KAPA‘A — Priscilla T. Leong’s legacy will continue to live on. The Kapa‘a Public Library’s children’s room was named after her, librarian Richard Burns said. Leong, who was a strong advocate in the opening of the Kapa‘a Public Library in
KAPA‘A — Priscilla T. Leong’s legacy will continue to live on. The Kapa‘a Public Library’s children’s room was named after her, librarian Richard Burns said.
Leong, who was a strong advocate in the opening of the Kapa‘a Public Library in March 1955, worked as a part-time children’s assistant prior to her passing in 2012.
Her family donated $25,000 to the Kapa‘a Public Library in honor of her dedication and commitment to libraries and children.
Through the efforts of a family representative, August Yee, the children’s room was renamed the Priscilla T. Leong Children’s Reading Room in her honor Friday.
Leong, who was a Kaua‘i native and regular library patron, served for many years as the librarian at Kapa‘a Elementary School. She helped to establish the Friends of the Kapa‘a Public Library where she served as its president until 2011, and as chairperson of the former Kaua‘i District Library Advisory Commission.
Nancy Budd, Kaua‘i representative to the Board of Education, said to have a room or a library named in a person’s honor is a rare tribute because libraries, or portions of state libraries, are not usually named in honor of an individual.
Burns agreed, noting he was there when the Kapa‘a Library opened, and since then, has grown to have a “lot of books,” a tribute to the people who work at the library.
The Kapa‘a Public Library, located at 1464 Kuhio Highway in Kapa‘a, is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday hours are from noon to 8 p.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
