The best study spots in Hilo are UH Hilo’s Edwin H. Mookini Library, Kilohana: The Academic Success Center, the UH Hilo Campus Center, and Hilo Public Library. For a change of scenery, try a local café like Big Island Coffee Roasters, Sweet Cane Café, or Popover. Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens and the Wailoa River State Recreation Area are good outdoor spots for reading or a study break. Mookini Library is right on West Kawili Street, so you can walk there from many nearby apartments.
Hale Kawili, at 430 West Kawili Street, is on the same street as Mookini Library and just steps from UH Hilo. Our two-bedroom apartments have private bedrooms, so you have a quiet place to focus at home, and 1-Gig internet makes online classes and research easy.
Where Can You Study on the UH Hilo Campus?
Campus has the most study space in Hilo, plus free academic support to help you through difficult classes.
Edwin H. Mookini Library
The Edwin H. Mookini Library (200 W. Kawili St.) serves both UH Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College students. During the fall semester it’s usually open until 9 p.m. on most weekdays, and the main-floor lobby and coffee area open at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday. You can reserve a study room at the Circulation Desk or by calling (808) 932-7286. Hours change on holidays and weekends, so check the library hours page before you go.
Kilohana: The Academic Success Center
Kilohana is on the first floor of Mookini Library, in Library 123. It offers free walk-in tutoring in biology, chemistry, math, and writing, both in person and on Zoom. You can also use the study space without a tutor. Just check in with your UH ID number.
UH Hilo Campus Center
The Campus Center has a computer lab, a lounge with work tables and desks, lobbies on the second and third floors, and an outdoor lanai with tables. It’s open weekdays and works well between classes, especially when you want food nearby.
Is Hilo Public Library a Good Place to Study?
Yes. Hilo Public Library (300 Waianuenue Ave.) offers free Wi-Fi, public computers, and a quiet setting near downtown Hilo. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday, with evening hours until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It’s closed Sundays and Mondays, so plan weekend study sessions around its Saturday hours.
Which Hilo Cafés Are Good for Studying?
When you need coffee and a change of scenery, try these local cafés:
- Big Island Coffee Roasters Hilo Café (76 Kalanianaʻole St.): Espresso drinks, 100% Hawaiian coffee, and pastries, open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It has the longest hours of the cafés on this list.
- Sweet Cane Café (48 Kamana St., Suite 101): An open-air space with high ceilings, plenty of seating, and outdoor tables. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Popover (399 E. Kawili St.): A roomy morning café with indoor and outdoor seating on the east end of Kawili Street. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday mornings.
- Paradise Coffee Roasters Hilo Roastery + Lab (250 Keawe St.): A downtown tasting room for a pour-over or cold brew on a study break.
Wi-Fi and outlets vary by café, so bring a charged laptop and download your readings before you go.
Where Can You Study Outdoors in Hilo?
Hilo’s parks and gardens are good places to read, review flashcards, or take a break between study sessions.
Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens
Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens (49 Banyan Drive) is a free, 24-acre Japanese garden on Hilo Bay, with ponds, bridges, and views of Mokuola (Coconut Island). Bring a blanket and a book on a sunny afternoon.
Wailoa River State Recreation Area
The Wailoa River State Recreation Area has open lawns, walking paths, and picnic areas along the river. It’s open daily during daylight hours, and there’s no entrance fee.
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center
The ʻImiloa Astronomy Center is on the UH Hilo campus and is open Tuesday through Sunday. It isn’t a study spot, but its exhibits on astronomy and Hawaiian culture make a good break during a long day of studying.
How Can You Make Any Study Spot Work for You?
These tips work wherever you study:
- Match the spot to the task. Use the library for deep focus, cafés for reading and light review, and Kilohana for difficult subjects.
- Check hours before you go. Library and café hours change on holidays and between semesters.
- Pack for rain. Hilo is one of the rainiest cities in the U.S., so bring a waterproof bag for your laptop.
- Reserve rooms for group work. Book a Mookini Library study room ahead of time for group projects.
- Take real breaks. A short walk through Liliʻuokalani Gardens can help you reset during a long study day.
Why Is Hale Kawili a Great Home Base for Studying in Hilo?
From Mookini Library and Kilohana to a café near Hilo Bay, you have plenty of places to study in Hilo. Hale Kawili is on the same street as the library and just steps from UH Hilo. When you’d rather stay in, your private bedroom and 1-Gig internet make it easy to study at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best place to study at UH Hilo?
The Edwin H. Mookini Library is the main study spot at UH Hilo, with group study rooms and Kilohana: The Academic Success Center on the first floor.
Does UH Hilo offer free tutoring?
Yes. Kilohana: The Academic Success Center offers free walk-in tutoring in biology, chemistry, math, and writing, in person and on Zoom.
Does Hilo Public Library have Wi-Fi?
Yes. Hilo Public Library offers free Wi-Fi and public computers. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday.
Can Hawaiʻi Community College students use Mookini Library?
Yes. Hawaiʻi Community College shares the Edwin H. Mookini Library with UH Hilo.
Where can I study outside in Hilo?
Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens and the Wailoa River State Recreation Area are both free, peaceful outdoor spots for reading and study breaks.
