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Still Life Books, a used book and record store in downtown Hilo, Hawaii, was severely damaged last week by flooding from Hurricane Lane. Store owner Royce Wilson told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald that out of the store's 7,000 or so books, only "800 to 900" were salvageable, and although the basement-level store had a sump pump, it was "overwhelmed" by the volume of water.
"I was standing in 2 to 3 feet of water watching Beatles albums floating by my feet," recalled Wilson. "And there was an Albert Camus novel floating by at the same time."
According to the Tribune-Herald, business owners and Hilo-area residents who suffered damage from Hurricane Lane do not know yet what sort of aid may be available. Wilson, who managed to save around 1,500 records, added that he thought he might have enough to start over in a smaller location.
"I feel like overnight I lost my... identity as a local business person and as a lover of literature and good music," he said.
Wilson's daughter Tamara White, meanwhile, has started a GoFundMe campaign to help him rebuild the business. Money raised by the campaign, which so far has totaled around $750, will go toward restoring lost inventory, repairing or replacing damaged shelving and furniture, and paying rent, as well as possible relocation expenses.
White called the store Wilson's "life's work, his dream, and his sole income," and noted that for years locals have referred to him affectionately as "The Bookman." She wrote: "For well over a decade, Still Life Books has been a pillar of the community, providing locals and tourists with quality merchandise for their reading and musical needs."