Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library
🏢 Hawaii State Public Library System · Waimea, Hawaiʻi Island
Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library
Nestled in upcountry Waimea (Kamuela) on Hawaiʻi Island's ranching plains, Thelma Parker Memorial Library honors a Parker Ranch heiress with something no other Hawaii library has: hitching posts in the parking lot — and the only NASA@My Library program in the entire state, bringing Maunakea Observatory astronomy to every age.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 9am–4pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm–7pm |
| Thursday | 9am–4pm |
| Friday | 11am–4pm |
| Saturday | 9am–4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 67-1209 Mamalahoa Hwy, Waimea, HI 96743
Phone: (808) 887-6067
Website: librarieshawaii.org
Plus Code: 73G6289J+M9 (Waimea, HI)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library
Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library is one of the most distinctive branches in the Hawaii State Public Library System — a true community–school hybrid serving both public patrons and students of neighboring Waimea Elementary and Intermediate School. The library was established on land donated by Parker Ranch, the largest ranch on the Island of Hawaiʻi, and named to honor Annie Thelma Kahiluonapuaapiilani Parker, a fifth-generation Parker Ranch heir who lived from 1893 to 1914. The present building, designed by Team Pacific, Inc., opened on October 26, 1978, after a groundbreaking on September 7, 1977. At its opening it was celebrated as the only library in Hawaii designed with hitching posts — parking for buses, cars, bicycles, and horses alike — a salute to the area's deep paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) heritage. Today the library holds nearly 43,700 items and serves over 13,000 registered cardholders, functioning as a cultural and educational anchor for the upcountry Waimea community.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Only library in Hawaii selected for NASA@My Library — partners with Maunakea Observatories for hands-on astronomy and STEM events open to all ages
- Combined public-and-school library on the campus of Waimea Elementary and Intermediate School — fully open to all community members
- Built on land donated by Parker Ranch (the largest ranch on Hawaiʻi Island); named for Annie Thelma Kahiluonapuaapiilani Parker (1893–1914), a fifth-generation ranch heir
- Designed in 1978 with hitching posts — the only library in Hawaii built to accommodate horses, buses, cars, and bicycles at opening
- Free First Saturday Community Art Classes in partnership with Waimea Arts Council (all ages, all materials supplied)
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
HSPLS cardholders borrow and research free through Hawaii's digital collections:
📚 Services
- Public computers & free Wi-Fi
- Printing services
- Community meeting room rental (810 sq ft, air-conditioned)
- Interlibrary loan via HSPLS statewide network (51 branches across 6 islands)
- Self-check-out
- Wheelchair-accessible facility
- Friends of the Library daily used-book sales (Book Nook)
🎸 Programs
- NASA@My Library — annual Engineering Bash & Astrobash with Maunakea Observatories (drones, 3D printing, circuits, mobile planetarium, rocket demos, spectroscope building)
- Weekly children's story hours
- Free First Saturday Community Art Classes with Waimea Arts Council (ages 6+, advance registration)
- Monthly adult film series (PG-13 & R-rated screenings)
- After-school movie screenings
- College counseling sessions
- Internet skills & self-publishing workshops
- Hula performances & educational community workshops
📍 Nearby Libraries on Hawaiʻi Island
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this library called a 'Public and School Library' — can anyone use it?
Yes, the library is fully open to all community members regardless of age or school enrollment. The 'public and school' designation reflects its dual role: it sits on the campus of Waimea Elementary and Intermediate School and also functions as the public HSPLS branch for all of Waimea (Kamuela) and the surrounding upcountry community. Anyone can borrow materials, use computers, and attend programs as a regular public patron.
Who was Thelma Parker, and what is the connection to Parker Ranch?
Annie Thelma Kahiluonapuaapiilani Parker (1893–1914) was a fifth-generation heir to Parker Ranch — the largest privately owned ranch on Hawaiʻi Island. She was the daughter of John Palmer Parker III and died at age 20 in 1914. Her son, Richard Smart, later became Parker Ranch's sole owner and a celebrated Waimea community benefactor. The library stands on land donated by Parker Ranch and was named in Thelma's memory. Its 1978 building was even designed with hitching posts — a nod to the area's paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) heritage.
What makes the astronomy and science programs here unique on the Big Island?
Thelma Parker Memorial is the only library in Hawaii selected for NASA@My Library, a national program connecting libraries with NASA science resources. The library partners with the Maunakea Observatories — a coalition of nonprofit institutions operating telescopes on nearby Maunakea — to run the annual Engineering Bash and Astrobash events featuring drones, 3D printing, circuits, mobile planetarium shows, and rocket demonstrations. This partnership makes the library a unique gateway to Big Island astronomy outreach for families, students, and visitors of all ages.
The mailing address says 'Kamuela' — is this the Waimea on the Big Island, not Kauaʻi?
Correct. 'Kamuela' is the traditional Hawaiian post office name for Waimea on Hawaiʻi Island (the Big Island), used to distinguish it from the town of Waimea on Kauaʻi. The library's postal address is 67-1209 Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamuela, HI 96743, in Hawaiʻi County. It is not the same as the Waimea Public Library on Kauaʻi, which is a separate HSPLS branch serving Kauaʻi County.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.
