Dear Hawaii State Library, There are homeless dudes camped out front and many a weirdo lurk at your tables... but no matter how many creepy folks I run into, you will always have my heart and deepest gratitude. I just introduced my two older children to Shel Silverstein's "Where The Sidewalk Ends" and their lives have officially been changed forever. I borrowed this book for them a few weeks ago and they literally fight over who gets to read it. We laugh at all the wonderful poems and they recite them to me verbatim during breakfast. I honestly could not ask for a more inspiring outcome from our monthly visits to the library. I know they're growing up so quickly and I only have a few more moments until they're taken away by the lure of being a teenager and pre-adulthood. We borrow 30-40 books at a time and spend hours on the living room carpet reading all our beautiful library books. It makes me cry just thinking about how special each beautiful story time is and I wish I could freeze that moment in time forever. I just want to let you know library, that even though folks forget about you sometimes, I will always love you and appreciate what you have given me. As a young girl I grew up and learned about the world through your books, and now as an adult, I get to shape my children through your printed words as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you... Love Always, Emi H read more

It's shameful to admit but I have not stepped foot into a library in over a decade! The age of technology has overtaken my desire to thumb through, browse and take in the smells of a library. Sadly when I lived in town this central library was within walking distance to my home and I never took advantage of it. Flash forward a few years later and I'm googling how to get to this library! Lucky for us, we arrived at the library early enough to find street parking. We sought to go here because of the weekend passport services they offer. To make a really long story short, we found out the passport office here has weekend hours of 9-12 on Saturday. We arrived at the library and was directed to the second floor to the passport office (there are ample signs all over). We took a number and were pleased to know that it does pay to come early since we third in line and it appeared that each applicant took anywhere from 10-15 minutes to process before they emerged from the passport area. We were in an awesome, happy place! Enter grumpy, older Asian woman who couldn't find it in her heart to crack a smile or a welcome. She was abrupt, rude and loud! I was mortified that such a person could be that grumpy and rude first thing in the morning (it was 9:45 am)! Not so much as a "please," "thank you" nor smile came from this woman the entire 15 minutes of exchanges!! I could feel my heart racing and my temper flaring inwardly as I sat there enduring her poor and very rude customer service. It was $110.00 application fee to process a new passport application, $25.00 library fee to process this application and $25.00 additional if you want to expedite the application fee. I wrote a check for $110.00 and she told me the $25.00 due the library must be in cash. My nice self pushed the cash in front of her but my equally annoyed and upset daughter took the cash and threw the cash in front of her (yes, I know that wasn't nice). Seriously, I have gotten better service from a toll-booth operator in the heat of summer as compared to this woman. We left the library speechless and speculated what a miserable life this person must have to dish out that kind of service in the morning. Back to the library - it is a beautiful place to be even amidst the early morning homeless people already there. A fellow yelper wrote, "it's a beautiful blend of old and new." There is nothing more beautiful than being amongst the books and the abundant amount of reading material!! (Note to self to come back to explore this beautiful place of knowledge and wonder!) If not for the rude service at the passport office, roaming homelessness in the library and apparent lack of parking...this could possibly be a 5 star facility but I would be fearful and worrisome of some of the homeless patrons exhibiting some behavioral issues. My love for books outweigh my sensibilities sometimes and despite the aforementioned issues, I would still go and just stay away and be more aware of my surroundings when there. Thank goodness I don't have to go back to this passport office for another 10 years and hopefully by then that woman would have retired or gotten fired. But then again, there are many other options other than the library to have your passport application verified and submitted. read more

I haven't gone to the library in years. Then, I got married and wanted to travel outside of the country for our honeymoon. First thing I need - my US passport. I found out that the Hawaii State Library is very unique - it is the only place that accepts US passport applications without an appointment AND is open on Saturdays (9 am - 1 pm, I believe). Perfect for me, except Saturdays tend to be their busiest day. I went on a Saturday at 9:06 am - I was the fifth person in line. Thank goodness we were at the library - you have thousands of books to read to pass the time and at least we're waiting in an air conditioned room. The time moved quickly. I believe there were 2 people working. As long as you had all of your needed items, then the appointment would take no longer than 15 minutes. The workers are helpful in getting your application items together for submission and explaining the process to you. However, one of the reasons why I didn't want to apply online versus going in was that I hoped I did not need to submit my birth certificate. I thought they just wanted to check that I have it, but I would be able to bring home with me that day. In the end, I had to submit my birth certificate, photo, application, and two checks to get the process started. You get the birth certificate back in the mail; the employee said it could come with the US passport or separately. I liked the guy helping me because he explained the process as well as the services the library also offered. For example, I didn't realize how cheap it is to rent DVDs from the library! I love this library out of most of the other libraries on the island because it is so HUGE! There are so many books to choose from. Plus, the library has other services now too, like applying for a US passport and DVD rentals. If you plan to apply for your US passport, I highly recommend checking out the US passport website to see what items you need to bring when you do apply. Off the top of my head, you'll need proof of citizenship (i.e. birth certificate), a picture (go to Costco - $5 and they will take your picture that is usable for the passport and it should meet the photo requirements), and the application (highly suggest filling out the application before going in). If you go to the Hawaii State Library, they only take checks (maybe money orders) to pay for the fees. read more

I spent my formative high school years "studying" at the hometown library after school pretty much every day after work. There's something about that library smell that gets me nostalgic for playing 13 card pai gow for nickles and dimes. Anyway, of all the libraries in Hawaii, this one is the best, busiest, and most majestic. Yes it has plenty of, we'll call them "odd" people shuttling in and out of the front doors, but that's more because of it's location. It has plenty of corridors to get lost in, as well as spacious area's that let the light in and brighten up the rooms. It has a great courtyard that showcases splendid old Hawaii architecture. Adding a coffee or tea place inside the courtyard would be great! The front lawn area is picturesque and you'll usually see anything from a group of children on a field trip to the scraggly homeless guy resting on the front lawn. One of the cool things about the Hawaii library system is that it's all online and also all of the libraries throughout the islands are connected in this fashion. Parking is usually a problem since they don't have a designated parking area. You may have to find some public parking on the street or under the Kalanimoku (behind Honolulu Hale) or the capital building. Just make sure to know your time because the meters are checked regularly. Otherwise you'll probably get here via bus. It is usually overshadowed by the many other touristy sights in the area (Iolani Palace, Kamehameha Statue, and State Capital), but if you are into books or colonial Hawaii architecture, you should make a point to drop in. read more

Hawaii State Library - Libraries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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While I have some minor issues with the state library system, this location is their crown jewel and it deserves a full five stars. Call me a socialist or liberal, but I deeply appreciate the notion of a public library system. It's very democratic. Without completing any onerous requirements, one can get a library card and with it you dive into other worlds, learn new skills, investigate government documents, watch films, rent audiobooks and so much more. I'd rather have my taxes go to the library system than other things, but I digress. The Hawaii State Library is conveniently located in town near Downtown. It's adjacent to Iolani Palace and across from the King Kamehameha statue. There's metered public parking along the road. We've always managed to find parking on the road, but you could park at the underground City municipal lot just a short walk away if street parking is scarce. The building is beautiful and large. There's a lot of natural light and high ceilings. So many of the other branches of the local library system have ugly architecture and tightly packed areas, but the State Library is spacious. This is probably a historic building which seems to operate like a pseudo homeless shelter. There are lot of people who seem to be here because it's a covered space where they can spend the day. Having said that, at no point have I ever felt unsafe, followed or hassled. It's clean and well lit. The librarians for the most part are helpful and friendly. You'll have the occasional grumpy one. There are plenty of tables and areas where you can hook up your lap top. There's free wifi if you have a library card. They show movies at the library. Today they were showing the latest Nemo film. We were there to get a passport for a minor. Yes, they do that at the Hawaii State Library too. If you haven't had a passport before, you can submit the application and fees to the second story librarians in the government section. They have specific hours of the week during which they take passport applications, so call ahead. Th children's section, especially for preschool to grade 3, is excellent. There's a diverse collection of books. The books aren't outdated. Unlike some other libraries or bookstores where the children's section is noisy, the children's section here is quiet calm and soothing. I would hang out here, but it would seem creepy I think for an adult to hang out in the children's section for too long without a child in tow. The only thing missing from this library is a nice cafe. If they opened even a small coffee bar, I'd be in heaven. Can't go wrong with books and caffeine. read more

Hawaii State Library - Libraries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Huge place, but they have such junk parking. I wen there for my passport and it was easy, in and out. If the parking were better I would totally come here to study. read more

My family has three libraries that we frequent... the Hawaii State Library is not one of them... purely because of the parking sitch and I often have to walk through second-hand smoke to enter. However, I took my girls this morning to the State Library because they were presenting a Solar System Activity! I was very impressed with the 40 minute activity... it was interactive and the kids were engaged by the presenter. We started inside the Children's room. I don't really have much memory of the Children's Room to compare, but it was clean, warm and bright. Then we moved to the front lawn for a walking activity - so the kids could get a better idea of the distances between planets and the sun. *plus - visited the restrooms on the first floor, clean and well-stocked. All I could ask for. read more

Hawaii State Library - Scale Model Solar System Activity hosted by UH Institute for Astronomy - Libraries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

As someone who grew up in the midst of the internet revolution and often had to go to libraries growing up all the way up to college it's kinda sad that they are under utilized. Pretty easy to find, its right besides the Iolani Palace. This is a pretty nice library with high ceilings and skylights, a cool courtyard. This was my first time here and my wife and I both go our library cards too. I saw students enjoying the view on the lanai above the courtyard studying. I mean honestly the highest density of people were in the computer areas. But its a nice library to stroll around. It much bigger than expected. I had to journey all the way in the back where the business section was. I came to the library because I am looking to get a professional accreditation and a digital version of the text book isn't available and I didn't really want to pay $100 for a new text just yet. So I checked the online catalogue of the library and they had a copy. The online system also has e-books and your can renew books online. Anyway, I didn't see any red flags as other reviewers indicated. It was clean and secure. The staff was super helpful. Its nice because outside there's so much hustle and bustle, city traffic and tourists. But was pretty peaceful as soon as you walk inside. Definitely check it out. read more

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I haven't been to a state library in ages, but I recently starting tutoring younger kids who don't work well in Starbucks. I like this state library because it's so big and offers a variety of seating options. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, both large and small tables. Since I have long since lost my library card and no longer know how to find books (I know! Gasp!), I'm useless at finding anything in this library. There seems to be a plethora of people working here though, so if I ever needed help, I wouldn't have trouble finding someone. Come to think of it though, I did ask the woman sitting behind the information desk something once. She wasn't friendly. I think the doors are a little confusing. There appear to be three doors, however only one is used as an entrance and another as an exit.... Kinda weird. There is also no parking that I know of and I end up paying $1.50/ hr for street parking! Crazy!!!! There are also a lot of homeless people outside and inside the library. I mean it's a nice place to hang out. I wouldn't mind spending all day, err day at the library if I was homeless. Free bathrooms, water fountain and an endless supply of knowledge?! Sign me up. read more

I love this Library. I enjoy the architectual beauty and functional side. I normally request books and DVDs or CDs online, pick them up when they are ready. Return the items at any convenient Library. Quick stop at lunch break or after work. The first floor courtyard is very pretty. Parking could be a challenge. DVD could be too scratchy to watch sometimes. Hey it is only $1 for a week. No harm. read more

PASSPORT application review. thanks for the other reviewers for the tips on doing this. and here is MY experience applying for a new passport for my child below 16 years old. collected documents -applicants birth certificate from dept. of health (office is nearby along punchbowl) -postal money order $80 and $25 (they also accept check NO cash /credit) -1pc passport photo (had it at Longs ala moana) -2 parents with ID (if one parent only they require a notarized document) -DS 11 Form filled up(remember your ssn) no need appointment. i walked-in parking is hard in this busy street. i'm not so familiar with this area, and we end up in a 5 minute stroll in the little strip of foot walk going to the library.(public parking by alapai and beretania st. to) the main entrance of the library is by punchbowl and s.king st. as we entered there was a sign directing for Federal Documents section is. on your right upstairs we were greeted and assisted nicely. Ticket number was given, then couple minutes later we were attended. gave them ds11form, birth certificate, 1passport photo, money order, id's, and oath. done and wait for 4-6wks for passport with your submitted birth certificate. read more

Hawaii State Library - Libraries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

One of our favorite libraries. + Beautiful architecture. + Large. If you're coming here by yourself, there are a lot of places to sit, read, relax, work, people watch, etc. + Awesome children's room. If you're coming here with kids, the children's room has enough selection and space to keep your kids entertained indefinitely. - Parking? What parking? - The miscellaneous homeless people frequenting the front lawn and entrance puts a real damper on such a beautiful building and great experience. read more

(This review is about the interactions I received from the workers I have interacted with, not everyone who works here. Though at the same time I've had a few interactions with the few workers here that did strive to do more to help me. Thank you to those workers.) ***Computers turn off 10 minutes before closing. No they will not go the extra 25% of a mile to help you. Not even if it's a minute into that 10 minute interval. Even as they are turning off the computers and there are still some that are turned on. They will still tell you there's nothing they can do. I've worked as a tutor for years in community college, even as we were closing for the day. If someone needed help, and I could help them, I did. I've had varying different experiences at this library. And have been going to this library since I was in middle school. Most workers will not strive a little extra to help you. They will give you a generic answer that pushes the responsibility onto someone else or somewhere else and leave it at that. I've been to other library locations and the attitude is really different compared to this location. At other libraries there is a more friendlier attitude. There's no real sense of responsibility I sense from some workers about their job at this library location. At the end of the day, you still get paid by the hour no matter how much people you help, right? read more

Although parking can be a bit difficult, this library is a great place. The people are helpful and there are tons of books! Of course I visit the kids section in search of books to use for my classroom. It's well organized that I can find exactly what I'm looking for. Yelp 365 Challenge #312/365 read more

Where is the Dewey Decimal System?!?!?! Love the design of the building, they lay out is good and the staff is helpfull. I dont like the parking, the musky smell and the mostly not working air condition. parking is hit and miss, you can either find parking on the street at the meters on king street or punchbowl or you can park in the parking lot of the iolani palace. on the street the meters take coins of all sorts except the copper ones. the meters in the iolani palace takes only quarters. at one time the music industry was all up in arms over p2p file sharing becuase the music was free and they werent getting paid for the music, well the library is the worst file sharing of them all! the library has free cds to borrow to anyone that has a library card, talk about file sharing!! The library as supplied me with 80% of my music library. support your libraries!!! read more

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Came here specifically for passport application. Sister needed to renew hers and unfortunately didn't meet requirements to do it by mail. The hours of acceptance is M-F 10am to 1pm. Sat I believe is 9am-1pm. No appointments required just walk in with your two checks and paperwork. ($110 and $35, they will provide a stamp to use for Payee, so no worry about that.) We went on a Tuesday around 1130am. Had to GPS our way over because we've never been here. It's right next to Iolani Palace if you need help finding it. Since it was the middle of the work day, we easily found street parking [paid] and walked to the building. There was lots available. Once we got inside. There are no signs that lead you. However, use the stairs on the right, go up and straight back. Pass two doors and you will find your destination. We were immediately greeted by someone who confirmed "Passport application?" We had filled out the application, made photocopies of everything and had our checks partially filled out. So the process was extremely quick. The person who helped us looked over the application to make sure everything was properly filled. We fixed several things and the entire process took 15 minute. =) *I paid by personal check for my sister's passport. She asked for my ID as well. So heads up if you are paying someone else's.* There were two other groups in there as well and it looks like they were getting help filling out passport papers so if you need help they're there. read more

I remember when this library was brand new with their renovations. I was in elementary school and on a field trip. I was blown away by the cleaniness and how big and bright the library was compared to my neighborhood library. Fast forward (I won't give an exact number because I don't want to age myself) and I occasionally come here. If I could avoid this library all together I would. Why you ask?!? Because here is where the homeless people, and others whom apparently don't believe in taking a shower or at least slapping on some armpit juice before facing the public, like to hang out here. So what used to smell fresh and clean now smells like the armpit of the state. I'd suggest a clothespin for your nose and hand sanitizer after you touch everything. The only redeeming factor is that as soon as you enter the library, to the left with the low celling and numerous aisles of books always reminds me of the opening scene in the first Ghostbusters film where the old lady is stacking the books in the library. This is where you will find me the few times I make out to this library. read more

One of the many libraries I go to. The first times I've visited I get lost and have to refer to the map they have at the front of the library (when I started attending college). I love going through the aisles and just picking up a book. The best times I like being here is when there aren't much people. I can do what I please and sometimes sneak into the children's section just to read old favorites. Open on Fridays, unlike the other libraries. And it's awesome that there's wi-fi. Just have my charged laptop, sit at a table and do what I need to do. read more

This review is long overdue - rewind back to Spring Break 2018. The kids are on break from school and daycare. So I took a day off from work to head down to Hawaii State Library to apply passports for the husband and the 2-year-old kiddo. No appointment needed so be prepared to wait. Being that it was Spring Break, the wait was additionally longer. It is first come, first served so get there early. There was already a really L-O-N-G line formed in front of the library stretching into the green grassy area even before the library opened when we arrived. The Federal Documents section is upstairs to your right. As you enter the room, the clerk at the front desk will give you a ticket number and then direct you and EVERYONE else to the waiting area around the corner. First challenge (at least for us) -- THE WAIT -- especially with a restless toddler! The next challenge was having to walk back and forth to the car to pay before the time expires on the metered parking. Hence, docking off 2 stars from this review. So after TWO HOURS of waiting, our number is called. The lady that helped us explained the whole application process thoroughly and collected all of our required documents, one photo (go to Costco or Sam's Club photo services-cheapest) and two separate checks for payment ($110 for adults and $80 for kids, with a $25 execution [acceptance] fee for each application turned in). Effective April 2, 2018, that fee increased to $35. Both parents must be present with ID and authorize the issuance of passport for child applicants under age 16 (if one parent only they require a notarized document). That whole process was quick and painless and we got the passports along with submitted birth certificate(s) back in the mail less than the normal 4 - 6 weeks processing time. **** TIP: Be sure to check out the US passport website first to know what you need to apply or renew your passport as well as current passport & execution fees. Also, across the United States, they have Special Passport Acceptance Fairs information for first-time applicants and children. read more

Up until recently I have visited this library in years! It stirs up mixed emotions thinking about this place... any who, I needed to start the process of getting my family and I passports. I looked up info on the net and found the main library to do walk in applications. The hours for passports are from 9-1300. My first attempt I came a bit late. Second attempt I failed to bring the whole party. Don't be like me, read thoroughly... I skim! Third times a charm! Come early especially on Saturdays, they hand out ticket numbers and probably only have 6 employees that can take in applications. Parking is all metered street stalls. Passport area is through the main entrance, take the stairs on the right and straight through 2 doors. There are 3 copy machines available (pay to use) around the library. Bottom floor is where you get info and check out books. I didn't really explore much since we were just there for the passport services... I would recommend checking it out though. Especially if you don't want to make an appointment a month or so out for a passport. read more

Hawaii State Library - Passports done only til 1pm - Libraries Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I came here on a quiet Saturday for some peace and writing. I have a couple of writing projects I am getting through, so I came here and not go to a Starbucks *gasp* because Starbucks can get loud and I needed to think. The library has been around for as long as I remember. Being a kid, I remember coming here and the mountains of book shelves and the ease which to obtain them. I still remember countless of departments where the books are shelved and categorized, and where you have to weave around the building, just to find the book(s) you need. The library, like any library, is where to go to read and learn. Someone like me, who needs to research stuff, can get resources too. I hardly reserve and borrow stuff now, since I tend to not go back to the library for a while. So, I just come here from time to time, and just read up, take the necessary notes for my projects, and leave. I love this library though. Centrally located in downtown area. The parking situation can get crazy, but its a good place to just spend the day, when you're not in a rush. read more

This location is the worst location in my opinion, compared to all the other library locations. It's in downtown, so as expected, there is no free parking except for street parking nearby. 80% of the patrons here homeless/transient, which I don't mind but I've noticed all they do is 1) use the bathroom, 2) use the outlets wherever they can find to charge their phones 3) sleep on the tables. Speaking of bathrooms, of the two available, one is always broken or under construction. There is never enough stalls/urinals for the amount of people coming in and out of the bathroom. There is no food/drinks allowed which is understandable, but exceptions should be made within the outdoor seating area. It's outdoors where no books are present, so at least drinks/snacks should be allowed in that area. The interior is freezing, as they turn on the AC way too high indoors. I've never used their passport application services, so can't speak on that. The WIFI is horrendous! One week it'll work just fine, the next week it's not working at all! I've tried connecting on 3 different items (laptop, phone, tablet) and still no connection! I know it's an issue within their library since my items work perfectly fine elsewhere. The library staff here are USELESS when you ask them for help with the wifi. One tells me to go in a "different area" within the library where the signal is stronger. Well I've tried that in 5 different spots, and still no wifi. Another library staff tells me to "look for hotspots" all over the library, no lady, it doesn't work that way. The third librarian tells me there's an I.T. technician that checks on the wifi "every hour." Well that's a damn lie too, as I've waited 3 hours on two different occasions for the wifi to work again, and still NOTHING happens. This location and the staff here are USELESS when it comes to even making some sort of effort to fix their wifi issue here. At least try to fix it, instead of giving bullshit excuses out of your ass. Just plain laziness, a simple phone call or email to remedy the situation would be appreciated. It's such a shame as this library is pretty and historic, but the people ruin it for this location, the absolute WORST! read more

Guess I didn't realize the day before Christmas is a holiday. The website said this library is open on Saturday until 4 p.m., but when I went, I was shocked to see the whole entry way was filled with the homeless and their stuff, including small tents. Both the entrance and exit doors were blocked by them. Is this the norm now? read more

Gosh, I've only come to this library for events. Several times my choir sang here. Once I came to see my friend's puppet show. It's a wonderful resource and love that they are using building as a community gathering place. read more

I have a library card and was interested in reserving a book online. However, I was not able to sign in online. They require a PIN in addition to the library card #. I don't recall getting a PIN when I obtained the card last year, but entered a 4 digit PIN that I normally use, and it didn't work. Unfortunately, there is no "Forgot my PIN" box anywhere, so I cannot reset my PIN (if I ever had one). The card is worthless to me at this time. I also have a library card from the Seattle Public Library which I obtained years ago when ai lived there and it works great. The HSL needs to upgrade its IT capabilities badly. read more

One might argue that the Emperor Puyi was never really free. The final ruler of dynastic China, he went from prisoner in his own kingdom, to prisoner of a puppet state to the prisoner of Communist ideology. All the gold of the central empire couldn't buy for birthright what modernization and freedom of thought could freely provide. If anything can be learned from the progress of China, it's that education is a civic duty, enlightenment as a cultural goal so we can break the oppressive bonds of ignorance. I used to come here after school every day. It was two hours of mental exploration before heading home on the express bus. The Main Library has everything any other downtown library has and more: a beautiful atrium, massive collections of books and homeless people bathing themselves in the bathroom sinks... Take the good with the bad, I guess. read more

I came here to submit a passport application and was extremely anxious about how crowded it would be, but maybe I came at a good time - kids are at school. I counted about 30 people finding shelter from the rain at the main entrance at 8:55am, and when the doors opened, none of them went to the passport office upstairs. There is a sign for passport applications conveniently placed at the foot of the right staircase (right, as in, not left). I still waited an hour for the office to open, but hey. When the office opened, there were three workers, five tables, and two other people being helped. Some crowd! I was finished in 10 minutes. my tips: - There is no parking lot. There is metered street parking in the area, but I walked here, so that's all I know. - Prepare your documents ahead of time! The library website details what you need! https://www.librarieshawaii.org/how-do-i/get-federal-documents/passports/ - Scan/take photos of your original documents before you send them away for several weeks. The copy machine costs 20 cents/page (50 cents for color). - The worker preferred to see my driver's license and expired passport instead of my birth certificate. Hm. - Let the worker staple your photo! I accidentally put a staple a bit over my shoulder, and I didn't bring my extra photos, so the worker had to re-staple it. (edit: I got my new passport and the photo turned out fine) - They don't do renewals. Just mail your renewal and beat the line. - They don't do photography. Go to Costco. It's a 20-minute wait, so go shopping and come back. $5.23. No stress about measurements, color, or white backgrounds. read more

I wandered down to the Hawaii State Library to conduct official business. I needed to apply for a passport. Passport applications are accepted on a walk in basis only, no appointments. They accept applications M-F 10am-1pm, Sat 9am-12pm and are closed on Sunday's. They are located on the 2nd floor and there are signs guiding you to your destination. When you enter the room, check in with the front desk and they will give you a number and direct you to the waiting area around the corner. Once your number is called, given that you have all the required documents the process takes less than five minutes. Be sure to have you checkbook to pay for the fees. You can pay the $25 processing fee my check or cash though. * note, they do not accept starter checks from the bank. I learned this the hard way. I had to make a trip to the post office down the street to obtain a money order because they wouldn't accept my starter check. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The entire process was seamless aside from the surprise trip to the post office I had to make (totally my fault.) read more

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Down with the e-readers. Books rule. Don't get me wrong, researching on the Internet is so much easier than referencing and cross-referencing printed materials, let's not get started on card catalogs. But as a wannabe librarian since the age of seven and as an ex-employee of the state library system (my first job in high school), libraries are awesome and I never want them to go away. Nothing replaces being able to go to the beach with a book and not have to worry about battery life or sand getting onto my e-reader screen. The best things about the public library system are that it's free and accessible. The Hawaii State Public Library is a very beautiful and tranquil place I can find and read books in peace. The stained glass by the children/young adults section is always so nice to look at, something about stained glass and libraries get me,a quirky preference of mine. The selection of books and magazines are pretty decent and the Interlibrary request is pretty good, you can ask for paper or email notification once your item arrives. You may also drop off and pick up your library books at any public library system in Hawai'i even other neighbor islands! Now if only they had wifi....I am so hypocritical, I am surrounded by information yet I am still looking elsewhere but don't worry, my love for books will never go away. I am Hawaiian-Chinese-Japanese, use your public library! read more

Review for passport service. March 10, 2011 is National Passport Day in the U.S. Meaning that you can show up at designated passport places and renew or file for a passport without having to make an appointment. It only happens once a year, and yet this library could not fulfill such a simple task as renewing my parent's passports because they in fact REFUSED to do so without any provocation. There was no reason given as to why they would not perform their dutiful service. My mother went up to the woman at the desk and said, " I would like to renew my passport." The lady said they did not do the service and my mother asked to speak to the supervisor. The lady went into the back and came back saying, "my supervisor said no." The supervisor refused to come outside and address my parents. Either the US Department of State is wrong because their website listed Hawaii State Library as a place participating in this passport day: http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptday/locations/usstates/usstates_4685.html Or the Hawaii State Library is wrong. I'm going to bet on the latter since no one of authority wanted to confront my mom directly. Great to know my parent's tax money goes to funding inconsistent, unreliable, and sub-par library services. *EDIT* I did some research and I believe that the US Department of State may be in the wrong here, or their website is quite misleading. The Hawaii State Library does not process renewals according to their website: http://www.librarieshawaii.org/services/passport1.htm I'm still leaving the rating at one star because no one explained this to my mom and kind of ushered her away. Very rude. One star remains for failed service to inform a woman of a simple question: why? read more

I have never been to the State Library... let alone never knew where it was! However my husband and baby needed to get passports and since this was the only place that accepted walk ins... that is where we drove to. The library itself was pretty nice, big and their children's section had a nice selection of books. To get our passport application we had to go to the building across the courtyard on the 2nd floor. Couple mistakes we made was.. used blue ink.. it has to be black...didnt take a personal check. When you fill out the application form, it has to be in black ink and you have to either take a money order or a personal check, two separate payment, one for the application fee and other for the processing fee. Have you ever had a situation where you are trying to make the best of the day, already you had a late start and your running all around town to get your passport picture done, get the application, look for parking on a hectic friday afternoon... and you are just trying to stay positive.. and there is one person who is just a downer and just makes this process totally painful... this is how it was at the Hawaii State Library. If i could recommend.. for those that are planning on getting their passport done, you should fill in the application on line, get your picture, write out the check.. or take your personal check, and make an appointment at your convenient post office or one that will do the passport process ( the Kapalama post office was very helpful). I would much rather have made an appointment and left with a smile on my face, than feeling like a total downer after getting it done at the State Library. read more

I'm a looser...I just now got my library card and visited this location. For a self proclaimed writer and lover of the written word, I suck! But, I made up for lost time in my visit and brought my 3 year old son along for the adventure. And of course, we were both in awe. I was definitely taken aback at how big it is. There's a wonderful courtyard that separates the main entry and the kids section. I have to say that their Children section is really good. Anyone with little children should definitely come and check it out. For those who can spend hours in a Barnes and Nobles, this library kicks its arse hands down. One could easily loose track of time in here with all the great resources availble. But don't just take my word for it, definitely check it out for yourself: Pros: -Free library card for residents = free access to thousands of titles! Current, classic and inbetween -Clean and bright facility -DVD and CD rental (2nd floor above main entrance) -Awesome Children section - not only lots of books and small size tables and chairs, but there's puppets and stuffed animals to play with; reading times and just a bunch of stuff kids are encouraged to get their hands on. -Special programs and events (again free) -Beautiful courtyard -Separate music, entertainment section -Pretty clean bathrooms -Very helpful, patient and friendly staff Cons: -The check out line can be pretty slow. I forgot how "chill" librarians can be. -Parking around the area can be tough to score, there's always the underground city parking (free) but it's a good walk from the library. Tip: If you're trying to be in and out of there, go right when it opens. Parking is more abundant and the check out lines are nil. read more

As my sister said, "I guess this isn't the Beauty and the Beast library anymore." Rated solely as a place to study, this place was pretty bad. Yes, it was quiet, but because it is old, there is no "designated laptop" area with centralized outlets. Yah, I'm being a brat, but I'm being real. First off, no free parking. I didn't have to deal with this problem when I went, though, because I walked from my office downtown. The outlets are scattered around the library. I spent about 10 minutes scoping out the place for a decent outlet location. However, a lot of them are located in the outside lanai-ish areas and are taken by people (albeit homeless or not) who seemed to be camping out at the outlet in order to charge their phone/ipod/ipad/laptop for the day. Fortunately, my laptop had enough battery for a couple of hours, so I found a nice table in the arts and humanities (or something along those lines) section on the second floor. I booted up my laptop, unloaded my backpack, and was ready to study. However, my laptop was not connected to the library's free wifi. I think it was due to where I was sitting. Thus, I had to pack up and walk around looking for a more... centralized location. FYI, there are questionably homeless people hanging out, but that didn't bother me--that's why it's called a public library, duh. This is a good place to read a book or study sans electronics. However, for my study purposes, I will not be back. read more

This is about getting a passport. And the process can be ridiculous but follow these steps and you should be fine. Monday-Friday new hours are from 10am-1pm. Saturdays new hours are from 9am-12pm No appointment necessary. All walk-ins. 1. Parking can be a pain. Please take that in to consideration as you circle for open meters or go through the library drive thru. 2. Enter the main library building. Go upstairs to the second floor on your right hand side. Continue to go straight, pass the outdoor seating, and you will see a sign stating federal documents to be processed/ passport. Even their new hours. 3. Applications should be written in BLACK ink. I highly recommend you do these applications on the computer and print them out. 4. They DO NOT do photos. Be prepared to just get a single set at Long's for $9 per person. The one at moilili closes its photo center at 8:00pm and takes an hour to process. Therefore be there before 7:00 to have your photos taken. 5. You *must* show you are a citizen of the United States of America. Social security cards do not count. Birth certificates or anything stating you're part of the USA will be your PRIMARY source of identification. 6. Secondary part of your identification should be your state ID or driver's license. Look online for "other" sources of primary/secondary identification if you don't have these... (But you should b/c they make your life easier! I had to reorder my birth certificate online and it took 6 weeks!) 7. Lastly, this really pissed me off. Understand that they only take personal checks and money orders, NO EXCEPTIONS! However, get this!!!!!! They would not take my check because it was too "new." I was not established enough according to my check number (in the 100s). I wish there had been a sign/warning but NOPE! I just wasted my lunch hour despite being prepared for everything. 8. Want to be safe? Spend money to prove you have money. Go to any post office and spend $1.25 per money order. You need $110 for your passport book and a separate $25 for your processing fee. The PO only takes debit cards or exact cash for money orders--no change. 9. Once you get the money order, do not write on it!! Wait for the big 'federal government agency' to tell you what you need to write down.... If you're in a rush go to the post office across the street before the passport place closes. In other words: good luck! 10. This library other than KCC accepts walks in. Post office appointments are hard to get by and rarely does the library have a line. I warn people to call KCC because they do not offer passports year round. Again, signs people!!!! Good luck... No, seriously. Save the headaches and follow these rules and the processing will be fast. read more

In the old days, people would go to these archives of literature called libraries. Libraries are where people once went to borrow and read books. Books if you didn't know what that was as well, as these compilations of text on this thing called paper and then bound together for an individual to read! Yes, shocking I know! it was before a time of the Kindle and iPad! Well, as the flagship location of the Hawaii State Public Library system, it certainly lives up to its name. This historic structure was overhauled awhile back and the little architecture touches make this a fantastic building to visit simply for the building itself. Parking can be a pain if you come at the wrong time as it is street or parking at the municipal lot around the Iolani Palace or if you are in a bind, try the municipal stalls at the Capital. The selection is wide ranging and if you can't find it at this particular location, you may be hard pressed to find it anywhere else in the system. Organized by section, have some ideas and move to the section that logic would dictate, or simply stop by the information desk in the lobby area. In any case, it is well laid out and the brightly lit corridors and the wide spaced shelving make it a joy to simply even peruse. read more

My first visit purely because I have to submit passport application for a cheaper fee. We scored the spacious table in the waiting area and killed time by reading an arm reached book. The wait only lasted 45 mins, which I think wasn't that bad, considering the closing is in half an hour! Once called, I dashingly showed up. Enter passport attendee: old, Asian lady; who can't seem to get a breather and was in tremendous rush mode! Soon as I had my passport requirements laid on the table, she grabbed my PERSONAL checkbook in a heartbeat, which I found very rude (but moved on very quick since I want it done anyway), to stamp it with payee info. Moving forward. My husband suggested not to staple my U.S. Citizenship with the DS-11, but she cut him off right before he can finish the sentence. We both just looked at each other, reading one another's mind like what's the deal with this lady! She can't be interrupted and in a super hurry attitude like she needed to be somewhere else rather than working half day on a weekend. Well, you are warned & you're welcome. Have a good one! PS: the stars aren't for her, but for the tranquil experience and the book I was reading read more

Attention Korean pop music fans! This establishment has tons of k-dramas, k-pop music like Big Bang, CNBLUE, JYJ, Beast, and other awesome k-pop artists that suit your music tastes. There is no cost to borrow music cds, and to borrow a book is free. If you feel lazy and don't want to search amongst all the stacks of books at the library, just go online and order your book. The library is very convenient and will deliver your book to any library you chose to pick it up. I recommend coming here during the early morning hours, because there aren't a lot of library patrons. I also suggest to bring some change, if you'd like to make copies. which are 10 cents per page. Oh! Before I forget, the lobby area has an anime section and individual cubicles to study at. read more

This place has some (or at times, many) sketchy people we should be aware of and thefts are sometimes high here. However, if we kept a close watch on our possessions while here, I believe (with the security here) thefts can be lowered. Without being subjective, having a librarian as my better half, this review will be my personal opinion of an educational establishment such as this one. There are plenty of books for all sorts of pursuits of knowledge available here, and can be sent here without having to visit other libraries around the island personally. Though, if you're doing research, this place is great for spending time in its atmosphere of literary peace. From encyclopedic pages to newspaper archives, this is the biggest and most comprehensive structure of learning on the island. In my personal experience, the service here is very good. Enjoying my retirement, I do my best now to visit here to catch up on my reading, and when I can't find anything or need help finding anything at all, the staff here has been of much help. They are courteous, enthusiastic, and warm. If you're just looking for a place to charge your phone while writing reviews, the librarians will direct you to places where there may be an open seat with an outlet for you to do so. The only reason I'm only giving this place four stars instead of five are: the upkeep of tables and chairs here, the wifi connection, and (at times) the lack of seats available to use the computers here. There isn't much they can do to fix that except at the state level. Without getting too political, the budget needs to be focused on these places of education to further the upkeep and expand the internet connection. They could perhaps monitor the usage of the computers to further along the line of people waiting to utilize the computers here. All of these reasons cannot be easily resolved. However, I believe the staff are doing their best to ensure the public to receive the best experience here possible. I love writing reviews for places that aren't restaurants or where people usually don't write reviews for. This place deserves a better review than most reviewers left it. Although I appreciate the reviews left by elites that have recently reviewed this establishment. Happy yelping everyone in 2017!!! read more

Regarding their Passport Service...be prepared to stand in line. :\ BF needed to get a passport and he couldn't afford to take a day off (saving those vacation days to visit me in Japan, yeah!) so we showed up on a Saturday. - I totally recommend to show up EARLY. The earlier you come, the easier it is to get parking! We parked on King St. and paid for an hour in the metered parking on the side of the street. - Again, be prepared to wait in line. We showed up right at 9AM (when they open) and we were...10th in line. The Passport Service is on the 2nd floor next to the Government Documents. It's kind of tight in there so if you're coming with your entire family, its best if one person stands in line. It gets kind of cramped. :( - Or rather...be prepared to stand in line...for a while. BF was in line for more than an hour! There are only two (or maybe three) staff on hand. They're very efficient and they move quickly...but the reason it took FOREVER were all the unprepared people!!! Of the 10 people in front of us, only 2 or 3 had all the necessary paperwork. The rest of them forgot something or took extra long and had to fill out the forms again because they didn't follow directions. Here's a link to the forms, what you need, and detailed instructions: http://www.librarieshawaii.org/services/passport1.htm - Because we came prepared (brought everything, completed the form but didn't sign it, etc.), BF took about...3 minutes to process his stuff. Including swearing the oath. - The silver lining about this situation is that you are in a library! It's probably one of the best places to kill time, and I think the State Library is one of my favorites because everything is organized well and it's just so huge. I not-so-shamelessly abandoned BF to go and peruse the cookbook section. If you can, I'd totally say to come on a weekday. Or perhaps towards the end of the day, have someone drop you off and pick you afterwards. If you couldn't, like us, don't be surprised to give up premium breakfast time to wait...but I guess it wasn't so bad, because I walked away with one of Giada's recipes for Lasagna. read more

This library building is just beautiful. High shelves of books, multiple floors, old stone and marble building, where sounds echo, and feet quietly shuffle along...The courtyard is really pretty and a nice place to stop and read the starts to some of the books you just picked up ;) gooooo!!!!!! read more