$21 million in funding released for construction of new Waikōloa library

Gov. Josh Green has released $21 million in capital improvement project funding for the construction of the long-anticipated Waikōloa Public Library on the Big Island.

The funding was advocated for by state Rep. David A. Tarnas to support the final phases of planning, design, and construction for the project, which was built on years of planning and community advocacy.

“The Waikōloa community has worked tirelessly for over 15 years through the Friends of the Library Waikōloa Region to advocate for a new community library,” Tarnas said. “Finally, after all these years, we can see this important project soon become a reality.”

Waikōloa remains one of the largest population centers in Hawaiʻi without a permanent public library facility. Residents currently utilize a mobile library service, making the development of a permanent facility a significant milestone in expanding access to educational resources and services.

The Waikōloa Public Library will be a modern community facility of approximately 12,000 square feet, paired with a 3,000-square-foot Early Learning Center. The project will include spaces for community meetings, educational programming, and shelving capacity for at least 50,000 books. The facility will also feature 71 on-site parking stalls to support public access.

In 2024, an environmental assessment for the project was completed, evaluating potential impacts related to land use, traffic, infrastructure, and environmental conditions. The assessment concluded with a finding of no significant impact, indicating that the project is not expected to result in substantial adverse environmental effects, with most impacts anticipated to be minor and temporary during construction.

“The new Waikōloa Public Library will be a beautiful new community hub for the community to read, learn, and connect, and we can’t wait for it to open,” said State Librarian Stacey Aldrich.

The library is expected to provide a wide range of benefits to the Waikōloa community, helping to meet the needs of residents today and in the future. In addition, the facility will also support digital access, workforce development, and cultural programming, helping to strengthen community connections and resilience.

With funding now released, the project will proceed into final design, permitting, and construction. Completion is currently projected for fiscal year 2027-28, subject to permitting timelines, supply chain conditions, and other external factors.

For more information on the project, call Tarnas’ office at 808-586-8510, or visit the Friends of the Library Hawaiʻi’s website.