Waialua librarian gets his wish

By Will Hoover
Advertiser North Shore Writer

Sometimes wishful thinking can be a good thing, says Waialua librarian Tim Littlejohn. Especially if you do it out loud.

On Friday, Littlejohn said he and a co-worker were discussing the small public library's pressing need for a $600 newspaper display rack and lamenting the library's inability to pay for one. That's when regular patron Ed Tracy walked through the door and overheard the conversation.

Christmas arrived early when Tracy returned the next day with a check signed by his boss, Joe Green, owner of Surf N Sea in Hale'iwa.

"The check was for $578.25," said Littlejohn. "That's the exact price of a solid oak, 10-handle Brodart newspaper table, including the library's discount."

The display is basically an open-top table that holds 10 split-oak sticks on which the newspapers are hung horizontally.

"This is how the coconut wireless operates in Waialua," said Littlejohn, who said the community was so excited about Green's generosity that it honored him at the annual library Christmas party on Sunday.

Green said he was only only too happy to help, although he admitted he wasn't sure what Tracy was talking about when the topic came up.

"I didn't know what it was at first," said Green, whose business in the past has made donations to Waialua's elementary, intermediate and high schools.

"But I'd forgotten about the library," said Green. "So when Ed told me about the rack, I said, 'Sure, I'd love to do that.' The best part is this is my community — my own three kids go to that library."

Littlejohn ordered the display rack yesterday. The Brodart company has told him it should arrive in four weeks — just in time for the New Year's celebration.

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8038.