25,000 readers read more than 180,000 books during this year’s statewide Summer Reading Challenge
A Big Island “emerging reader” won one of two grand prizes for reading more than 800 minutes during the eight-week challenge.
More than 25,000 people read more than 180,000 books during Hawaiʻi’s 2026 Summer Reading Challenge. They spent more than 8.8 million minutes reading, or a combined total of more than 6,000 days or roughly 17 years.
They included “emerging reader” Elliana Mowry of Kailua-Kona, who logged 808 minutes of reading.
She won a drawing for one of the two grand prizes: round-trip airline tickets to anywhere Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines fly domestically.
“Her goal, since she found out about winning, is to read by herself, and she is doing so great!” said Sierra Mowry, Elliana’s mother. “This big life moment will solidify her love for reading.”
A reading challenge organizer Allison Holbrook, Branch Manager of the Kailua-Kona Public Library, said in a press release: “We were blown away this year by how many of our patrons participated in the Summer Reading Challenge, which shows how involved our community is in our library and what we have to offer.”
The eight-week challenge ran from June 1 through July 31 and was open to readers of all ages. They were asked to track the number of books or the number of minutes they read.
Participating readers earned rewards and sponsor-provided prizes during this year’s challenge. The theme was ʻUmeke Kāʻeo, meaning a calabash overflowing with abundance.
“Every one of those stories adds to our collective calabash of knowledge, imagination and possibility,” said State Librarian Stacey A. Aldrich, who leads the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System with 51 branches serving six islands.
This year, for the first time in the history of the reading challenge, a grand prize was awarded to an adult reader. The winner was Eden Bensadoun of Kahului, who logged 16 books.
“Reading reminds us that learning and discovery never stop, no matter our age,” said Jacob Aki, senior public affairs manager at Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. “For our keiki, reading opens the door to imagination, discovery and a lifetime of possibilities.”
Hawaiʻi has the only statewide public library system in the United States. Learn more at librarieshawaii.org.
