Hawaii State Public Library System – Liliha Library

Just a small older library.
Luckily– the librarians are now writing down when people park in the front that is only 30 min parking. They then go around asking who is parked illegally. Please be mindful if you do park here that it is short term parking. Otherwise there is the roof parking which is weird but it is better than no parking at all.
There are bathrooms– which in the area is rare to begin with– unfortunately sometimes those that use the bathrooms flood the bathrooms. It is taken care of as well as they can by the library but some patrons are not nice and use the bathrooms and cause damage.
The computers are nice to use, but there are usually only 5 up and running. There is a longer wait line of chairs than there are of usable computers. The open computers are close together and when kids that are unaccompanied are using them– it gets annoying to say the least.
As others have mentioned– there are no computer outlet areas if you do bring your own computer. The building is just old and outlets are few and far between and if you do find one– the security guard will ask you to move and not use it that it is used for the vacuums not personal use.
There are side rooms that sometimes they have movie nights for teens.
There are great puzzles on a puzzle table for toddlers. There is a great reading rug for the children in the kids area. There are some great books for babies– there are board books and a great selection of early childhood education books.
There are some closed 3 sided carols that are good quiet areas for doing work.
The front desk has way fewer librarians to check out books– usually there is not a long line to check out books. Do remember– that this is a small small small library.
There are Chinese and other language books at this location– if this helps the community — great. This does make less room in an already small library for normal fiction and non-​fiction English books.
There are other free publications and usually free books that people no longer needs in an open area in the front lobby.
One of the smartest presentations I ever saw in a library display case — was a collection of all the books that were no longer readable, from stains on books, to rips and tears to totally destroyed books that just were not taken care of at all. This was a really good way to show the community that there are less books because people treat the books that we all have as a community poorly. I hope they are able to make more presentations that are thought provoking like that more.
Also lately– different kids are being photographed jumping and climbing on the walls of the library when the library is closed– if you do see this please call as this is dangerous and kids could get hurt.
Kaimuki is a much better library– and happier. Still an ok library for the local community.

Really lame library. The security guards are like Nazis when it comes to enforcing rules on cellphone usage, I mean come on, cut me some slack. This place is like a madhouse after school. All these brown kids come out of the walls and start playing ball-​and-​stick while speaking to their friends on speakerphone (might I add, the security seems to not give one fuck about these kids and no one is doing anything to stop it.) I just want to read, please leave me alone.

In my opinion, one of the most underutilized resources at the library are the librarians. Growing up, I thought that the only purpose of librarians were to scold you for talking too loudly and to stamp the due date on the books you borrowed. Happily, I’m glad to say that my views have evolved.
We came to the library the other day to let the girls look at books and to pick up a specific book that my wife needed for work. Despite being very familiar with the library, neither of us were able to locate the book. As a last resort, I asked one of the librarians for help. Not only did she find the book instantly (it was shelved in a different location), she also found different editions of the book, audio versions of the book and books related to the book (including a book about the book’s author)!!! Her knowledge about the book, the subject and the author was impressive. Thank you!

If you’re not keeping a sharp eye out, you will miss this uniquely shaped building as you head north from Vineyard Blvd. onto Liliha St. We definitely had an adventure the first time I went when parking at the upper level and pulling wagon with children down the parking ramp to the front entrance. The second time, which was today, I decided to brave the stairs instead of maneuvering wagon or stroller. The stairs are steep, but we managed to make it down and then up again safely. There is handicap parking and a couple of 15 min. time limit parking spaces at the front of the building. I have the impression that a good deal of the patrons walk there from their homes nearby or come by bus.
The children’s area is directly to the left as you walk in. My children go straight for the alphabet wooden puzzles and wander back and forth between the books and the puzzles. I had a pleasant conversation with the storyteller Auntie Janet Yap after storytime was through. She took the time to talk story for a few minutes with me and inform me about her hiatus coming up due to family-​related travel. There was no craft time with the story which actually was welcome by me, because it was easier to transition kids to checking out books and on our way out.
Something that stands out uniquely about the children’s area there was definitely the attention to labeling of book types. There are some very clear and helpful labels to different themed books such as «Jokes and Riddles», «Thomas the Train» book bin, and interest by age-​related books, etc. Besides the Monday morning at 10 am storytime for 2 – 5 year olds they also hold a Family Story Time on Thursdays at 6:30.

PLEASE SET UP PLUG-​IN AREA. I think this is one of the few places that has NO place to plug in computer. Don’t know why, need to realize need of public, even grumpy Waikiki library added table for 5 plug ins, Manoa has 8 or 10, KALIHI 9, Moanaloa 7, Kaimuki 4 (could add community table like Waikiki). Also wish parking was on ground level but that is how it is, library set up could improve for more «flow», it has an old energy to the place. Seems like it is used by the lower liliha community.
P. S. that toilet is a little spookily desolate in feel.

I’ve been going here for over ten years and the inside still looks the same. The staff is friendly. This library is usually filled with teens and elderly folks reading books, magazines, and using the computers. They now offer free wifi. Now, I go there to borrow children’s books for my daughter. Also, I don’t notice any bums in there anymore. The stench on some of the chairs is gone.

My kids seem to adore the library more than I do. And the library seems to adore me as well. Between the late fees, lost book fees, and the «mommy can I rent this DVD please?» fees, I probably have spent more money in here than I do on satisfying my dessert cravings for an entire year. But it’s always best to feed a child’s knowledge than to feed my PHATness… So ah, ok let’s do this.
This library is located on the busy street of Liliha next to a freeway on-​ramp. SO, if you must come here, it’s best to be on the diamond head side of Liliha going mauka. Otherwise, trying to turn in may take you a little longer. Parking is great. There are 15 minute parking stalls along with handicap right in front. Then there’s a lot of parking on top of the building. Yes, on top! I find that pretty cool. But keep in mind if you park on top, there are no elevators, just stairs. So if you have a rolling suitcase (hey, I’ve seen it), you’ll have to carry it down with you.
Other reviews did well describing this place. Nothing out of the norm. EXCEPT, I have to add. I wish the bathroom was inside the library as oppose to at the entrance before the security gate. Why??? Because …
Remember playing «bloody Mary» in school? If you don’t know what that is, PM me and i’ll tell you. Okay, so I walk in to use the bathroom. No one there but me. The bathroom is pretty huge. Three sinks with a huge mirror and 2 stalls. As I’m in the stall, I hear NOTHING but sounds of cars driving by through the windows. I come out of the stall and there in the corner by the sink stood a homeless lady with 2 rolling suitcases and a few shopping bags. Okay, I don’t get scared often, and I don’t recall saying, «bloody mary» so my initial reactions was «whoa!» (then small kine laugh) «hehe», then I said «hi». Sadly, no response. So I proceeded to wash my hands, looked at her and told her «have a good day», and walked out. Okay, so me being how I am, sent my 6yr old daughter to go «wash her hands», just so she can be my witness that I didn’t see a «ghost». I stood BY THE DOOR (so no worry, I’m not that bad of a mom) haha, she walked in and 3 seconds later walked out. She whispered, «mommy come with me, there’s a homeless lady showering in there!». I smiled at her and said, «Okay, thanks honey, grab your things lets go!» Whew! Haha.
P. S. My daughter is just like me. If the lady wasn’t showering, my daughter would’ve struck up a conversation with her. True story ;)
Nonetheless, happy studying! Support your local library! And pay your fees!

My son loves the children’s librarian here (Auntie Janice at the time – who has now retired) and her supervisor. They are very kind «aunties» that gently foster children’s love of books! They have story time for kids 2x a week (mon am and thurs evenings). The security guard and other librarians are also friendly and nice! Ample parking too. Once my 3 year old son missed story time Thurs evening because he had a late nap and when the children’s librarian saw how upset he was when we got to the library after story time was pau, she read him a short story just to make him happy! Now, he absolutely loves books and I am so thankful for kind people, like those at this library, who helped encourage his love of reading.

Ample parking on the roof… not too many places like this.
Wish our neighborhood could have a NEW million dollar like Manoa… or course with better parking and more books!
Great to see kids reading and getting tutored by their elders.
Also, great to see people recycling their magazines in the front entrance… allowing others to read and take. A lot of it is current, on the rack magazines too… not the ones from the 80s in the doctor’s offices!

If you’re planning on coming here, I recommend either busing it or walking, because very rarely do you find parking. The library itself is not as grand as perhaps some of the other island libraries, but it suffices. The librarians here are for the most part, very helpful when it comes to guiding you around the Dewey Decimal System (even after 21 years of life on this earth I have yet to figure it out).
Funny story: I just walked in today to pick up a couple of books I had on hold for a research paper I have due the week after Spring Break. Usually, the librarian helping me check out doesn’t necessarily pay attention to what books I’m borrowing, but the woman kept giving me strange looks. I thought maybe I’d had something on my face (a chimpanzee, a wombat, maybe a walrus? You never know…), but it wasn’t ’till I got home and set the books down on my desk that I realized they were all on the topic of suicide. Then I started busting out in hysterics because the woman probably thought I was planning on killing myself with the aid of these books.

Not big, bad location to drive to, always busy! I only gave it two stars because of all the libraries I frequent, this is the one that is the darkest, warmest (great for falling asleep when you should be doing your work!) and just plain «book store» like rather than library like.
Honestly — this place seems like a baby-​sitting area most of the time, kids playing running around … some are doing work — then get silly. Its hard for people who want to get some real studying done to focus and get to work. I only go here because some parents like to have their students tutored in a place close to home. This place is very close to many homes … Liliha, Nuuanu — chinatown, and downtown locations.
In the past its been «wait in line» all the time to use the internet computers they had available — but there was NO WiFi … I heard that has changed, I am not really sure — haven’t been there for a few weeks.

Haven’t been to the library in years, especially when I live near one in Kaimuki and have not been to that one in a while. So to my surprise when I walked into the Liliha branch on my lunch hour to check out a book relating to work. The nostalgia brought back memories of my childhood and was kind of bad. Had a less than stellar childhood, but meh. Anyways, the library staff was on hand to help out, but I didn’t need them anyway. After a few minutes browsing, I remembered the Dewey decimal system and proceeded on my way. Shows you how old I am lol.
But mixed feelings about going there and reminiscing the old days. Got what I wanted, but it is a library. Just like community parks, it’s always there when you need them. Parking is horrid, but I just parked at the Liliha Square Mall.

Unilocal Challenge 365 # ⁰⁵⁄₃₆₅
It’s been YEARS since I’ve been inside a public library. Hmmm, can’t remember actually when the last visit was.
In any case, my co worker says his niece’s artwork for animé won first place overall and in her age category… and it’s on display at the Liliha Library., so we stopped by for a look see.
Parking is a problem, getting in and out of the driveway can be a problem as well. Entrance and Exit on Liliha; less than a black away from the freeway on ramp East.
The facility itself can use a face lift but inside amenities= clean restrooms, free internet, used magazines (including Costco World) for you to read and leave for the next person. I guess those magazines are donated for the neighborhood library users.
The giant wooden dinasaur (I think it’s a dinasaur) at the entrance lists all its upcoming events.
After walking the entire library, we realize there is no display of artwork so we ask one of the employees. Unfortunately, she didn’t know what we were referring to… Okay ask the next person… no one knew what we were asking about. (I say to my co worker «I bet you got the wrong library… he dials his sister (we get scoldings for using a cell phone) to find out what’s going on. Story is the awards will occur this upcoming Saturday and then! art will be on display…
Guess that means I will be heading back to Liliha Library one day soon

Nicole,
Its a library what would you expect? Hehe. But yes parking sort of sucks but there is the back structure. Its nice because its in my neighborhood and they do offer internet access to everyone. I’m uncertain if all libraries do this now; most likely.

the liliha public library… i understand its location prohibits it from having decent parking. but parking here is horrid. absolutely horrid. inside isn’t too bad. it’s nothing special. only been here a couple times, and like wahiawa, it’s going to stay at a couple times. i don’t plan on coming here again.
the librarian at the front was really rude when we were trying to donate magazines. when we told her they were MMA magazines, she kind of scoffed at us. geez, if you don’t want them, then just say so and we’ll leave.