The Hawaii State Public Library System is moving forward with leasing a site for a long-awaited library in Waikoloa Village.
The Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday voted unanimously to approve a request by the state to lease gratis — without charge — about 2 acres from Hawaii County during its semi-monthly meeting in Honolulu.
“We are very excited to finally have this opportunity to work with the county and we are grateful to the county for considering allowing us to use their land to build a new library in this community that has wanted a library for more than 10 years,” said State Librarian Stacey Aldrich.
The unimproved South Kohala land is part of over 200 acres donated years ago to the county for the Kamakoa Nui Workforce Housing Project by Waikoloa Land Co. to meet an affordable housing requirement.
The library would be situated on the makai (western) edge Kamakoa Nui Park, near the current terminus of Kamakoa Drive within the Kamakoa Workforce Housing Project. About 91 units have already been constructed in Kamakoa, with over 1,200 affordable rental and housing units and an 11-acre school site still planned.
“A recent site visit by HSPLS staff revealed a scenic view for what could become an ideal location for the long-awaited public library for this area since an elementary school, housing development, and community center are also planned for this area. A soccer field and baseball field are already located nearby in a neighboring parcel,” the library system said in remarks included with the application heard by the BLNR on Friday.
Across the street from the site of the planned Waikoloa Public Library, Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation is expected to break ground within the next six months on a 120-unit rental project, Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development Assistant Housing Administrator Harry Yada told the board.
“On behalf of the county, we totally support the establishment of a state library in our project and in the Waikoloa area that’s been waiting for a library for quite a while as I understand,” said Yada. “A proposed lot has been incorporated in our review of the current master plan, and we’ve allocated a roughly 2-acre site.”
The land for lease was offered by the county to the state library system in late 2021 after the location previously identified for purchase within the under-construction Waikoloa Plaza fell through because the seller’s asking price exceeded the state’s fair-market assessed value of $1.35 million.
“The other site would have required the state to acquire the fee-simple interest (in the land), which means we’d have to pay fair market value,” said Department of Land and Natural Resources Land Division Administrator Russell Tsuji said.
The library system was appropriated $1.9 million by the state Legislature for land acquisition back in 2018. With that funding no longer needed because the library will pay nothing for the new site, the 2022 Legislature re-purposed its use for plans, design, and construction; ground and site improvements; and equipment.
“Not having to buy land is a huge cost savings to the state, and with the help of Rep. David Tarnas, we are now able to use the funding to move directly into the design phase without a pause,” said Mallory Fujitani, special assistant with the Office of the State Librarian, in response to follow-up questions posed to Aldrich, who in addition to attending the BLNR meeting was taking part in a second of day of meetings with branch managers from across the state Friday.
Though it appears there will be a quick transition into the next step with the re-purposing of those funds, it’s still hard to predict exactly when the library will open.
“Optimistically and assuming there aren’t any supply chain and labor issues like we’re seeing right now, it would take approximately two years to finish planning and design, and approximately two to three years to select the contractor, and build and furnish the library,” said Fujitani.
Pre-pandemic, officials anticipated the library would cost around $10 million, but given the current economic climate that figure is now likely over $12 million. The final price tag, however, will all depend on what construction costs are in two to three years when the project is put out to bid.
The Hawaii State Public Library System is looking to construct a 9,000-square-foot library, but the final size could change depending on how much capital improvement project dollars the agency is able to secure, Fujitani said.
“As we look at building new libraries (or major renovations of existing libraries), we are focused on building flexible spaces that can evolve with the needs of the community. This means much of the furniture will be on wheels so that it can accommodate the programs and changes in the library’s collection. New libraries are also being designed to provide more meeting spaces for communities — both small and large groups — as well as technology labs where community members can access equipment and take technology and digital literacy classes,” Fujitani said about plans for the new library.
A request for funding is expected in 2023.
“The State Librarian will be requesting funds to construct the new Waikoloa Public Library in the upcoming Governor’s budget; the Governor’s budget will be submitted to the State Legislature mid-December 2022. Once that occurs, we encourage community members to contact their State Legislators and the Chairs of the State Senate’s Ways and Means and House Finance Committees, to express their support,” Fujitani said.
There are currently 12 public libraries on Hawaii Island, however, none are close to Waikoloa Village. The nearest facilities are the Thelma Parker Memorial Library in Waimea that’s 17.4 miles mauka and north of the town and the Kailua-Kona Public Library that’s 31 miles south in North Kona.
While Waikoloa School has a library, services are limited to students and their families. The Friends of the Library Waikoloa Region does operate a bookmobile.
“The existing public libraries nearest to Waikoloa Village are over 20 miles away, so the proposed library site offered by the County has been welcomed by those involved in the property search, as well as community representatives in the Friends of the Library group which has long supported the community’s library needs and interests over the years,” the library system said in remarks with its application to the BLNR.
Libraries remain a critical resource for a community, and their role became more evident over last two and a half years, despite increases in connectivity across the nation.
“The pandemic emphasized the need for community spaces where everyone can access resources and information, regardless of age or income level. In many communities statewide, the public library is the only place where people can access high speed internet for free. Access to high speed internet is now critical when applying for employment, accessing government services, or learning new skills,” said Fujitani “As a result, public libraries are now a key element in upcoming programs to bring telehealth services to rural communities and the development of a statewide digital learning platform.”
Discussion of getting a public library dates at least to 2006 when then-Rep. Cindy Evans and the Waikoloa Area Friends of the Library began holding organization meetings with the goal of bringing a state library branch to the area.
Attempts to reach Friends of the Library Waikoloa Region were unsuccessful as of press-time on Sunday.