LIHU‘E — Hundreds of fans of all ages came out to the Borders Books, Music, Movies & Cafe in Kukui Marketplace for the Midnight Magic Party book release of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” People were dispersed throughout the
LIHU‘E — Hundreds of fans of all ages came out to the Borders Books, Music, Movies & Cafe in Kukui Marketplace for the Midnight Magic Party book release of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”
People were dispersed throughout the store, some sitting in a corner working on Harry Potter activity sheets, or at a craft table making wizard hats.
The festivities, which included face-painting and a costume contest, began at 9 p.m. The cafe was packed with people drinking coffee, soda or hot chocolate, to make sure they had enough energy to last the night.
Esther Manning of Kapa‘a, who made special costumes for herself and her kids, made sure she was there early.
“We got here a little before 9 o’clock to make sure we got a spot to sit and hang out,” she said. “I told the kids the book is off limits until I read it first.”
Unaware there was a costume contest, Manning’s 11-year-old daughter, Tammy, dressed up like a witch, and won.
“My mom made this for me. I just dressed because I wanted to,” she said.
What was her prize? She got to be the first person on the island to get the book.
At 11:30 p.m., the lights flickered, and an announcement was made over the intercom.
“Only half an hour till the New Year; The New Year of Hogwarts, that is!”
The fans cheered and partied on.
With only minutes till midnight, the staff organized the lines, with Tammy Manning in the front waiting at the register.
The countdown began, and at the stroke of midnight, Helaine Perel, the general manager of the store, and a fellow staffer, removed the veil that covered the books.
Perel handed the first copy to a very excited Tammy Manning, as she posed for the camera with her book.
Shoppers at the store were limited to three copies per person.
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the sixth of J.K. Rowling’s fantasy series, sold 6.9 million copies in the United States in its first 24 hours, averaging better than 275,000 per hour over that period.
The only book in publishing history to open nearly as well was Rowling’s previous book in the series, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.”
As of yesterday, Perel said the book was nearly sold out, with about 1,400 copies having been purchased at the Lihu‘e Borders. She said she had never seen a buying frenzy of this magnitude. She said an additional 300 copies were expected in by today. She said the sales numbers did not include the deluxe editions.
As for what fuels the phenomenon, Perel said, “She (Rowling) has hit upon something that appeals to all ages. In this book, Harry grows up. He’s a teen. He’s not fixed in time,” she said. “He’s no longer an 11-year-old. He may be facing teen issues.”
