Originally funded by Andrew Carnegie, the building was designed by architect Henry D. Whitfield.

The entire Hawaiʻi State Public Library System has a collection of over 3 million books.

The Edna Allyn Children's Room houses murals by artist Juliette May Fraser depicting Hawaiian legends while the garden courtyard features a mosaic of ocean currents by Hiroki Morinoue.

Barbara Hepworth's cast bronze sculptures, named Parent I and Young Girl, greet visitors at the lawn in front of the building.

Prior to this, the site was the location of Hāliʻimaile, the residence of Boki and Liliha and later, Victoria Kamāmalu and her father and brothers before they ascended Kamehameha IV and Kamehameha V.[2] Hawaii's royalty (King Kalakaua, Queen Kapiolani, Queen Emma, and Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop) gave both financial support and their personal book collections to the association.

King Kalakaua also provided tax exemptions and a land grant for a permanent site in downtown Honolulu.