Hawaii State Library, Honolulu

Hawaii State Library, Honolulu

The Hawaii State Library is located adjacent to Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu. This serves as the base for the Hawaii State Public Library System, which is the only statewide library system in the entire United States.

The building that houses the Hawaii State Library was designed by Henry D. Whitfield, Andrew Carnegie's brother-in-law, and funded by Carnegie himself. Construction began in 1911, and the building was finished in 1913. Before the library was built, the Honolulu Library and Reading Room Association provided library services to the community. Prior to 1959, library services were established separately for each island, with minimal oversight by the Library of Hawaii. In 1959, when Hawaii formally became a state, the Hawaii State Public Library System was developed. In 1978, the Hawaii State Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, the Hawaii State Library holds more than 525,000 books, while the entire library system has over 3 million. The courtyard is decorated with an ocean mosaic by Japanese American Hiroki Morinoue, the Edna Allyn Children's Room contains murals of Hawaiian legends by painter Juliette May Fraser, and the front lawn sports cast bronze sculptures named "Parent I" and "Young Girl" by British sculptor Barbara Hepworth.

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Hawaii State Library on Map

Sight Name: Hawaii State Library
Sight Location: Honolulu, USA (See walking tours in Honolulu)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Honolulu, Hawaii

Create Your Own Walk in Honolulu

Create Your Own Walk in Honolulu

Creating your own self-guided walk in Honolulu is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Waikiki Beach Walk

Waikiki Beach Walk

Once the playground of Hawaiian aristocracy stretching along the southern coast of the island of Oahu, Waikiki, or Waikiki Beach, today greets visitors from all walks of life and corners of the globe. This iconic beachfront area of Honolulu, famed for its long rolling ocean break ideal for boarding and surfing, is also home to public places, high-end resort hotels, and an abundance of luxury brand...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Honolulu Downtown Walking Tour

Honolulu Downtown Walking Tour

Honolulu is the largest city in Hawaii and the state's capital. Visitors flock here to enjoy the pristine beaches, beautiful scenery and unique culture. There is much to see and do in Honolulu.

The first residents of Honolulu were probably settled during the 11th century. These Polynesian migrants are thought to have come from Tahiti. King Kamehameha I conquered Oahu and claimed the area...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Pearl Harbor Walking Tour

Pearl Harbor Walking Tour

Pearl Harbor, a US deep-water naval base in Honolulu, made history in 1941 when it came under attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service prompting the United States to enter World War II. Since 1964, Pearl Harbor has been a National Historic Landmark, featuring a number of military objects and installations-turned-monuments.

The Pearl Harbor National Memorial is at the heart of this...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
Diamond Head Volcano Tour

Diamond Head Volcano Tour

Diamond Head Volcano, an iconic natural landmark, is perhaps one of the best-known attractions on the island of Oahu. While not a traditional volcano in the sense of actively erupting, Diamond Head is a dormant volcanic crater that offers a glimpse into the geological history of the Hawaiian Islands.

The volcano's rugged cone is seen from almost every part of the island. However, at its...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


16 Hawaiian Products To Bring Home from Honolulu

16 Hawaiian Products To Bring Home from Honolulu

Pineapples, surfing, flower garlands and colorful shirts are the most distinct things coming to mind in association with Hawaii. Still, when it's time to go leisurely-pleasurely in the remotest part of the United States, it is good to know what is there exactly worth picking up in Honolulu, as...