The Kauaʻi Historical Society (KHS) was founded on May 7, 1914 by a small group of people dedicated to the preservation of Kauaʻi County history. The first meeting was called by Rev. J.M. Lydgate and was held at the Lihuʻe Union Church. Regular meetings were held quarterly, with annual meetings held in May, when annual reports were presented and officers elected. Meetings included the presentation of papers or programs on Kauaʻi history topics.

1960-1961 and 1963-1968 were inactive years, but KHS reactivated in 1969, with incorporation on November 25, 1969. Meetings were held monthly at the Kauaʻi Public Library where KHS collections were housed. History related programs and field trips were offered on a regular basis.

In 1971 the Society entered into an agreement with the Kauaʻi Library and Museum Association for space in the new Kauaʻi Museum complex which would house KHS books, records, and papers. Services were provided by Museum staff in return for a percentage of KHS membership dues, and meetings were held in the facility. By 1986, the Museum’s need for expansion resulted in the KHS collection relocating to the former Hawaiian Telephone Building in Hanalei. Meetings were held in various Lihuʻe locations, including Grove Farm, Kauaʻi Community College, and the Kauaʻi Library.

On May 15, 1996 Kauaʻi Historical Society entered into a thirty-year lease with the County of Kauaʻi thanks to Mayor Maryann Kusaka, a champion of history.  Phyllis Kunimura and then president Bob Schleck. led a team of volunteers and staff to move most of the Society’s collections into suites 101 and 102 which was formerly occupied by the Mayor and staff.  The collections have grown as we continue to receive documents, photos, maps, and audio-visual media of historic value, to add to the archive.