Basically Books
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More than a Bookstore! Open 10-5, Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday. Historic Downtown Hilo. Special orders are available.
A family owned specialty bookstore that focuses on Hawaii with books about Hawaii, Hawaiian Music CDs and DVDs, maps of Hawaii and the world, books in Hawaiian, children's books and toys, island-themed gifts, and souvenirs. A selection of classic and popular fiction and books by local authors can be found.
We’re open today, but we’re postponing the craft club event until next week! Hope everyone is staying safe as we all navigate the aftermath of Lala, and we’ll see all our crafters on the 24th!
Basically Books wil be closed tomorrow (Saturday, August 17th) because of weather concerns! Stay safe and dry, we’ll see you on Monday!
Pick up some new Hawai’i fiction titles! The newest of the bunch is “Everything to the Sea”, stop by Basically Books on September 12th at 11am for a Book Talk with the author Alicia Upano! And on October 10th at Noon we’ll have Tori Eldridge in to talk about “Hawaii Rage”.
HarperCollins Shay Kauwe Tori Eldridge Keala Kendall Kauakanilehua Māhoe Adams Bamboo Ridge - Literary Journal + Small Press Penguin Random House Simon & Schuster
08/13/2026
Champion storyteller, David Sedaris, comes to Hilo with a new collection of personal essays on Saturday, February 13 at Hilo Palace Theatre. With a Q&A and book signing, this is an evening you do not want to miss! Get your tickets now at www.davidsedarisontour.com!
08/07/2026
Join us at Basically Books from 4-6pm on August 17th for another audiobook craft night! If you can’t make it this time that’s ok! We try to hold craft night every third Monday of the month, follow us online to keep up to date with our Book Talks and other events! Thanks for supporting our indie bookstore!
The national celebration of Lā Ho’iho’i Ea was established in 1843 under Kamehameha III to celebrate the restoration of Hawaiian Sovereignty after a temporary occupation by rouge agents of the British Crown.
On July 31st 1843 a large ceremony was held at what is now Thomas Square in Honolulu to lower the Union Jack and raise the Hawaiian flag once more to symbolize the return of control back to the hands of Kamehameha III.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the landings on Kohoolawe to protest the bombings, and celebrates George Jarrett Helm Jr, and James Kimo Mitchell.
Find out more at Basically Books and on Lā Ho’iho’i Ea ‘s website (lahoihoiea.org)
Visiting Hilo? Pickup a postcard from Basically Books for yourself or to mail back home to loved ones! Which one is your favorite?
07/29/2026
Puakea Nogelmeier has spent decades translating Hawaiian-language newspapers back into the light.
As Head Translator at Awaiaulu, he led the work of bringing John Papa ʻĪʻī’s writings into English for the first time in full.
That work became the introduction to Nā Hunahuna ʻIke Hawaiʻi, where he explains what sets ʻĪʻī apart from other writers of his era.
For Nogelmeier, ʻĪʻī’s value isn’t just how much he wrote, it’s that his years inside the royal court gave him insight no one else could offer.
Follow us (Awaiāulu) for the stories behind Hawaiian history and language.
Find this book, and other dinosaur and pop-up books, at Basically Books!
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Category
Website
Address
334 Kilauea Avenue
Hilo, HI
96720
Opening Hours
| Monday | 10am - 6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am - 6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 6pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 6pm |
| Friday | 10am - 6pm |
| Saturday | 10am - 6pm |
| Sunday | 10am - 3pm |