Nāʻālehu Public Library

Address

95-5669 Mamalahoa Hwy, Naalehu, HI 96772, United States
Directions

TEL: 808-939-2442

Naalehu Public Library

About

Welcome to the Nāʻālehu Public Library! One of the smallest libraries in HSPLS, our 775- sq. ft. “portable” library building opened in its present location on Feb. 24, 1994. Following a two year expansion project, the newly-renovated 1,676-sq. ft. library reopened on November 15, 2021. The Library expansion project was a partnership between the Hawai‘i State Public Library System, the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i, and the United States Department of Agriculture that provided grant funding to expand the building.

Nāʻālehu is considered the “southernmost community in the USA” which would make our library the “southernmost library in the USA.” Our library serves patrons from Nāʻālehu through Ocean View.


Ohana Readers and Imagination Library logosThe Nāʻālehu Public Library participates in ʻOhana Readers, a literacy program that focuses on reading with family as an affiliate program of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program offers high-quality, age-appropriate Imagination Library books each month to children who are under the age of five.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program is a ZIP code based mailing program. Families must live a specific Hawaii Island ZIP codes to participate.

To register, click your ZIP code to download the registration form or visit the branch. You may return the form by mail or drop it off at the branch. The participating library will also offer programs that complement the books the children receive, and will provide other activities to promote literacy and reading.

For more information, visit the ‘Ohana Readers website.


Upcoming events at this branch

Game night with board games, dice, cards

Drop-in between 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm every Tuesday evening to enjoy an evening of games with family and friends.

We’ll have our games available (Clue, Sorry!, Candyland, Tsuro, and many more), or bring family-friendly games you’d like to share.

Children aged 5 and younger must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity should contact library staff as soon as possible. Advance requests 48 hours or more before the event are encouraged, but not required. All programs are subject to change. See a schedule of upcoming events on the HSPLS Events Calendar.

Game night with board games, dice, cards

Drop-in between 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm every Tuesday evening to enjoy an evening of games with family and friends.

We’ll have our games available (Clue, Sorry!, Candyland, Tsuro, and many more), or bring family-friendly games you’d like to share.

Children aged 5 and younger must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity should contact library staff as soon as possible. Advance requests 48 hours or more before the event are encouraged, but not required. All programs are subject to change. See a schedule of upcoming events on the HSPLS Events Calendar.

Photo of Author Darlene Javar to the right of the cover of her book, Patsy's Gingerbread Fantasy

Local poet and retired educator, Darlene M. Javar will be sharing poems from her debut poetry chapbook, Patsyʻs Gingerbread Fantasy and Bamboo Ridge Journal of Hawaii Literature and Arts.

Patsy’s Gingerbread Fantasy, set in multicultural Hawaiʻi, includes poems of ohana, resolve, and perseverance, aloha transcending time and place as a family endures and grieves for losses across decades. Poems center around a mother whose grit and passions are timeless. The reader is immersed in culture, country, and coffee.

Suitable for teens and adults.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity should contact library staff as soon as possible. Advance requests 48 hours or more before the event are encouraged, but not required. All programs are subject to change. See a schedule of upcoming events at librarieshawaii.org/events.

Painter Bob Ross in front of one of his landscape paintings.

Sign-up to participate in our next seasonal Paint and Sip here at the Naalehu Library!

This time we’re taking inspiration from the late great Bob Ross, popular TV painting instructor and artist.

Several themed art options will be available, and we’ll serve sweetend and unsweetened iced tea (Bob’s fave painting beverage).

We are limiting participation to ten (10) people, so please see or call a library staff member to sign-up soon. 🙂

Suitable for ages 5 and up.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Ka`u Libraries.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity should contact library staff as soon as possible. Advance requests 48 hours or more before the event are encouraged, but not required. Program schedule is subject to change.

Hours

Date Time
Monday 9:00AM-12:00PM & 1:00PM-4:00PM -
Tuesday 10:00AM-12:00PM & 1:00PM-6:00PM -
Wednesday 9:00AM-12:00PM & 1:00PM-4:00PM -
Thursday 10:00AM-12:00PM & 1:00PM-6:00PM -
Friday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Saturday CLOSED - CLOSED
Sunday CLOSED - CLOSED

Access

Parking spots 16
Parking fee Free
Handicap parking spots 1
Book drop off Yes
Restrooms Yes

Services

Computers 5
Magazines 2
Newspapers 2
WiFi Yes
Friends' book store Yes
Free computer classes No
Meeting rooms No
Photocopying Yes
Test proctoring services Yes

ALERT | In holiday observance of Statehood Day, all public libraries will be closed on Friday, August 15, 2025.

ALERT | In holiday observance of Labor Day, all public libraries will be closed August 30 to September 1, 2025.

ALERT | In holiday observance of Veterans Day, all public libraries will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

ALERT | In holiday observance of Thanksgiving Day, all public libraries will be closed on Thursday, November 27, 2025.

ALERT | In holiday observance of Christmas Day, all public libraries will be closed on Thursday, December 25, 2025.

ALERT | In holiday observance of New Year's Day, all public libraries will be closed on Thursday, January 1, 2026.