Pāhoa Public and School Library
🏢 Hawaii State Public Library System · Pahoa, Hawaii
Pāhoa Public and School Library
The Pāhoa Public and School Library opened on September 3, 1967, on the campus of Pāhoa High and Elementary School in lower Puna. It served as a vital community hub after a hurricane and again when Kīlauea lava flows approached in 2018 — and today hosts the beloved annual Pāhoa Tiny Art Show, Vibrant Hawaii social-services navigation, and a robust calendar of keiki programs.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 12pm–7pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–4pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–4pm |
| Thursday | 9am–4pm |
| Friday | 12pm–4pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 15-3070 Pahoa-Kalapana Road, Pahoa, HI 96778
Phone: (808) 965-2171
Website: librarieshawaii.org
Plus Code: 73F7F3R5+48 (Pahoa, HI)
📱 Scan for directions
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👋 Use the Library Online
📍 Plan your visit
🚉 Getting there
15-3070 Pahoa Kalapana Rd, Pāhoa, HI 96778. Get transit & driving directions → (live subway, bus & car routes).
♿ Accessibility
Includes wheelchair-accessible entrance, accessible parking.
⭐ Visitor rating
4.3 / 5 from 14 Google reviews.
Visit details from the library’s Google Business Profile, verified October 2026 — confirm on official page before a special-date trip.
📖 About Pāhoa Public and School Library
The Pāhoa Public and School Library opened on September 3, 1967, on the campus of Pāhoa High and Elementary School in lower Puna on the east side of Hawaiʻi Island. The branch serves students and residents from two area schools and a broader rural community. Over the decades it has proven its resilience: the library functioned as an important community hub after a hurricane struck the area and again when lava flows from Kīlauea volcano approached in 2018, disrupting lower Puna. Today the library maintains 8 public computers, a Friends' book store, and a lively program calendar that includes the annual Pāhoa Tiny Art Show (a month-long community art exhibition held each September), weekly Family Story Time for young children, Babies Books and Blankets for infants, and a Vibrant Hawaii social-services navigation table every Monday — connecting Puna residents with SNAP, MedQuest, mental health resources, and other assistance. It belongs to the Hawaii State Public Library System.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened September 3, 1967 on the campus of Pāhoa High and Elementary School — nearly 60 years of service to lower Puna
- Served as a critical community hub during a hurricane and again during the 2018 Kīlauea lava-flow emergency in lower Puna
- Hosts the Annual Pāhoa Tiny Art Show — a beloved month-long community art exhibition each September (5th edition in 2026)
- Vibrant Hawaii social-service navigator on site every Monday noon–4 pm, helping residents access SNAP, MedQuest, and other programs
- 8 public computers, Friends' book store, free Wi-Fi, and Family Story Time plus Babies Books & Blankets for young children
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Pāhoa cardholders borrow and stream free through Hawaii's statewide digital library:
📚 Services
- 8 public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Photocopying and book drop-off
- Friends' book store
- 23 magazine titles and 2 newspapers
- 6 free parking spaces (1 accessible)
- Vibrant Hawaii social-service navigation every Monday noon–4 pm (SNAP, MedQuest, mental health & more)
- Interlibrary loan through the Hawaii State Public Library System
🎸 Programs
- Annual Pāhoa Tiny Art Show — month-long community exhibition each September (sponsored by Friends of Pāhoa Library & Kilauea Recovery Grant)
- Family Story Time — stories, dances, and songs every Tuesday morning at 10:30 am (free books for young participants)
- Babies, Books, and Blankets — lapsit storytime for babies 2 and under, every Thursday morning
- Knitting Club — all-levels crafting sessions on select Thursday afternoons
- Vibrant Hawaii social-service navigation every Monday and some Sundays noon–4 pm
- Summer reading program and seasonal arts & crafts events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Lower Puna
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pāhoa Public and School Library open to the general public?
Yes. Pāhoa is a combined public-and-school library in the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System, serving both students of the adjacent Pāhoa schools and the general public. Anyone may use the library and borrow materials with a free Hawaiʻi State Public Library card. See how to get a library card.
What are Pāhoa Public and School Library's hours, and which day is it open late?
The library is open Monday from noon to 7 p.m. (its only late evening), Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday from noon to 4 p.m. It is closed Saturday and Sunday, so plan weekday visits.
What is the Pāhoa Tiny Art Show and when does it happen?
The Pāhoa Tiny Art Show is an annual community art exhibition held at the library each September. Artworks by local residents are displayed throughout the month. The 5th edition runs in September 2026, sponsored by the Friends of Pāhoa Library and the Kilauea Recovery Grant.
How did the library serve the community during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption?
When Kīlauea volcano erupted in lower Puna in 2018 and lava flows threatened the area, the Pāhoa library served as a critical community hub — providing a stable, accessible space for information, connection, and support for residents displaced or affected by the disaster.
What is the Vibrant Hawaii program offered at the library?
Vibrant Hawaii brings a Puna Social Service Navigator and a Certified Kokua Specialist from Kumukahi Health + Wellness to the library every Monday from noon to 4 pm. They offer free, first-come, first-served help with SNAP, MedQuest, the Federal Marketplace, mental health referrals, domestic violence support, kūpuna assistance, and more.
What story programs are available for babies and young children?
The library runs two regular keiki programs: Family Story Time every Tuesday morning at 10:30 am (books, dances, and songs for ages 2 and up), and Babies, Books, and Blankets every Thursday morning at 10:30 am — a lapsit session for infants 2 and under. Free books are given to young participants on the first storytime of each month while supplies last.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
👶 This library runs story times for kids. See how library story times work — ages, what happens and that they are free — and find other libraries with story-time programs library story times by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.