Hawai‘i State Library

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.

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.

Upcoming events at this branch

Baby Storytime
seated parent with child on lap look at book. ABC, music notes, and stars surround them

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. 

Silent Book Club
Globe character reading while sitting on top of a pile of books

Join us for our Silent Book Club, a monthly gathering for those who enjoy reading in a quiet, shared space. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, in the Language, Literature, and History Reference Area and Courtyard of the Hawai‘i State Library.

Participation is simple. Bring a book of your choice or select one from the library’s collection. There are no assigned books, no deadlines, and no required discussions—just the joy of reading in companionable silence.

All ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by a parent or 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.

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 2-5; 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

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 2-5; 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.

Free Movie Screening: Hoppers! (PG) an American animated science fiction adventure comedy film

Synopsis:

As a passionate animal-lover who ferociously follows her heart, Mabel cares for creatures both big and small but can sometimes lose patience with humankind. Spending time with her gentle and beloved Grandma Tanaka, Mabel finds peace in the beautiful tranquility that nature has to offer, until the very glade she grew up caring for is threatened. Mabel seizes an opportunity to use a new technology to “hop” her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver and communicate directly with animals to rally the entire animal kingdom to face a major imminent human-threat.

Director: Daniel Chong

Seating in first floor Reading Room on a space available basis.

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

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 2-5; 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.

Sharing our Roads: an Update on Hawaii’s E-bike Regulations

Presented by the Hawaii Bicycling League:

Join us in the Lobby to learn about the new laws passed in July affecting those on bicycles, e-bikes and other micromobility devices–including who can ride them, where they can be ridden, and the critical updates you need to know to stay safe on our roadways whether you walk, drive, or ride.

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

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 0
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

You have questions. We have answers.
We're librarians. (It's what we do.)

Ask us a question

HOLIDAY CLOSURE | In observance of Statehood Day, all public libraries will be closed on Friday, August 21, 2026.

ALERT | In observance of Labor Day, all public libraries will be closed Saturday, September 5 through Monday, September 7, 2026.

HOLIDAY CLOSURE | In observance of General Election Day, all public libraries will be closed on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

HOLIDAY CLOSURE | In observance of Veterans Day, all public libraries will be closed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.

HOLIDAY CLOSURE | In observance of Thanksgiving Day, all public libraries will be closed on Thursday, November 26, 2026.

HOLIDAY CLOSURE | In observance of Christmas Day, all public libraries will be closed on Friday, December 25, 2026.