Written by Carmen Mitchell

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Kauai is known as the “Garden Isle” and is one of the rainiest places on earth, receiving almost 400 inches of rain in a year! The Kapaa Public Library is located on the more touristy East side of the island, and is only a few short feet from a beautiful sandy beach and the Ke Ala Hele Makalae Path.  It’s a quaint brick building, with very friendly staff that are eager to answer any questions that you might have.

Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands are welcome to use the public library system. I visited Kauai recently, and found it very easy to get a library card. Anyone with a valid photo ID is eligible to get a library card. For non-Hawaiian residents, it costs $25 for a 5-year card or $10 for a 3-month card, and the card works for all of the island libraries. Since I am not a regular visitor to the islands, I opted for the 3-month card. The library staff at the Kapaa Library were incredibly patient and kind, answering all of my questions about the local area, giving suggestions on things to visit, and helping me with my library account.

The free wifi and abundant air conditioning are welcome amenities for any tourist wanting to take a break from the beach. There aren’t a lot of seating areas, but there was plenty of room for me to sit and peruse one of the many magazines while my partner found us some DVDs to take back to our vacation rental. They also have 10 computers that visitors can use if they do not have their own computer.

The Kauai Library hosts many events that are open to the public, including crafting, learning more about local Hawaiian customs, and exhibits. www.librarieshawaii.org/events