Hawaii State Public Library System – Aiea Library

This is a brand new library. I was excited. I followed the construction process and the blessing ceremony and was pumped to see this. The building is beautiful and nicely located not far from the old one but on a quiet street near a field. Next, the ample parking. However, there is no shade for parking, if not trees then perhaps a parking pergola or solar panel shading? Well, we know the budget for libraries is in the toilet so it’s a miracle there’s a new library here but as long as there is a budget for a new fancy building, go for great and support sustainability by installing solar panels on legs that offer shade for cars too like I’ve seen elsewhere. Look at the long term return, that’s what sustainability is about.
Parking: Parking is free and plentiful however there are no EV charge stations. Hawaii is supposedly pro EV use so a new library should definitely have EV chargers, at the least pay-​for charge stations. This nixes my use of this library to rare occasions as I really need to be able to charge my car wherever I shop or spend time since many EV drivers like me can’t charge at home. Instead of providing EV parking, there is a confusing sign posted in front of two parking spots that no driver I asked understood, even the library staff don’t understand who can park there. The sign is worse than nothing. I hear that all new public buildings will post this incomprehensible signage instead of easily understandable EV signage.
I went inside, noticing the beautiful conference room that can be booked for private use. There’a a nice children’s section, however, the main section is a letdown in its lack of well, books, other than popular fiction. There are wonderful upholstered seating scattered around and tables to study at but the book selection is pitiful; Barnes & Noble is more exciting. It is discouraging it isn’t better stocked as I have not had good luck getting books from other branches as the entire Hawaii library system has a meager selection of books. Interlibrary loan from out of state libraries is not available or more costly than the book. I was able to get books from my alma mater library in another state for a few years by paying a modest postage fee but I’m no longer eligible; I’m stuck in Paradise without a good library book that isn’t popular fiction.
Many libraries in other states successfully installed espresso/​coffee/​tea bars many years ago right inside selected book areas. It is a great concept and works great. Really large libraries often have cafes or even full service restaurants. I don’t expect that scale in Aiea’s library but a small coffee/​latte bar is possible. Let’s face it, studying and enjoyment of reading goes hand-​in-​hand with a beverage.
I upgraded this from a 2 star to a 3 star because the staff is eager to help and they are just darn nice people. Also, the conference room is beautiful and might be useful. It also has nice seating inside. The light airy architecture and setting are lovely. I like that the location is convenient yet off busy streets.
The reason I don’t rate it higher than a 3 star is that a library should be well-​stocked with a variety of kinds of books. To me, that is #1. Also, for all the $ put into this new sustainable building it is glaringly lacking in dedicated EV parking and no EV charge stations. On a lessor note, shaded parking is desired, ideally also decreasing the energy footprint with solar panels providing the shading. The architecture makes the interior airy but other than that it is plain and rather dull without interesting displays or artworks.
What I saw here is lack of imagination and wow-​factor. It’s just a «meh, alright». It could be so much more.

Worst experience ever! Will never use this library again! they can look up your name in the system but they will not let you borrow books without your card. Have new name and so was gonna get a new card! She wanted to me still pay fee $ 5 for replacement card… was gonna do that instead of drive home and back to get my old card. Then she was like talk to our manager. Her names Carol by the way. So backwards so and lazy! Apparently only certain people know certain things in Hawaii and will do no more than that! Sad… and the ignorance of hating people from mainland!

Welcome!
Today, I have fresh, right-​out-​of-​the-​ocean new content for you. Because that’s what I do, I read other people’s reviews and report on something different something that every human needs to know to make a wiser decision on where to go.
Ihz, you ignorant, ungrateful bastard… three stars for a new library in 2015. Come oooon, man.
You know what. You’re right my friend. I deserve every bad word you can think because the new Aiea Library is a great library. Look, this was the toughest review that I’ve ever had to write. I wish I was here under better circumstances.
I’m not your friend. Why are you here, Ihz? I’m here for you. I’m here to serve you, and I don’t want waste any more of your time, so please let’s begin.
First, I want to make a disclaimer because it may seem like I’m coming in here negatively. I mean this review in the most positive and constructive way possible. So let me repeat, I’m not trying to hurt the new Aiea Library; in fact, I’m trying to help save Aiea Library from Aiea Library.
I want to start off with the negative things about this library and then I’ll end with the positive. As you know, I’m a stickler for libraries that don’t have private cubicles and rooms. It’s like being in a bar on a Sunday night with Monday a holiday. You can hardly study. Another thing I want to touch upon is the placement of books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs. Unless you’re a pornstar or weightlifter, people don’t want to keep squatting down to reach a book, magazine, CD, or DVD placed at ground level. The solution here is just to look at other libraries.
Finally, I want to closeout the review with what I think is the best thing about Aiea Library. And It’s not the books; it’s not the parking; it’s not the self-​checkout; it’s not even the restrooms or free internet! The best thing about Aiea Library is the people who work here including the drivers who deliver library material to different libraries. It’s about time these drivers get recognized for the work that they do. I love Aiea people.
P. S. Thanks for reading the review.

Love this place! They have long hours, plus lots of windows and soft reading chairs. There are tables for studying tucked away for privacy. This place is always comfortably quiet and never sterile or awkward! Everything is clean and new. There’s a lot of open spaces for walking and sitting, and the staff is very friendly.

Awesome Library. Been coming here since small kid time of course because I pretty much was raised in the A… town. I still kinda miss the old library down by Moanalua Rd. side. I remember the good times and great memories of checking out books there, reading books, studying, playing on the grass in the front with friends, and many more.
But we are not talking about the past and the old library, we are talking about the current and the future. So recently and not too long ago, Aiea library relocated, renovated, and reinvented itself now which is up the road on Kauhale St. and on Ulune St. It is still close to the grass field area so for you parents out there, the kids can go and release some energy and run around out there. There is a decent amount of parking in front of the library which is kinda better than the old one because, technically it was shared with the rest of the Aiea Shopping Plaza area. Anyways, the inside is really nice. The restrooms are clean for the most part. The staff and customer service is good. There are decent amount of table and seating areas. As far as the books and other resources go, not sure yet because I haven’t actually gone in and looked for books and checked anything out from this library yet. Nonetheless, it is a nice and chill library if you ever just want to if you are in the Aiea area.
The cons, if anything maybe just one thing and that is unlike the old library location, you gotta walk down to like 7 – 11 or something if you want to snack to eat or something haha.

This is a brand new library. Grand opening was in August of 2014. Plenty of parking and easy to find. Just a few minutes off the freeway. Lots of children’s books, easy reader up through young adult. They even have a manga graphic novel section! Computers for internet access or just to do a quick book search. Large adult section as well. Clean, airy with good light. A reading room in the children’s section if the kids can’t wait until you are home.
And as always, if they don’t have the book you want, but another branch in the Hawaii State Library System does, they will transfer it to whatever branch you want for free. Your three week checkout period begins when you pick up the book (they email you when your requested book arrives for pickup), not when you make the request. They will even bring over books from a different island if needed. And you can return the book to any, ANY, branch.
If you are military or a dependent, you can get a library card for free. Can’t get better than that.

Maybe it’s the new library smell, but this is my favorite library of them all. Aside from when school’s out (considering the close proximity of an intermediate & high school), they’re ample tables to sit at & computers with internet access that always seem to be in use. There’re a few charging outlets sprinkled throughout the library, but only a few that’re relatively close to a table.
Bathrooms are located outside of the library doors making it convenient to avoid unwanted smells wafting in the library’s air conditioned quarters. Right when you walk in, both sidewalls are covered in community event & service announcements. I haven’t borrowed books in years so I didn’t notice that DVDs & CDs are available to rent at $ 1 each. It’s really the first «bookshelf» you’ll see. This library also boasts two self-​checkout tables for those who like to scan bar codes & stamp due dates on their own books. There’s also a meeting room available for public reservations. Even though I don’t borrow books as often as I’d like (because I buy them), I commend community resource centers like the public library.
Did you know you can get a lot out of a library card? Free Wi-​Fi is available on site by signing in with your library card number. You can also borrow e-​books online without having to go to your library. I’d recommend taking advantage of the E-​Learning Center where you can take free online language lessons or even take professor-​led online classes for various subjects. So what’re you waiting for? Get dat library card!

Great library very up to date. Has a nice little quite study room but bring a jacket it can get very cold in that room:) I like the soft chairs next to the window where you can read. Nice selections, the only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is if you go on the weekday after school gets out a school bus drop off is right in front of the library so all the kids come there to hang out inside and talk loud and do everything except study or do work… they do have a security officer there to try and keep the kids in check.

This new state library is A-​Ok for me. It’s a new facility with a meeting room on left side and library on right side under one roof. It gave me a recreation center feel. Bathrooms are located outside of the library. Good thinking because as things age, bathrooms are the first thing to stink like Pearl City library (which is under renovation).
Book shelves are kid friendly meaning it’s only 3 or 4 feet tall. They many DVDs but sorted by alphas and not alphabetized.
Plentiful parking inside the library and street parking is available as well.

I love this new library location. It is much cleaner and spacious. They got an area where you can sit down and read the newspapers. Several tables to sit down and study or bring your laptop. The best part, there are more parking spaces available compared to the old location. Growing up, I remembered the parking lot being very chaotic because the Rosalie woodson dance academy was nearby and parents would often park next the library or dance studio to pick up their children from the dance lessons. Another reason why I prefer to the new location over the old one is that the previous library looked real runned down looking and the lightening was too dark. With this new library, it is open and has a welcoming atmosphere. Appealing to families and students and of course senior citizens. If you plan to bring your laptop and use the internet in the library, remember to type in your library card number id (front of card) and pin number which is your last 4 digits to your phone number. When I asked at the desk, the librarian looked at me dumbfounded like I didn’t know what I was doing. Overall, visit this library if you are in the area. They are not open on Sundays, fyi.

For a library it is not very big. But it is a great place to study. And you can’t beat free and quiet. There are not too many power outlets for laptops, but there are computers available for Internet, a variety of books, music CDs and DVDs– including some popular animé and manga if you’re into that sort of thing.

Very nice new library with plenty of parking. Doesn’t seem to have very many books yet as a lot of the shelves are half empty but otherwise a decent selection. I really like that they have self check out area, but they need to have instructions on how to check the books out. I observed several people standing there looking confused on how to use the self check out (myself included).
The only gripe I have about is that this new library does not have a drive up book drop to return books. If the library is closed you have to drop off you book in the front of the library. The parking lot is in back and they have lock up the hallway between the front and back of the building so you have to walk all the way around the building to drop off your books. Hope the put a book drop off in the back soon.

In my book, no pun intended, anything, anyplace or any person who has something to offer that will benefit ALL of the people in a community or more importantly, our youth, deserves Five Stars! The recipient of my Five Star rating is Aiea Public Library. I, and I am pretty sure lot’s of other folks, have been anxiously awaiting the opening of this new library! So, after driving by on opening day, July 19 and seeing the madhouse, I decided to wait for a bit to let the initial crowds taper down. I read in the newspaper that in the first hour of their opening, over 800 people visited and throughout the day, over a thousand! But, somehow it doesn’t surprise me being that it’s new, it’s visible and it has a big parking lot! It’s also energy efficient with it’s PV panels to being Handicap friendly. Nice wheelchair ramp in the front and Handicap parking stalls in back. Being a caregiver to my elderly mom, I now take more notice of these amenities more seriously since being faced with some non-​friendly places. Much appreciated!
As for the interior, I was a bit pressed for time, but I was very impressed with the layout! Nice entry/​reception area, young adults section, DVD’s, CD’s, children’s area… My favorite sections were the publications section, nice comfy chairs to plunk down into while you read through the various newspapers and magazines. I was happy to find the latest copy of the Hawaii Business News knowing that I won’t have to subscribe to it in order to read it! The Hawaiiana section was of great interest. I found books with subjects I like, Hawaii’s Marine Life with books dating to the 50’s… I also found some very interesting books dealing with the now defunct pineapple industry discussing the various plantations and canneries around the state, a book that told of the history of Honolulu Airport from the days when it was still known as Rodgers Field… I wish I had more time to explore the other sections, but I’m sure I’ll be visiting again real soon since it’s such a relaxing place to go to… unless you’re studying! :) Thank you State of Hawaii, you really did a great job with this library for the good folks of Aiea and the State of Hawaii!