Hawaii State Library

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

The library’s Audiovisual Section, which houses a comprehensive DVD and CD collection, is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and again from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.  On Fridays, the AV Section is only open from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Address

478 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813, United States
808-586-3500
Hawaii State Library

About

Welcome to the Hawaii State Library, the flagship of the Hawaii 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 Hawaii & 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

Baby Storytime
seated parent with child on lap look at book. ABC, music notes, and stars surround them
  • September 9, 2024 @ 9:30 am - 10:00 am
  • 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. 

Baby Storytime
seated parent with child on lap look at book. ABC, music notes, and stars surround them
  • September 16, 2024 @ 9:30 am - 10:00 am
  • 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. 

Baby Storytime
seated parent with child on lap look at book. ABC, music notes, and stars surround them
  • September 23, 2024 @ 9:30 am - 10:00 am
  • 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. 

Chess at the Library
white and brown chess pieces on a chess board
  • September 28, 2024 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
  • Contact: 808-586-3500

Please join us for Chess at the Library in the Art, Music, & Recreation section on the 2nd floor of the Main Library.

Six boards will be available- 1st come, first serve.

All experience levels are welcome.

Please contact the Art, Music, & Recreation section at 586-3520 for more information.

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.

Spanish Book Club
Gods of Jade and Shadow Book Cover

Join us for the next meeting of our monthly Spanish book club! El Rincón Literario de Hawai’i will meet to share and discuss Dioses de jade y sombra by Silvia Moreno-García. Limited copies of the book are available in the Hawaiʻi State Public Library system.

Ages 18 or older.

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
  • September 30, 2024 @ 9:30 am - 10:00 am
  • 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. 

Chess at the Library
white and brown chess pieces on a chess board
  • October 26, 2024 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
  • Contact: 808-586-3500

Please join us for Chess at the Library in the Art, Music, & Recreation section on the 2nd floor of the Main Library.

Six boards will be available- 1st come, first serve.

All experience levels are welcome.

Please contact the Art, Music, & Recreation section at 586-3520 for more information.

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.

International Games Month Kickoff!
International Games Month logo

Connect with your community at Hawaii State Library’s Game Day. Learn new board and card games or play classic favorites.

-Win prizes at Bingo (2PM-3PM)

-Connect4

-Ticket to Ride

-Exploding Kittens

-Rubik’s Cube

-and More!

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.

 

Chess at the Library
white and brown chess pieces on a chess board
  • November 23, 2024 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
  • Contact: 808-586-3500

Please join us for Chess at the Library in the Art, Music, & Recreation section on the 2nd floor of the Main Library.

Six boards will be available- 1st come, first serve.

All experience levels are welcome.

Please contact the Art, Music, & Recreation section at 586-3520 for more information.

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.

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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In observance of the Labor Day holiday, all public libraries will be closed from Saturday to Monday, August 31 to September 2, 2024.