They used to say that the only people reading in Hawai'i were tourists with their "beach books." Then the big book retailers started racking up impressive sales — we're sixth in the nation in book sales per square foot of retail space, and our regional publishing industry is exceptionally strong, says publisher Benjamin "Buddy" Bess.

At the same time, the number of Islanders unable to read is sobering: As in the rest of the country, 1 in 5 adults are functionally illiterate; among Native Hawaiians, the statistic is higher, according to the organization Hawaii Literacy. Some students enter the school system without ever having seen or held a book.

The two contradictory factors have spurred a group of book and reading enthusiasts to follow through on an idea that's been bandied about here for a couple of decades: a book fair.

But the Hawai'i Book & Music Festival won't be the usual trade show. It is aimed at readers, would-be readers and could-be readers, employing music as both a lure and an avenue into thinking about words and reading.

At first, when planners began talking about the event, to be held April 22 and 23 at Honolulu Hale, there were two schools of thought. One group argued that the event should be a books-only celebration; to include anything else would dilute the message. Others thought that music should be included to engage a wider audience.

Then another way of approaching the event bloomed, as organizers looked at the example of the Hawaiian host culture's connection of music to communication, using chant and dance as a way of telling stories, recording history and genealogy and passing on ideas and values.

"This is a community event," explained Book & Music Festival chairman Blair Collis of the Hawaii Publishers Association, whose work with the Bishop Museum Press got him thinking of the Hawaiian connection between words and music.

Dozens of writers are expected to participate, and there will be the usual readings, signings, panel discussions and talks.

Writers of national stature will raise the event's profile. Guests are still being recruited, but both Maxine Hong Kingston ("China Men," "Woman Warrior") and John Saul ("Suffer the Children" and 32 other best-selling suspense novels) are committed to attend.

But the focus of the multiple stages and pavilions and activities will be on interaction.

"Books are static things on pieces of paper, but they carry with them ideas, experiences and knowledge, and we want to express that in terms of what we see and hear and do at the fair. We want to make the point that books come from people who are just like us. These people have the ability to demonstrate their knowledge and interest and passion through a book, but they can also do that by interacting with you and me," said Collis.

So there will be not only cookbooks but cooking demonstrations. Not only displays of craft books but demonstrations. Not just concerts, but talk-story opportunities with the songwriters and composers who create the Islands' popular music.

Publisher Bess, also a board member, said he's been thinking about a Hawai'i book fair for 10 or 12 years, but only in the past couple of years has the topic incited enthusiasm. "I think Hawai'i is culturally ready for this — there's such a proliferation of books and book publishing here," he said.

Former Hawai'i first lady Lynne Waihe'e, who heads Read to International, is enthusiastic about exciting people about books and reading: "People have to be exposed to something to know how really enjoyable it is — a lot of times, even just handling books, just seeing a table full of books, gets children excited about reading."

Children's books are immensely popular in Hawai'i, Waihe'e notes, and the children's area at the festival is expected to be large and full of interest.

Collis said the effects of illiteracy ripple through the community in the form of joblessness or limited job choices, which in turn lead to many other ills. "It's hard to chart and document, but we hope a high-profile event like this will make people in the general public realize that illiteracy is a significant problem, that the consequences affect you, and that together that we can fix it."

Mayor Mufi Hannemann is honorary chairman. The Bank of Hawaii is name sponsor; media sponsors include KHON-2 and The Honolulu Advertiser.

Reach Wanda A. Adams at wadams@honoluluadvertiser.com.