Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 1987 — Bookmobile Takes Learning to Hawaiians [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Bookmobile Takes Learning to Hawaiians

Native Hawaiian Library Project Proves Popular

A perhaps little known but certainly important fact of educational life for Hawaiian children and adults these days is the Native Hawaiian Library Project on wheels. It is sponsored by Alu Like ine. with Title IV Library Services funding. A book-mobile truck was put into service a year ago in February, 1986, going toall islands with Hawaiian exhibits and reading materials. Momi Naughton and Brenda Freitas-Obragon are the two people who man the truck or van. Freitas-Obragon is a librarian on leave from the Hawaii State Library System while Naughton is a former research associate in anthropology at Bishop Museum. The former is a storyteller while Naughton is a research specialist. "This is a program whieh started in December, 1985. We go to target areas with the highest Hawaiian population. We also go to schools and wherever we ean reach Hawaiians," Naughton explained. The truck carries exhibits created by the two-woman staff. They ean be on crafts or the Polynesian Voyaging Society's Hokule'a. There are also volumes of reading materials covering Hawaiians, legends, lores, language, cuiture, arts, kahuna, customs, Pele, history of eaeh island and many, many more interesting subject matters. "The main purpose of this library on wheels is to get our Hawaiians interested in reading and learning more about themselves and their culture," Naughton said. "They ean borrow books on sight and return them at any public library or any of the ALu Like offices. We even send books to places like Ni'ihau and Keana'e," she added.

Ka Wai Ola O OHA caught the two Alu Like staffers at Ka Molokai'i Makahiki 1987 Jan. 17 and they were

kept very busy by children and browsers who were eurious while posing many questions. Naughton had a hands-on project for the keikis, making available strips of cloth for head bandds ala Karate Kid. The keikis were given an assortment of rubber stamps whieh they affixed to the head bands and then proudly wore them. "Look, ma! I made this myself over there. Niee, yeah? exclaimed one little seven-year-old girl. Another tyke took several strips but Naughton had to plaee a limit so other children could share in the project. This is the way it went until Naughton ran out of strips, cut from donated bed sheets, and had to close down the project. While the keikis were having their fun, the older youths, kupuna and other adults kept themselves busy pouring over the many books and pamphlets on display. " We always try to have an on-hands project, especially for the kids," Naughton reported happily.

Momi Naughton, center, shows these youngsters how to imprint their head bands with a variety of rubber stamps.