The reading and activity area in the children’s books section quickly filled with costumed keiki and their parents on Thursday when the Lihu‘e Public Library, with the help and support from the Friends of the Lihu‘e Public Library, hosted its second keiki Halloween party.
“This is only our first big event following the COVID-19 when everything got shut down,” said Victoria Lam, the Lihu‘e Library children’s librarian. “The children and their parents and caregivers were waiting for something like this. We’re slowing working our way back to how it was.”
Geared for young infants through older keiki, Lam laid out the library with a series of hands-on activity stations aimed at enhancing skills development, highlighted by the Trick or Treat Give Me Something Good to Read free keiki book.
“This is so good,” Lam said. “A lot of these people attending and participating are regular library users.”
Keiki scrambled about, many making new friends, as they enjoyed the various stations that included Spider Frenzy, Witch Hat Ring Toss, Scavenger Hunt, a Photo Booth, Bucket of Guts, Mummy Bowling, Pin the Skeleton, Websplat game, Bean Bag Toss, Ping Pong Pumpkin Toss, a Pound-the-Pumpkin skills development station, and the popular train that was built and donated by Jim Jung.
“This is important for parents, too,” Lam said. “It’s good for parents and child caregivers to be able to get out of the house and talk and interact with other parents and people involved with keiki in the same age.”
The children’s librarian said this is one of the projects where they get a lot of help from the Friends of the Lihu‘e Public Library, that also announced its Fall Used Book Sale on Nov. 4 and 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Proceeds from the sale support the library through programs like the keiki Halloween party and more.
For teens, one of the library staff announced that Nora the Fortune Teller will be sharing the history of the tarot and the basic meanings of the 78 cards Friday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the library’s young adult area. Nora will also be able to tell your fortune, if you dare.
It’s in the cards.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
