Joseph Mataele has collected thousands of books through donations in Hawai'i and hopes they will spur library construction projects in remote Tongan villages.

With only one library in the main town, Tongans travel up to one hour by car to borrow books or do research — and sometimes they arrive at the library only to find it closed, said Mataele, who is Hawai'i and United States regional director of tourism for the Tonga Ministry of Tourism.

When he was a youth growing up in Tonga, school books were rare and even now there is a need, he said.

"Everything we learned, the teacher had to write it on the blackboard and we'd write from there," Mataele said. "For me to see all these good quality books and so much excess, I was moved in remembrance of how I grew up."

The plan is to collect the books, and the villages will build libraries that include education and computer learning centers, Mataele said.

Two villages have celebrated the shipping of the first consignment of books even though they won't get there until the end of the month. Four more villages also will share the bounty collected by Mataele.

The Friends of Hawai'i Library, which operates the biggest used-book sale on O'ahu each summer, donated its unsold books from that sale, said Byrde Cestare, executive director for the organization. Some 300 to 400 boxes of books, records, videos and DVDs were donated.

At 25 books to a box, that's at least 7,500 books that were selling for around $2 each, for a total of $15,000. Cestare said on average, the books might cost $15 new, or $112,500 for all the books donated.

Normally, people build a library then purchase the books, but Cestare said she thought the reverse might work.

"It's such an incredible goal that Joseph has set for his country," she said. "I applaud it. I think he's right, once the books start coming, they will see that they need to house them properly."

The Friends of Kahuku, Mililani and Aina Haina libraries also contributed books as did Sen. Clarence Nishihara, D-18th (Waipahu, Crestview, Pearl City), Mataele said.

"I see the real spirit of aloha from these people," he said. "I think perhaps in the future, Tonga will also become like Hawai'i."

But Mataele faces a challenge. Shipping is costly and he is looking for ways around that, including asking the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy for help. He's also turned to his people who are pitching in for the cost of shipping a container, he said.

Fran Corcoran, head librarian at Kahuku Public and School Library, said the cost of shipping books has led to the cancellation of several book donation projects at Kahuku school.

"The donation part for us was easy," Corcoran said. "(Shipping) is a huge expense."

Mataele said he's concerned but hopes Tongan kava drinking clubs will raise the necessary funds.

The clubs raise money for scholarships and small economic development, he said.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.