Activities, events begin in January, continue through the spring at library locations
HENDERSON, Nev. – In celebration of Hawaiian Heritage, Henderson Libraries will host a series of themed events beginning with a Jan. 28 Hawaiian Monarchy and Sovereignty Kickoff at the Green Valley Library. Running through June, the events will focus on Hawaiian culture and have been planned by a committee of library staff and key members of the Hawaiian community. All events are free and open to the public of all ages. The events feature live performances with commentary, displays, hands-on activities and snacks donated by Trader Joe’s.
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 6,784 native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders live in the Las Vegas Valley, which includes Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson. Four main events, taking place at four of the six library locations, will celebrate the history, culture, music and dance of Hawaii. They include:
- “The Hawaiian Monarchy and Sovereignty,” 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway. Participants will create feather crafts, play games, learn hula, discuss, view movie screenings and enjoy live music presenting the history of the Hawaiian royalty and issue of a sovereign Hawaii.
- “Ho’oipoipo ‘o Hawaii: The Romance of Hawaii,” noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, Gibson Library, 100 W. Lake Mead Parkway. Participants will learn about the romance of Hawaii through painting, sculpture, poetry, songs, dance and crafts.
- “The Spirit of Hawaii: Hawai’i’s Religion and Gods and Goddesses,” noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25, Galleria Library, inside the Galleria at Sunset, 1300 W. Sunset Road. Interactive Hawaiian cultural displays, informative history lectures, stories by traditional Hawaiian practitioners and a showcase of ancient and contemporary hula will be available for patrons seeking to capture the essence of Hawaii’s gods.
- “Hawaii is Home,” 1-5 p.m. Saturday, March 24, Paseo Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. The event will celebrate Hawaii as a blend of cultures and people. Participants will be able to see the impact of the various cultures and customs through simple displays, songs and dance by a variety of performers.
Throughout the spring, the library locations will continue to host a variety of additional Hawaiian cultural programs. For a complete event listing of programs, visit the Henderson Libraries event calendar on the website, www.mypubliclibrary.com. The libraries also are seeking donations of quality Hawaiian books, music and movies, which may be dropped off at any Henderson Library location. For additional information on these donations, call 702-207-4274. These events are funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in conjunction with the Nevada State Library.
Established in 1943 as a single library in Downtown Henderson, Henderson Libraries operates six locations throughout Henderson. Henderson Libraries cooperates with other public libraries in Southern Nevada, the Nevada System of Higher Education, the Clark County School District and all other libraries around the state to provide quality service for Nevada’s residents.
For additional information on Henderson Libraries, visit www.mypubliclibrary.com or call 702-492-6581.