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
📖 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
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.
