Wailuku Public Library
🏢 Hawaiʻi State Public Library System — Maui County
Wailuku Public Library
Maui County's first public library, this 1929 landmark on High Street was designed by celebrated architect C. W. Dickey and anchors the Wailuku Civic Center Historic District in the county seat.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 1pm–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 251 High Street, Wailuku, HI 96793
Phone: 808-243-5766
Website: librarieshawaii.org
📍 Plan your visit
🚉 Getting there
251 S High St, Wailuku, HI 96793. Get transit & driving directions → (live subway, bus & car routes).
♿ Accessibility
Includes wheelchair-accessible entrance, accessible parking.
⭐ Visitor rating
4.5 / 5 from 37 Google reviews.
🕑 Best time to go
Usually calmest soon after opening; busiest around 11 am.
Visit details from the library’s Google Business Profile, verified October 2026 — confirm on official page before a special-date trip.
📖 About Wailuku Public Library
The Wailuku Public Library opened on August 6, 1929 as the first public library in Maui County, its existence owed to the Maui Woman's Club, whose members pushed Senator Harold Rice to secure passage of the territorial County Library Law in 1921. Architect C. W. Dickey gave it his signature expansive, double-pitched hipped roof, set back from High Street on a sloping lawn in a style often described as distinctly Hawaiian. A grandfather clock made by the Herschede Clock Company, a gift of the Maui Woman's Club at the 1929 opening, still stands in the adult reading room, and a 1950s addition enclosed a children's patio and reading area. The building sits within the Wailuku Civic Center Historic District.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- The first public library in Maui County, opened August 6, 1929
- Designed by architect C. W. Dickey with his signature double-pitched hipped roof; part of the Wailuku Civic Center Historic District
- Herschede grandfather clock in the adult reading room, a 1929 gift from the Maui Woman's Club
📱 Free with a Hawaiʻi State Public Library Card
Any Hawaiʻi resident can get an HSPLS card free (visitors can buy a 3-month card) and unlock:
📍 More Hawaiʻi State Public Library System libraries
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I park at the Wailuku Public Library?
The library does not have its own parking lot. Visitors can use metered street parking on High Street or the County parking lot across from the library, and one accessible stall is available at the building.
Does the Wailuku Public Library have children's storytime?
Yes. The branch hosts a free Keiki Story Time for young children on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. A Hawaiʻi State Public Library System card also lets keiki borrow free e-books and audiobooks through apps like Libby and hoopla.
Is the Wailuku Public Library a historic building?
Yes. It opened in 1929 as Maui County's first public library, was designed by noted architect C. W. Dickey, and stands within the Wailuku Civic Center Historic District.
Who was responsible for founding the Wailuku library?
The Maui Woman's Club drove its creation, urging Senator Harold Rice to introduce the County Library Law passed by the territorial legislature in 1921; the club also donated the grandfather clock that still stands in the reading room.
What architectural features distinguish the Wailuku library?
Architect C. W. Dickey gave the building his signature expansive, double-pitched hipped roof, set back from High Street on a sloping lawn in a style often described as Hawaiian, with a 1950s addition enclosing a children's patio.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
