All-around fun to end Summer Reading Program

By Matthew Nash • August 20, 2025 1:30 am

The North Olympic Library System’s Summer Reading Program went out spinning with Hillia the Hula Hoop Extraordinaire.

The performer brought her hula hooping skills to the Olympic Peninsula Academy gym on Thursday, Aug. 14 for a crowd of eager families.

Hula, who prefers to be called by her stage name, shared multiple hula hoop skills, including hooping dozens of hoops at once, and hooping while reading “Pete The Cat: I Love My White Shoes.” She also gave a few pointers to participants and led contests to see who could hula hoop the longest. The honor went twice to Kirra Thornburg of Port Angeles.

Participants also received Popsicles.

While Summer Reading Program events are over, Family Storytime resumes at 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays on Sept. 10 at the Sequim Temporary Library, 609 W Washington St., unit 21. There’s also Nature Storytime at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Dungeness River Nature Center.

The Summer Reading Program at NOLS’ four branches is supported by local Friends of the Library groups.

Hillia Hula leads participants in a session of hula hooping during the Sequim Library’s Summer Reading Program. She said that it was OK if the hula hoop falls because you can keep learning and having fun.

Kirra Thornburg of Port Angeles stands on one foot as she wins the hula hoop contest on Aug. 14 at the Sequim Library’s Summer Reading Program event.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Above: Michelle Eisen of Everett hula hoops on Aug. 14 at the North Olympic Library System’s hula hoop event in Olympic Peninsula Academy’s gym. Eisen said she and her three sons were visiting their grandmother in Sequim.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Hillia Hula speaks with Reyna Envick of Sequim as she and others practice hula hooping on Aug. 14 in Olympic Peninsula Academy’s gym.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Vienna Beck of Port Angeles practices hula hooping with Hillia Hula at the North Olympic Library System’s Summer Reading Program.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ While hula hooping, Hillia Hula reads “Pete The Cat: I Love My White Shoes” to a crowd at the Sequim Library’s Summer Reading Program.

Hillia Hula encourages visitors of the Sequim Library Summer Reading Program by telling them that she learned to spin 40 hula hoops with just one to start.