Hawai‘i State Library

The Hawai‘i State Library is an authorized Passport Acceptance Facility. Learn about passport processing hours and requirements.

The library’s Audiovisual Section, which houses an extensive DVD and CD collection, is open daily. Monday through Friday the AV Section closes from 11:00 am to 2 pm. The AV Section is open for browsing Thursday evening, and all day Saturday.

Address

478 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813, United States
Directions

TEL: 808-586-3500

Hawaii State Library

About

Welcome to the Hawai‘i State Library, the flagship of the Hawai‘i State Public Library System! With financial assistance from Andrew Carnegie, the present location was acquired and the existing building was built and opened on Feb. 1, 1913. We have a variety of special resources, most notably our Hawai‘i & Pacific Section, the Edna Allyn Room Children’s collection, and also the Federal Documents Section, which has been a Selective Federal Depository Library since 1929. We are located in the historic capitol district of Honolulu, next door to the only Royal Palace in the United States.

Upcoming events at this branch

Children’s Storytime
cartoon animals reading a book

Join us for Children’s Storytime on Saturdays at the Hawai’i State Library. Families can enjoy stories, rhymes, songs, and crafts. Best for ages 3-5; all ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by a parent or 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. Program schedule is subject to change.

Baby Storytime
seated parent with child on lap look at book. ABC, music notes, and stars surround them
  • December 1, 2025 @ 9:30 am - 10:00 pm
  • Contact: 808-586-3500

Join us in the Edna Allyn Room for Children for lap-sit storytime! Bring your babies (0-23 months) and a blanket for stories, interactive rhymes, and songs in this 30-minute program.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. 

All programs are subject to change.  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. 

Children’s Storytime
cartoon animals reading a book

Join us for Children’s Storytime on Saturdays at the Hawai’i State Library. Families can enjoy stories, rhymes, songs, and crafts. Best for ages 3-5; all ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by a parent or 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. Program schedule is subject to change.

Celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday
Jane Austen silhouette with floral detail

A Regency-Inspired Afternoon of Fun and Elegance

In honor of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, the Hawai‘i State Library and the Jane Austen Society of North America Hawai‘i Region invite you to a delightful celebration filled with Regency-era activities. Join us for this free, festive event fit for Austen fans, anglophiles, cosplay history buffs, and anyone else curious about the life and times of the woman who penned six celebrated English novels, including Pride and Prejudice.

Event Highlights:
✨ Period Dancing
♠️ Card Games
📚 Book Swap & Door Prizes
🍰 Afternoon Tea
📸 Selfie Wall & Jane Austen Talks
👗 Dress in Your Regency Best!*

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Hawaii and the Jane Austen Society of North America – Hawaii Region.

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.

Baby Storytime
seated parent with child on lap look at book. ABC, music notes, and stars surround them
  • December 8, 2025 @ 9:30 am - 10:00 pm
  • Contact: 808-586-3500

Join us in the Edna Allyn Room for Children for lap-sit storytime! Bring your babies (0-23 months) and a blanket for stories, interactive rhymes, and songs in this 30-minute program.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. 

All programs are subject to change.  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. 

Children’s Storytime
cartoon animals reading a book

Join us for Children’s Storytime on Saturdays at the Hawai’i State Library. Families can enjoy stories, rhymes, songs, and crafts. Best for ages 3-5; all ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by a parent or 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. Program schedule is subject to change.

Explore Your Family Roots – Okinawan Family Genealogy
B/w Okinawan family & copy of passport/paperwork

Want to start investigating your Okinawan family background but unsure where to start?

The holiday season can be a great time to interview family members and gather information, so join us to learn about which family records to look for, how to use the Okinawan Migration Record Database, and the unique challenges of doing Okinawan genealogy research.

No genealogy experience required!

About the speakers: Jacqueline Toma is the president of the Okinawan Genealogical Society of Hawaii (OGSH), which promotes, preserves, and perpetuates our Okinawa family heritage through education, research, and networking. Kanako Yamakawa is a graduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and previously worked for the Okinawan Prefectural Library as a genealogical researcher.

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.

Baby Storytime
seated parent with child on lap look at book. ABC, music notes, and stars surround them
  • December 15, 2025 @ 9:30 am - 10:00 pm
  • Contact: 808-586-3500

Join us in the Edna Allyn Room for Children for lap-sit storytime! Bring your babies (0-23 months) and a blanket for stories, interactive rhymes, and songs in this 30-minute program.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. 

All programs are subject to change.  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. 

Children’s Storytime
cartoon animals reading a book

Join us for Children’s Storytime on Saturdays at the Hawai’i State Library. Families can enjoy stories, rhymes, songs, and crafts. Best for ages 3-5; all ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by a parent or 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. Program schedule is subject to change.

Baby Storytime
seated parent with child on lap look at book. ABC, music notes, and stars surround them
  • December 22, 2025 @ 9:30 am - 10:00 pm
  • Contact: 808-586-3500

Join us in the Edna Allyn Room for Children for lap-sit storytime! Bring your babies (0-23 months) and a blanket for stories, interactive rhymes, and songs in this 30-minute program.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. 

All programs are subject to change.  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. 

Hours

Date Time
Monday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday CLOSED - CLOSED

Access

Parking spots 0
Parking fee Metered
Handicap parking spots 2
Book drop off Yes
Restrooms Yes

Services

Computers 54
Magazines 208
Newspapers 24
WiFi Yes
Friends' book store Yes
Free computer classes Yes
Meeting rooms No
Photocopying Yes
Test proctoring services No

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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.

ALERT | Support Hawaiʻi’s communities by donating canned and nonperishable food items at your local public library now through November 14.

Learn More

ALERT #1 | Scheduled website maintenance will take place on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 9:00pm to 9:30pm HST.
During this time, some online features may be temporarily unavailable.

ALERT | The Hawaii State Library's telephone lines are temporarily down. The library is open for regular public service hours.