On Aug. 7, 2017 — after book talks and book signings, deliveries and mailings of book orders received by telephone and email, and serendipitous sales at parking lots and other stops from May 17 to Aug. 4 — I was able to write a check for $1,000 payable to Kauai Philippine Cultural Center — “A Place for All” cultures, now under construction in Puhi.
It’s with gratitude and thanksgiving to many from Kauai’s Westside to Eastside, North Shore to South Shore, and Oahu and Mainland folks who bought “The Filipinos of Koloa” that Karl and I share this good news.
The reception of the book was positive in large measure through the kindness, generosity and aloha of many, like Kukui Grove and Stacie Chiba-Miguel for the book presentation and book signing at the Food Court on May 17. Likewise, “MidWeek” and Paige Takeya and “ForKauaiOnline” and Honey Hunter for the announcements on the June 3 talk story/book signing. Foremost, Bill Buley, editor of “The Garden Island,” handled Alden Alayvilla’s “Tracing history” in the June 2 issue of TGI with a dash of urgency and gave the June 3 event front page coverage that readers of TGI here and yonder noticed.
The Koloa Public/School Library Humanities Room was a convenient venue, thanks to David Thorp, librarian; 47 were in attendance. We couldn’t have asked for anything more for the June 3 event. Moreover, we are thankful for the rippling effect of the publicity and the wonders of coconut wireless.
The cover letter for the check to KPCC said in part: “The Filipinos of Koloa, from the Sakada Generation to the third generation, shared their stories and in essence shaped the book. I want to thank them in a tangible way for their generosity of spirit and aloha, and the desire to donate proceeds from the book to the Kauai Philippine Cultural Center, which was envisioned by Filipinos, has been a dominant thought.
The thought prevails because by giving to the center, the Filipinos of Koloa would be contributing collectively toward “A Place for All” and continue to participate in making history.”
It takes an island to produce results. In addition to the fore-mentioned agents of positive outcomes are the outlets that carry the book in their inventories: Kauai Historical Society, Kauai Museum, Lifeway/Koloa and Talk Story Bookstore in Hanapepe.
We are adding Inkspot, Kauai Fine Arts in Hanapepe and The Kauai Store in Kapaa. Also, contributing to the fund were Koloa Seniors who invited us to their July 19 meeting for talk story/book signing, thanks to Sandra Matsumoto, manager of Koloa Neighborhood Center.
Last but not least, Arryl Kaneshiro allowed us to make the book available for purchase at the Koloa Mill event on Thursday, July 27, during Koloa Plantation Days. Suggested donation at the registration table was $3 for Koloa School with the amount doubled by Grove Farm. Karl and I each paid the $3 fee, and gladly gave $3 to Grove Farm’s Koloa School donation for every book sold at the event. Talk stories and sales marked the morning.
Continuing on a high note, we have started the fund for the second $1,000 check for KPCC. Thank you, one and all.
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Catherine Lo is author of “The Filipinos of Koloa”
Kukuiula
