BY JESSALYN KIRCHHOFF
This week’s Hays Public Library preview proves to be as tropical as it gets for a town located in the middle of Kansas. Grab your leis, or get ready to make your own throughout the week, as this week’s featured event, ‘Hawaiian Legends,’ is one of many Hawaiian-themed events taking place during the week at the HPL.
While this week features a Hawaiian theme, there is not a designated theme for each week at the HPL. Outreach and Library Assistant for the Hays Public Library, Mae Moore, explains this week is a unique occurrence that the community should take full advantage of.
“Each summer is a little different depending on what the overall theme is,” Moore said. “Other weeks this year, besides this one extraordinary week, during the summer do not have a specific theme beyond the overall Summer Reading Challenge theme of ‘All Together Now,’ which was implemented as an inclusive theme with activities, programs and even food from different places around the world.”
Moore has played a crucial role in putting this week together, as well as seeing it through because she has a special personal connection to this topic.
“I am doing a majority of the programs and presentations this week, or at least I have had a hand in putting each of them together,” she said. “I was born and raised in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii. I took many years, approximately 10 years, of Hula Lessons as well as having members of my family in the Queen Liliuokalani Society and the Queen’s Guard.”
Although Jake Mishoulam, an outreach coordinator for the Hays Public Library, does not hail from the islands, he shares Moore’s passion for Hawaii and holds a great love for myths and mythology. Mishoulam will be conducting the “Hawaiian Legends” discussion.
“As a scientist, I enjoy researching topics and becoming, if not an expert, at least well-learned in almost everything,” he said.
Mishoulam summarizes the ‘Hawaiian Legends’ conversation as “a program that will be roughly an hour-long discussion of some of the most prevalent myths and legends of Hawaiian Culture, and how some have been adapted into modern media.”
Mishoulam expands on this summary by going into further detail about the importance of events like ‘Hawaiian Legends’ at the HPL.
“The opportunity to better understand different cultures is an invaluable experience,” he said. “Giving members of the community an opportunity to share their culture and heritage with those around them is a powerful thing, and gives families a way to educate their kids in a fun and interesting way about all the different places and people in the world.”
Moore said she believes that all of HPL’s programs year-round are a benefit to our community because it is a time to be social with others and learn about something new.
“Specifically, this Hawaii week, I’m hoping that it will present as a chance to share my love for my home and teach people about the customs, the dance of Hula, and the love of Ohana (Family) while being together to celebrate all the events of life,” she said.
Moore hopes that, from these programs, our community will learn some of the history of Hawaii as well as how the people live and love their land.
“Hawaii is a very laid-back mixed group of nationalities and personalities,” she said. “I am hoping to let people know that the Islands are very sacred to the people, but also a great place to visit, if done with respect.”
The rest of the Hawaiian-themed week events are as follows:
Monday, June 19, 2023
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Storytime @ Children’s Activity Room
- 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. – Bookmobile @ ARC Park
- 10:30 to 11 a.m. – STREAM Team: The Floor is Lava @ Schmidt Gallery
- 1 to 2 p.m. – Readiness & Review, K-2 @ Children’s Activity Room
- 2 to 4 p.m. – Movie Monday: Lilo and Stitch @ Trish Davies Activity Room
- 2 to 4 p.m. – Movie Monday: Lilo and Stitch @ Children’s Activity Room
- 6 to 7 p.m. – All Ages Hula Class @ Schmidt Gallery
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
- 8 to 9 a.m. – When Everyone Leads Book Discussion with Hays Chamber of Commerce @ Schmidt Community Commons
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Storytime @ Children’s Activity Room
- 10:30 to 11 a.m. – STREAM Team: Go Noodle Popsicles Song @ Schmidt Gallery
- 1 to 2 p.m. – Readiness & Review, 3-5 @ Children’s Activity Room
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Teen Painting Class @ Schmidt Gallery
- 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Afternoon Storytime @ Children’s Activity Room
- 4 to 5 p.m. – Hawaiian Historical Presentation @ Schmidt Community Commons
- 6 to 7 p.m. – Painting Class @ Schmidt Gallery
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
- 9 to 10 a.m. – Itty Bitty @ Children’s Activity Room
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Bookmobile @ Wyndham Place
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Itty Bitty @ Children’s Activity Room
- 10:30 to 11 a.m. – STREAM Team: Baking Soda Mosaics @ Schmidt Gallery
- 2 to 3 p.m. – All Ages DIY Leis @ Schmidt Community Commons
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Chess Club @ Children’s Activity Room
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Community Classroom: Safety Awareness @ Schmidt Gallery
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Video Games @ Trish Davies Activity Room
- 4 to 5 p.m. – All Together for Math @ Children’s Activity Room
- 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Crafter’s Social Hour @ Schmidt Community Commons
- 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Cozy Mystery Book Club @ Kansas Room
Thursday, June 22, 2023
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Explorers: STREAM @ Schmidt Gallery
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Kansas Room Koffee Hour @ Kansas Room
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Hawaiian Legends @ Schmidt Community Commons
- 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Kansas Room READS: The Last Wild Places of Kansas @ Kansas Room
Friday, June 23, 2023
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Bookmobile @ Rainbow Stage near ARC Park
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Storytime @ Rainbow Stage near ARC Park
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Board Games: Lattice Hawaii @ Trish Davies Activity Room
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Funky Friday: DIY Ukulele @ Children’s Activity Room
- 4 to 5 p.m. – All Ages Luau @ Schmidt Gallery
Saturday, June 24, 2023
- 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Author’s Fair @ Schmidt Community Commons
- 9 to 11 a.m. – Bookmobile @ Downtown Market
For more information, visit https://hayslibrary.evanced.info/signup/Calendar for a short description of each event and to keep up to date on any changes throughout the week.