Senator Donna Mercado Kim Receives 2011 Mahalo Award

Photo Caption: Senator Donna Mercado Kim receives Friends of the Library of Hawaii’s 2011 Mahalo Award. Joining in the celebration are Friends’ officials (from left) Byrde Cestare, Executive Director; Susan Li, President (outgoing); Rosemary Chong, Director; Allene Suemori, President (incoming); and Governor Neil Abercrombie. Photo courtesy of HSPLS.

On January 11, 2012, Friends of the Library of Hawaii honored Senate Vice President Donna Mercado Kim (District 14-Moanalua, Aiea, Fort Shafter, Kalihi Valley and Halawa Valley) with  the 2011 Mahalo Award at Washington Place.

The Mahalo Award is presented to the State legislator who has demonstrated his or her support of Hawaii’s public libraries during the past legislative session.

According to Hawaii State Public Library System’s ( HSPLS), Senator Kim was honored for her work as a member of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means during the 2011 Session, where she played an instrumental role in keeping the HSPLS budget intact and helped minimize reductions over the past few years.

In the tradition of Mahalo Award recipients, Senator Kim donated a copy of one of her favorite books, “Personal Coaching for Results” by Lou Tice, to her local library, the Salt Lake-Moanalua Public Library.