A recent article published some incredible facts about the Hawaii State Library. The century-old building opened in 1913, the result of a $100,000 gift from famed businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The article further noted that the library now houses nearly 600,000 books in 107,000 square feet of space in downtown Honolulu, and has survived the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and the inexorable push of history.
But will it survive the Internet? We think it should. And not just because of its beautiful courtyard dotted with loulu palms at its center. And not because, on its shelves, sit volumes on Hawaii and the Pacific islands. But because, despite the digital revolution and the perceived solitary nature of reading, the culture of the book and the institutions that support it matter.
The Hawaii State Library is a place for gathering with other like-minded folks — both those who exist on the page and flesh-and-blood human beings. It is a place for reverence and contemplation, as well as low-volume chatter about the amazing discoveries to be made there. So while sitting alone in a room with a Kindle has its place, so, too, does the library.
Visit it today:
478 S. King St.
Honolulu 96813
