North Shore NewsTamara King
Don Ramos, the friendly face everyone sees upon walking into the library, is retiring on April 29th, 2022. Don’s roots with the Kahuku Library run deep.
As an 8-year old child, he used to sit on the carpet in the newly built library (founded in 1968) and listen to School Librarian Mrs. Oshima’s read aloud time, back when Kahuku High and Intermediate was also an elementary school. Then, in middle school, he worked as an assistant janitor for the Kahuku Library for a couple summers into his high school days.
In 1981, he became a permanent hire and officially started his career for the Hawaii State Public Library System as a Library Assistant. Shortly after, he trained a new hire named Richard Burns, who would eventually become the State Librarian. A couple years later, he met his lovely wife of 37 years, Myrna, inside the library’s back conference room. His family grew with the birth of his two daughters, Donna and Andrina, who also spent countless hours inside the library. They were both stellar students, excelling in band and sports, National History Day Champs, and valedictorians.
Don’s meticulous nature and work ethic led to his work in graphic design and production. He would painstakingly make banners, signs, and flyers by hand, using stencils, rulers, pencils, and superpotent permanent markers that would make the average person pass out. Don has the eye to make designs come to life and literally pop off the page. He’s known for large 3-D projects, such as a 6 ft wide pterodactyl skeleton; a bat cave made out of empty milk jugs and trash bags; a life-size vintage British phone booth that spun around; and a castle complete with a crest, dragon, and mice for the keiki corner.
Besides graphics, patrons will miss Don’s topnotch customer service. Friendly, relaxed, and helpful. He knows the Dewey Decimal System by heart and stops whatever he’s doing at the moment to help you first. Don, it’s been a pleasure to work with you and we wish you well. Happy trails as you ride into the sunset