{"id":217583,"date":"2025-06-17T15:36:24","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T01:36:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=217583"},"modified":"2025-06-17T15:37:57","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T01:37:57","slug":"windward-cc-keiki-reading-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/06\/17\/windward-cc-keiki-reading-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds celebrate reading, culture at Windward CC<\/abbr>\u2019s Keiki Reading Day"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Person
Families sitting in the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Collection room listening to Hawaiian stories<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More than 200 people gathered at Windward Community College\u2019s Hale Laʻakea<\/span> Library on June 7, for Keiki Summer Reading Day 2025—a vibrant celebration of Hawaiian language, culture and community that drew nearly double the expected turnout.<\/p>\n

\"Keiki
Children doing arts and crafts inspired by native birds<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Children and their ʻohana (family) explored the library through a scavenger hunt, listened to moʻolelo<\/span> (stories) from k\u016bpuna (elders), and learned about the library\u2019s Hawaiʻi<\/span> Collection. Each keiki also received bilingual Hawaiian-English books to take home.<\/p>\n

The free community event, made possible with a Harold K.L. Castle Foundation grant, promoted family literacy and cultural learning through hands-on, place-based activities.<\/p>\n

“As one of the keiki book readers, it was especially moving to see their excitement when receiving books of their own,” said Hauʻolihiwahiwa<\/span> Moniz, Hawaiian-Pacific resources librarian at Leeward CC<\/abbr> and N\u0101 Mea Hawaiʻi<\/span> committee chair for the Koʻolaupoko<\/span> Hawaiian Civic Club.<\/p>\n

Moniz co-led the event\u2019s planning with Cindy Texeira, Hawaiʻi<\/span> specialist librarian at Windward CC<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

\"Overhead
Community members gather in the Windward CC<\/abbr> Library to listen to kupuna talk about ʻ\u014dlelo Hawaiʻi<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“We wanted this day to celebrate ʻ\u014dlelo Hawaiʻi<\/span> (Hawaiian language) and moʻolelo<\/span>, and to make ʻohana feel at home in the library,” Moniz added.<\/p>\n

The event also included arts and crafts inspired by native birds and a complimentary lunch. For many families, it was their first visit to the Windward CC<\/abbr> library.<\/p>\n

“It was wonderful to see the library so full of life and laughter,” said Sarah Sur, head librarian at Windward CC<\/abbr>. “We\u2019re proud to be a space where our community can gather to celebrate reading, culture and connection.”<\/p>\n

Texeira, who also serves as corresponding secretary for the Koʻolaupoko<\/span> Hawaiian Civic Club, said, “This event reminded us of the power of community and the importance of sharing spaces and stories. It was a joy to help create something rooted in aloha ʻ\u0101ina (love and care for the land) and designed especially for our keiki and ʻohana.”<\/p>\n

Keiki Summer Reading Day 2025 was a collaboration between the Koʻolaupoko<\/span> Hawaiian Civic Club, Windward CC<\/abbr> library, and the Koʻolau<\/span> Foundation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Families explored moʻolelo<\/span>, crafts and more in a joyful celebration of reading and community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[1057,65,207,71,66],"class_list":["post-217583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-hawaiian-language","tag-leeward-community-college","tag-library","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t