Aloha library colleagues, the devastation on Maui and the Big Island is heartbreaking. We have two HASL members on Maui and they have both been in touch to let us know they’re safe. We’ve assured them if they wish to relay information and/or specific needs, they can rely on us to share with the HASL community. We’ll continue to reach out to them and provide support as we’re able. HIDOE Superintendent Hayashi has visited the three West Maui public schools still standing: Lahainaluna High School, Lahaina Intermediate School, and Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary School. Despite sustaining wind damage, the campus buildings and classrooms are in good condition structurally. Cleaning and testing of both air and water quality will take place in the coming days, and reopening dates will be determined once campuses are confirmed as safe for students and staff. HIDOE is encouraging families of all displaced students to enroll their children in the school closest to their current housing. Hawaii Library Association leadership and our leadership have initiated discussions about ways we can help the Maui community going forward. We’ll share information about this effort as we have it. If you have ideas or would like to be involved, please reach out at [email protected], we welcome your engagement. In parts of the state not directly impacted by the wildfires, the school year is starting. HASL Executive Board is also getting into gear. At the end of last school year, the board said goodbye to three members: Elodie Arellano, Diane Mokuau and Daphne Miyashiro. Elodie is the librarian at Ahuimanu Elementary School in Kaneohe. She has served in HASL as Secretary and VP of Membership. We asked Elodie what she enjoyed about being a board member and she shared that meeting other members on the board and helping with events the organization sponsored were highlights. Daphne Miyashiro is the librarian at Kalani High School in Honolulu. She has served on HASL as chairperson of the National Library Week Committee and Secretary. Diane Mokuau is the librarian at Molokaʻi High School and has served many roles in the past, but most recently held Director of Awards. Mahalo to Elodie, Diane, and Daphne for your leadership and hard work! We also welcomed three members to our executive board: Jenn Duncklee, Keikilani Meyer, and Sandy Domion. Jenn Duncklee is a recent LIS grad from UH Mānoa. She is our new Secretary. While Jenn is on the board, she hopes to advocate for school libraries in the islands. Besides strengthening literacy, school libraries offer a safe space for creating, learning, and exploring and are instrumental in the teaching of information and digital literacy in the modern world. Keikilani Meyer is a librarian at Kamehameha Schools. She is our new Director of Awards. Keikilani aims to use her time on the board to increase Native Hawaiian representation in our profession and mentor Native Hawaiian LIS students. Among the many strengths she brings to the position is grant-writing experience and programming experience. Sandy Domion is the librarian at McKinley High School in Honolulu. She is our new VP of Membership. Sandy brings with her a broad range of experience including working at Waialua High and Intermediate School as an English teacher and librarian, at Maemae Elementary as the librarian, GT teacher, and yearbook creator, and currently serves as the librarian at McKinley High School and an instructor with Hawaii Online Courses. We appreciate you stepping into these roles and look forward to working with you Jenn, Keikilani, and Sandy. Left to right: Jenn Duncklee, Keikilani Meyer, and Sandy Domion To all of our members and to everyone in the Hawaii library community, we hope you are safe and that you continue to be able to provide the support your school community relies on.
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