Hawaii Tenri Library closes, leaving books to UH

On Dec. 13, 2025, the Hawaii Tenri Library on Nu‘uanu Avenue officially closed its doors, and Hamilton’s Japan Studies librarian, Mitsutaka Nakamura, was invited to speak at the closing ceremony.

At the library’s opening in 1980, approximately 100 guests attended, including the Consul General of Japan and University of Hawaiʻi faculty in Japanese literature. Over the years, the library’s holdings grew to nearly 50,000 volumes, and monthly patron visits reached around 700 at their peak. However, an extended closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with demographic shifts and a declining base of Japanese-language readers, ultimately led to the difficult decision to end operations.

“I have lived in the United States for the past 20 years—on the East Coast, the West Coast, and in the Midwest. Yet I have seldom seen a library serving the local community so dedicated to Japanese-language resources,” Nakamura said. “While it is painful to see the library close, I am confident these materials will continue to serve UH and our community for many years.”

As one of the largest Japanese-language community libraries in North America, the Hawaii Tenri Library developed distinctive collections. These included the Takarazuka Revue Library, featuring more than 1,000 DVDs related to the renowned all-female theatre troupe. Another highlight was the Pacific Collection, which was shaped in part by materials collected by Tenrikyo’s second Shinbashira (second spiritual leader) and associated with Tenrikyo’s historical activities in the South Seas Mandate region.

In addition to these two signature collections, Hamilton Library has received additional Japanese-language materials from the Hawaii Tenri Library, including titles related to Okinawa. These items will be processed over the coming year and made accessible for research and learning by the University of Hawaiʻi community.