Heritage center proposed for former Bond library

In a state rich in history, North Kohala — the birthplace of King Kamehameha — plays no small role in forging Hawaii’s past.

But this scenic and windswept corner of Hawaii Island still lacks a place to tell its story, and a small group of volunteers is hoping to change that.

On Friday, a day after the state celebrates Kamehameha Day, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources will consider supporting their effort to turn the former library in Kapaau into a Kohala heritage center.

The board’s action is needed to cancel a governor’s order requiring the land to revert to the heirs of the previous owners once it stops being used as a library and lease the land to the group. Caroline Bond donated the land to the Territory of Hawaii for the building’s construction in 1928.

The library closed in 2010 following the completion of the North Kohala Public Library.

It wasn’t clear if any of Bond’s heirs have an interest in the property.

Sharon Hayden of the volunteer group Kaapaapaa said the building located across from the town’s Kamehameha statue, would be a perfect place to display the area’s history.

“Our general notion is that we want it to be like other places that have community museums where all levels of age groups get involved,” Hayden said. She said it also could be a repository for historical items from local families.

For now, Hayden said the group of about five active volunteers doesn’t have a timeline for when they hope to complete their project.

But she thinks the effort will be worthwhile even if they simply succeed in saving the site.

“It’s one of the 10 most endangered buildings” in Hawaii, Hayden said.

“If it ends up in another purpose, then godspeed.”

Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.