the great reveal” at midnight these books were guarded as if they actually whisper supernatural secrets to be divined by young and old, across the globe.
Tammy Manning and Mariah Dempsey, both 13, dressed as the inquisitive “Blue Twins.” Both had a book on reserve and are avid fans. Though Mariah hasn’t quite gotten through the entire sixth book, she claims to have the willpower to hold off reading the seventh until she’s caught up.
Lauren and Lily Hoffman, 14 and 12 respectively, can’t wait to start reading and will “most likely begin tonight,” both said.
Lauren personalized her cloak with hundreds of torn photographs from the Harry Potter movie — while she didn’t place in the top three at the costume contest, her cloak was one of the most original.
Gathering all the costumed fans near the cookbook section, KONG Radio’s Ron Wiley helped the judges narrow down the many wonderful and spirited Potter devotees to choose “best costume.” The Blue Twins came in third; Mistress Roberta Tangalin from Lihu‘e slid in second; but the crowning blue ribbon decorated the small chest of an 8-year-old Ezikio Quintana. His Harry Potter likeness, complete with over-sized glasses and studied demeanor won the applause of the attentive audience. All four of the best-dressed winners were given the enormous coup of buying the very first copies at midnight.
Secured by volunteer “Dementers” Dain Metcalf, 17, Ethan Shell, 19, and Zeke Linn, 9, the unmarked pallet of books was rolled through the front door at 11:45 p.m., while hungry readers salivated at its mere sight. With a line that circled the store’s spacious scheme, the countdown began and Roland Sagum took his spot behind the counter to sell the very first copy on Kaua‘i’s volcanic soil.
At exactly one past midnight, Saturday, July 21, the first book rung at the register, and little Ezikio Quintana, up far past his normal bedtime, held the weighty hardback in hand, while cheers from an anxious crowd marked the dawn of “The Deathly Hallows” on Kaua‘i. Though many plan to plunge their way through the beginning of the book this weekend, the last chapter will be read with a bitter sadness and slower pace — holding on to each sentence with a nostalgic gasp, and wondering, “Is this really the end?”
And whoever gets through it first, a plea to the speed-readers among us: Please don’t tell.
• Keya Keita, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kkeita@kauaipubco.com.
