LIHU‘E — Reading can be rewarding during the Hawai‘i State Library’s Summer Reading Challenge, which starts on Thursday with the theme “E Heluhelu Kakou: Seeds of Knowledge.” The theme celebrates the Hawaiian Islands’ people, environment, cultural heritage, literature, history, food and arts.
Lani Kawahara, the Young Adults Librarian at Lihu‘e Public Library, said the library will be hosting kalo farmer Adam Asquith of Kaua‘i Taro Company as part of the Summer Reading Challenge.
He will talk about the historical significance of kalo to Hawaiian culture and agriculture. His presentation, on June 7 from 5 to 6 p.m., will include his experiences of growing kalo on Kaua‘i. The program is free to the public and suitable for all ages.
The same can be said for the Summer Reading Challenge, which is on now through July 31 with a statewide lucky grand prize drawing for four roundtrip tickets to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.
“This Summer Reading Program is for everyone. Children, teens and adults,” Kawahara said.
To keep track of progress through the program, readers can download the Beanstack Tracker app from the Apple App Store for iPhone or iPad readers or Google Play for Android devices.
Registration for the Summer Reading Challenge can be done online at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org, or at any of the island public libraries from Princeville to Waimea.
Reading material, including physical books, ebooks, audiobooks, graphic novels, large-print publications, magazines, e-magazines, newspapers, talking books and Braille qualify for reading minutes.
Participants will be rewarded for reading and logging at least 60 minutes each week. For each week of reading at least 60 minutes, participants will receive a virtual badge and an entry into the grand prize drawing.
Additionally, free books and other incentives will be given away at the midpoint or four-hour mark. Five regional teen winners will be awarded an iPad 10.2.
The Summer Reading Challenge is sponsored by Friends of the Library Hawai‘i, the Hawai‘i State Federal Credit Union, Ward Village, McDonald’s restaurants and Pizza Hut restaurants in Hawai‘i.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Wow. Summer reading program. I’m slacking off on my one novel per month quota. Too busy with other things. I read all kinds of books. Novels. History books. Short stories. American literature. I think novels are the most fun. But I’m a busy person. So if you fall in this area of interest just stay here. That should do it.