KAPA‘A — The members of the All Saints’ Episcopal Church went through 20 different names for their new bookstore before finally settling on Hale Lani. “It was so late at night when I just threw the name out there,” said
KAPA‘A — The members of the All Saints’ Episcopal Church went through 20 different names for their new bookstore before finally settling on Hale Lani.
“It was so late at night when I just threw the name out there,” said Sybill Nishioka. “We decided on My Lani Hale because ‘lani’ means ‘heavenly’ and ‘hale’ means ‘house.’ And it stuck.”
Well, sort of.
“We found out that My Lani Hale wasn’t grammatically correct,” Nishioka said. “So we changed it to Hale Lani. ‘House of heaven’ or ‘heavenly store.’”
Needless to say, everything is set and ready for its blessing by the Rev. Mary Koppel and Nathan Kalama, this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
“It’s been a labor of love,” Nishioka said.
The bookstore has been 18 months in the works. After receiving a grant from the United Thank Offering Organization and the Sloggett Trust, church members were able to take care of inventory and set up shop.
It looks just like the Christian bookstores you’ll find at a mall, with shiny, brand new items. From hand-crafted wood figurines from Bethlehem to Christian keepsakes, and, of course, books, Nishioka said, that cater to all Christian denominations.
On Nov. 14, All Saints finally received its permit to open the bookstore to the public.
The bookstore is located in the gym, where an old Sunday School room used to be.
“The kids came and painted the door and we’re going to paint and fix it up,” she said. “We’re building it up slowly.”
Complimentary coffee and tea, snacks and cold beverages for purchase and an area with computer access that is free for students and seniors will be available in an adjacent room.
Hale Lani, beginning Monday, will be open to the public Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays before and after service.
“Right now it’s all volunteers,” Nishioka said. “It’s good because most of the retirees volunteer for it because they can work in the mornings.”
Funds raised from sales will go towards building up more inventory for the store and the church’s youth programs, like last year’s dodgeball tournament.
With the bookstore open to the public, she can get feedback from the community to see what she should have more or less of.
For more information, call 822-7257.
• Lanaly Cabalo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
