Makawao Public Library
🏢 Hawaiʻi State Public Library System — Maui County
Makawao Public Library
In the heart of Maui's historic paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) town, the Makawao Public Library serves the Upcountry community from a striking 1969 building with a sweeping double-pitched roof and lava-rock walls.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 12pm–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9:30am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm–8pm |
| Thursday | 9:30am–5pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 9:30am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 1159 Makawao Avenue, Makawao, HI 96768
Phone: 808-573-8785
Website: librarieshawaii.org
📖 About Makawao Public Library
The Makawao Public Library opened on February 22, 1969, in the historic Upcountry Maui town long known as a gathering place for paniolo, the Hawaiian cowboys who worked the region's ranches. Designed by Maui-born, Lahainaluna-educated architect Edwin Murayama, the modern regionalist building is defined by its sweeping, truncated double-pitched hipped roof and the contrast of lava-rock veneer against smooth white concrete. As a branch of the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System, it serves not only Makawao but the surrounding Upcountry communities of Hāliʻimaile, Pukalani, Haʻikū and Kula.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Opened February 22, 1969, in a distinctive modern-regionalist building by Maui architect Edwin Murayama, with a double-pitched hipped roof and lava-rock veneer
- Located in historic Makawao, a hub of Maui's paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) and ranching heritage
- Serves the wider Upcountry Maui area including Hāliʻimaile, Pukalani, Haʻikū and Kula
📱 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
What makes the Makawao library building special?
It opened in 1969 and was designed by Maui-born architect Edwin Murayama, a Lahainaluna graduate. The modern regionalist design features a sweeping, truncated double-pitched hipped roof and walls that pair rugged lava-rock veneer with smooth white concrete.
Which Upcountry communities does the library serve?
Set in the historic paniolo town of Makawao, the branch serves the wider Upcountry Maui area, including nearby Hāliʻimaile, Pukalani, Haʻikū and Kula.
When is the Makawao library open into the evening?
The branch stays open until 8:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays; on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday it runs 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is closed Fridays and Sundays.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.