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Witches Wait For Harry Potter, by Colette P. Fox

The forecast for area bookstores and libraries this weekend is crowded as the sixth book in the Harry Potter series goes on sale at midnight Saturday. Both bookstores and libraries have events planned between Friday and Sunday.

For most of us Harry Potter is just a magical diversion, but there are people right here in Hawaii who practice witchcraft as a way of life.

Harry Potter and his wizarding cohorts are conjuring up customers at Prosperity Corner in Kaimuki. More than half the inventory is devoted to the tools of witchcraft and there's the latest Potter paraphernalia, like the Hogwart's sorting hat.

"I think its kind of sweet-looking, kind of funny," said co-owner D.J. Colbert as she tried on the sorting hat. "If you're not sure what house you're in, then you can go to the sorting hat and he'll be really glad to tell you."

The shop's proprietors - Colbert and her sister Niki Taittinger - don't usually come to work in pointy hats, but the sisters are more than happy to answer questions about what it's like to be third-generation witches of the Wiccan faith.

"At the age of maturation, which is 13, our parents let us have a choice if we wanted to be practitioners and continue or we could choose something else," explained Taittinger. "Sometimes people are drawn to the path and other times they're born into magical families."

The sisters say there are more than a hundred witches in Hawaii, some solo practitioners and many members of covens like themselves. Although most witches tend to be secretive, the sisters enjoy sharing their magic and their beliefs.

"Talk to your local witch," said Taittinger. "Get to know them and you'll see they are wonderful people. They are truly givers."

Colbert and Taittinger don't believe in black magic. They say their psychic readings, potions and herbs all aim to help people.

Some of the books in the store could come straight from Harry Potter's reading list, like "The Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells." Others are more modern, like the one on cyber-spells.

Although they don't sell the Harry Potter books, Colbert gives the series her seal of approval.

"[Author J.K. Rowling has] done a lot of homework in putting these books together because there's just enough reality in there to make them wonderful," she said.

Although the sixth book doesn't go on sale until Saturday, you don't need a crystal ball to see how well it will sell.