Library Celebrates 50 Years

Kaneohe Library will mark its 50th anniversary Sunday, offering a marathon day of entertainment and the arts.

Considered the Windward side’s regional library – a backup reference and resource facility for the Kahuku, Kailua and Waimanalo branches – it opened on Jan. 4, 1963, and has grown from stocking traditional books (remember those?) to scheduling Internet lessons and tips on downloading e-books onto new e-reading devices. Along the way it also expanded its parking lot and replaced the roof.

According to current branch manager Cindy Chow, Kaneohe Library also boasts “a very large and newly organized DVD and CD collection,” a talented children’s librarian whose preschool stories really rock, monthly movie nights and a busy Friends of the Library book store downstairs.

The anniversary party, meanwhile, will run from 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 27 with the following offerings for all of its patrons. For more information, call 233-5676.

10:15 a.m. – Introduction of legislators and officials

10:30 a.m. – Lopaka Kapanui tells spooky stories

11:30 a.m. – Petting zoo is open

Noon – Pa’ahana band entertains

1 p.m. – Jeff Peterson plays slack key

3 p.m. – Kelvin Chun and his magic tricks

4 p.m. – Balloon artistry of Magi-Kel (Kelvin Chun).