You're supposed to be quiet in the library, but a karate exhibit could make the walls scream "hi-yaa!"

Through Aug. 28, Hamilton Library at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa is hosting the exhibit "Karate: From Okinawa to Hawaii," featuring historical karate images blown up to poster sizes, Okinawan weapons and karate articles from pre-war Hawai'i.

"There's even a full kata (a choreographed movement) from Chosin Chibana, a lead expert in Okinawa, broken down into pictures," said Charles C. Goodin, who is directing the exhibit on behalf of the Hawaii Karate Museum.

Goodin has been collecting everything karate-related over the years, which led to the establishment of the Hawaii Karate Museum — a division of the Hikari Institute. Using preservation techniques like freeze-drying to kill mold in the books, the library's collection of karate books continues to grow, with help from the museum. "We continue giving to UH and in celebration of the donations, we got a chance to do an exhibit," Goodin said.

If you think pictures are not enough to capture the essence of martial arts, a live karate demonstration could strike your attention. Hawaii Karate Kenkyukai will conduct a demonstration from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. July 12 in the UH-Manoa Art Auditorium.

Goodin will give a lecture on the early transmission of karate from Okinawa to Hawai'i at 3 p.m. on July 19 in Room 301 of the library.

There's more to karate than breaking bones. It's also a way of life.

"Karate is much broader than just a martial art. It's Okinawan culture," Goodin said.

In Japan, weapons were permitted only to the military, but in Okinawa everyone can practice karate. Traditional Okinawan weapons such as nunchakus, bo staffs or sais were used by everyone.

Documentation of karate in the island communities came in newspaper articles that occasionally described gangs of thieves who were knocked unconscious by elderly, unarmed Okinawan men whom they had attempted to rob.

Small local groups that had taught karate privately in homes and backyards as the secret art of self-defense began to teach the art outside the Okinawan community.

"It's hard for today's karate people to look back then and see that (the martial arts are) similar," Goodin said.

"Karate: From Okinawa to Hawaii" is sponsored by the Center for Okinawan Studies, Center for Japanese Studies, the Japanese Consulate and the University of Hawai'i-Manoa libraries.