Kailua-Kona Public Library
🏢 Hawaii State Public Library System · Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi
Kailua-Kona Public Library
Opened on a leap day — February 29, 1992 — the Kailua-Kona Public Library is the second largest and second busiest library on Hawaiʻi Island, serving the heart of the Kona Coast with a Hawaiiana collection, a Community Seed Library, and award-winning accessible design.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 12pm–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–4pm |
| 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: 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Phone: (808) 327-4327
Website: librarieshawaii.org
Plus Code: 73F6J2Q5+2F (Kailua-Kona, HI)
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📖 About Kailua-Kona Public Library
The Kailua-Kona Public Library, a branch of the statewide Hawaii State Public Library System (HSPLS), opened on February 29, 1992, designed by architect George Iwasaki and honored with an exemplary design award from the Hawaii Commission on Persons with Disabilities. Situated on Hualalai Road in the cultural and commercial center of the Kona Coast, it is the second largest and second busiest public library on Hawaiʻi Island (the Big Island). The library holds books, magazines, audiovisual materials, State and County government documents, and a dedicated Hawaiiana collection covering local history, language, and island culture. In September 2015 the branch launched a Community Seed Library, where patrons check out seed packets, grow plants at home, and return seeds from their harvest to replenish the collection — a natural fit for Kona's rich agricultural heritage. The Friends of the Libraries, Kona (F.O.L.K.) has supported the branch since 1988 through lobby book sales, a monthly lanai book club, and the Ready to Read outreach program that brings second graders in for library-card registration.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened February 29, 1992 (a leap day) — designed by George Iwasaki; honored with an exemplary design award from the Hawaii Commission on Persons with Disabilities
- Second largest and second busiest public library on Hawaiʻi Island (the Big Island)
- Dedicated Hawaiiana collection covering local history, language, culture, and government documents
- Community Seed Library (est. September 2015): borrow seeds, grow crops, return seeds from your harvest to keep the collection thriving
- Drive-through book drop for after-hours returns and monthly lanai book club hosted by the Friends of the Libraries, Kona
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
HSPLS cardholders can borrow, stream, and learn free through the statewide digital collection:
📚 Services
- Books, magazines, DVDs, audiobooks, and musical recordings
- Hawaiiana collection (local history, culture, language, and government documents)
- Community Seed Library — check out seed packets, grow at home, return seeds after harvest
- Drive-through book drop (available after hours)
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Interlibrary loan (statewide HSPLS network)
- Ready to Read school outreach for second-graders
- Lobby and lanai book sales by Friends of the Libraries, Kona (F.O.L.K.)
🎸 Programs
- Book Club — meets noon on the second Tuesday of each month on the library lanai
- Chess Club — open to all ages and skill levels
- Page Masters — competitive book club for grades 4–7, preparing for the Big Island Heluhelu Quiz Bowl
- Preschool Storytime — songs, stories, and play for ages 3–5 to build early literacy
- E Heluhelu Kakou: Mele — Hawaiian reading and ukulele craft program for youth
- Community Seed Library events — seasonal seed swaps and gardening programming
📍 Nearby Libraries on Hawaiʻi Island
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Kailua-Kona · Browse all Hawaii libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the current hours, and is the library open on weekends?
The library is open Tuesday 12pm–7pm, Wednesday and Thursday 9am–4pm, Friday 11am–4pm, and Saturday 9am–4pm. It is closed on Sunday and Monday. Hours may shift temporarily during major Kona events such as the Ironman World Championship in October — call (808) 327-4327 or check librarieshawaii.org before visiting.
How does the Community Seed Library work?
Kailua-Kona's Community Seed Library (launched September 2015) is free and open to all library cardholders. You check out seed packets, grow the plants at home, and then return seeds from your own harvest so the collection stays replenished for the next gardener. It is a circular, community-driven program that celebrates Kona's rich agricultural tradition.
Is this the only public library in the Kona area?
Yes — Kailua-Kona is the main Kona-side branch of the Hawaii State Public Library System on the Big Island. The nearest sibling HSPLS branch is Kealakekua Public Library, about 12 miles to the south along Mamalahoa Highway. Thelma Parker Memorial Library in Waimea is roughly 43 miles north, and North Kohala Public Library in Kapaau is about 49 miles away.
What digital resources come with a Kailua-Kona library card?
An HSPLS library card unlocks Libby/OverDrive for eBooks and audiobooks, Kanopy for streaming films and documentaries, Mango Languages for online courses (including Hawaiian), ArtistWorks for music lessons including ukulele, and PressReader for thousands of global newspapers and magazines — all free, available 24/7 from anywhere.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
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