Island Voices
'Aiea area deserves to get new library

By Gary Okino
Member of the Honolulu City Council

'Aiea faces a "last chance" situation to replace its seriously inadequate library with a modern, well-equipped, full-service library that meets community needs. The problem is that there is only one site remaining in 'Aiea large enough to accommodate an upgraded library.

That property is now for sale and could be sold at any time. Unless acquired soon, the opportunity to replace the substandard library may be lost forever. This would be a tragedy for 'Aiea, which has fought long and hard to make this project a reality.

The existing 'Aiea Library, built in 1964, serves Halawa, 'Aiea, Pearlridge, Waimalu and Newtown. But as those who frequent it know, this facility is aging, is too small to meet current needs, lacks adequate parking and is inconveniently located. Children must cross multi-laned, high-speed Moanalua Road at a bend in the road with serious sight-distance problems.

The proposed location for the new library is the old sugar mill site, where residents envision a community gathering place called the 'Aiea Town Center. The city is currently developing a park and community center and a senior living facility on the majority of the site. The library would occupy the last remaining portion, making the entire location a complex of much-needed community facilities. There couldn't be a more ideal location:

• The 'Aiea Town Center is planned to become a hub of community activity.

• The site is centrally located between six area schools and in the heart of the 'Aiea residential community.

• The 1.65-acre site is large enough to accommodate a modern, full-service library.

• Shared infrastructure construction (i.e., parking) would reduce costs of building the library.

Unfortunately, some have criticized the inclusion of funds for the 'Aiea Library in the state budget, particularly since funding for the Kapolei Library ($1 million for completion of Phase I and $11 million for the start of Phase II) was deleted from the budget. It should be noted, however, that these were two separate actions; the House deleted the Kapolei funding, while the Senate added funds for 'Aiea.

The bottom line is that purchasing the land for the 'Aiea Library does not preclude construction of the Kapolei library, nor does it affect the purchase of books for Kapolei. Both can be accommodated. It's simply an issue of timing and the process of budgeting.