By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

One of the greatest faults of local government is the propensity to throw just enough money at a project to get it built but not enough money to keep it going.

One of the biggest mistakes of local bureaucrats is the tendency to view community activism as misguided meddling.

The most recent case in point is the Kapolei library, which stands as an empty monument to good intentions and bad planning.

The request before the Legislature this year was for $1.6 million, which would have paid for 24 staff positions, books, furniture and equipment for the Kapolei library. The Legislature approved just $267,000, and though Gov. Ben Cayetano kicked in more money, the total amount still wasn't close to being enough to purchase even a startup set of books.

So then come the good people of Kapolei, who decided that they would take matters into their own hands by collecting books to donate to the library. Could they scratch together the whole wish list? Probably not, but they could certainly start. It was a matter of something being better than nothing. It was a matter of taking action, even if it was largely symbolic, rather than wringing hands, rolling eyes and shaking heads.

How frustrating for the Kapolei community to have a brand-new library sit empty and unused.

How doubly frustrating for them to learn that their homegrown efforts to gather books for the library weren't wanted.

Here is an opportunity lost. In a time when apathy is rampant, the efforts of citizens to make a difference in their community should be lauded and supported, perhaps re-

directed if needed, but never squelched or dismissed.

When we talk about "community," we tend to think of structures and infrastructure: rows of houses on well-lit streets, fire stations, gas stations, a Longs down the street if you're lucky. But a strong community isn't just a bunch of people who live next to each other and all keep their lawns mowed; it's a group of people who work together for a common good.

In rejecting the used books from the Kapolei community, State Librarian Virginia

Lowell is sounding kinda' nuha. You can't really blame her for being mad at the Legislature, but by rejecting the donated books, she's taking an all-or-nothing position. Lowell should be cultivating allies in the community, allies who will first collect used books and then later pay a visit to the Capitol to stand beside her and testify with her.

Even if they were the wrong books, even if there weren't enough to fill one shelf, even if the pages were dog-eared and torn, those books should have been accepted purely as a symbol of support from the community, a kind of ho'okupu, and the start of a thriving Kapolei library community that would be not only for the people, but in some measure, by the people.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.