Molokaʻi Public Library
🏢 Hawaiʻi State Public Library System — Maui County
Molokaʻi Public Library
The one and only public library on the island of Molokaʻi, this charming 1937 landmark in Kaunakakai has served the whole island for more than 80 years.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–12pm, 1pm–4pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–12pm, 1pm–4pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm–4pm, 5pm–7pm |
| Thursday | 9am–12pm, 1pm–4pm |
| Friday | 12pm–4pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 15 Ala Malama Street, Kaunakakai, HI 96748
Phone: 808-553-1765
Website: librarieshawaii.org
📖 About Molokaʻi Public Library
The Molokaʻi Public Library is the sole public library on the island of Molokaʻi, part of Maui County, serving every community across the island from its home in the town of Kaunakakai. It opened on May 21, 1937 as a Public Works Administration project, funded through a territorial appropriation secured by George P. Cooke, then president of the Territorial Senate; the island had no library at all until 1927, when Mrs. Roland (Mary) Gay started a book exchange in her home at Kaluakoʻi. A single-story example of 1930s Hawaiian-style civic architecture, the building is recognized for both its history and its design, and remains the island's central point for reading, learning and public internet access as a branch of the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- The only public library on the entire island of Molokaʻi, serving the whole island from Kaunakakai
- Opened May 21, 1937 as a Public Works Administration project funded through an appropriation by Territorial Senate president George P. Cooke
- A recognized example of 1930s-era Hawaiian civic architecture; island library service traces to Mary Gay's 1927 home book exchange
📱 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 this really the only library on Molokaʻi?
Yes. The Molokaʻi Public Library in Kaunakakai is the single public library serving the entire island of Molokaʻi, which is part of Maui County. Residents from across the island rely on this one branch of the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System.
How old is the Molokaʻi Public Library?
The library opened on May 21, 1937 as a Public Works Administration project and has served the island for more than 80 years. Before it existed, Molokaʻi had no library until 1927, when Mary Gay began a book exchange in her home.
What are the library's hours, and are they split during the day?
Yes — the schedule includes midday breaks. It is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.; Wednesday 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.; and Friday 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. It is closed Saturday and Sunday. Hours can change, so call 808-553-1765 to confirm.
