I've been wanting to check out the Rapa Nui exhibit before it leaves in May, and so I finally visited the museum for the first time since moving to Honolulu with the family two years ago - thank you Terry K for accompanying me! I didn't realize what a large campus it was, and that there were several buildings housing exhibits - the Rapa Nui exhibit is in the Castle Memorial Building. While it's a small exhibit contained in just two rooms, I learned so much more about Easter Island than I thought I would. You're allowed to take photos of the displays, but without flash. There are traditional cultural displays, as well as modern installations from current artists. I will be back to explore the other exhibits more fully - you could easily spend the entire day here! read more

Took my grandson to the Bishop Museum for a fun day. We spent most of our time in the Backyard Adventure. Even I got to try a few things. I need to work on my throwing arm. Miniature golf is fun and challenging. So much fun for kids of all ages. We packed a picnic lunch and ate in a small copse, in the shade outside the Backyard Adventure next to the convenient and very clean restrooms. We could fill our water bottles at the water fountain then return for more fun. We walked over to the Science Adventure center to experience more interactive activities - air pressure device, the top and inside of a volcano. We had purchased additional tickets foe the planetarium Hookulea program. The waiting area includes an interactive globe and other exhibits so the wait isn't too boring. Great show! Our narrator was mindful of the very young children in the audience and gave parents instructions and options to leave the show if necessary. On the way out we walked theough the museum store and my grandson used his own money to buy a memory of his great day! read more

I had a few parties & luaus here but NEVER when I became a helper. Unless it was because I FORGOT to check in. Other than that, this place has a really nice area to have luaus and parties. The only things is... the hall (Atherton Hall) has NO A/C. It's all fresh breeze of Hawaiian air. So, this place can get a bit HOT if you're not sitting in the right spots. There is also a guy looking area where I believe is used for the party as an entrance way or food line perhaps. I guess it depends on what the host would like to do with it. Admission TO Bishop Museum is usually NOT INCLUDED, but... there may be moments where it is. So you may wanna check with the staff on that. As for Bishop Museum itself... it's one of the most perfect places to go to when you want EXTREME KNOWLEDGE OF SCIENCE, HISTORY & HAWAIIAN CULTURE. Only because this place constantly changes its history displays of BOTH SCIENCE & HAWAII ITSELF. School field trips are held here on occasion. Members of Bishop Museum starts off with individual passes purchase up to a dual, family, patron, silver, gold, etc. passes. Depending on YOUR USE ITSELF. Whether is it a one day pass or a test around pass. We use to grab the 1 year family passes back when it was ONLY $60. Then it went up to $80 & $120. And now... I believe it's $160. Which is why I said... "we USE TO grab passes" lol! Of course the benefits are the same, just the price got higher. But it was really worth it too! I not only had MY WHOLE FAMILY OF 5 on this membership, BUT... we were able to have additional guests of 6 MORE under the age of 18, & 2 more adults of 18+. We also had 4 FREE ONE DAY passes for ANYONE including non-kama'aina. On TOP OF THIS... as MEMBERS we had access to events, grand openings & dinners for either FREE or $5 per person & sometimes Keiki are free too. Discounts at the gift shop, restaurant, as well as access to OTHER MUSEUMS NATIONWIDE. THIS we did NOT KNOW until AFTER the fact that that we went to couple museums and historical sites on the big island. So for those who do travel around the state or the nation, this is something worth getting. Because if your family vacation includes somewhere that has a museum or whatever's is listed on their brochure, you and the family CAN USE THIS. I'm not too sure what offers they have NOW BUT... it could either be MORE or CHANGED. Either way, it is kind of costly. Any who... umm... even if you do a ONE DAY VISIT, kids will love it, parents love it. I don't want to write an entire NOVEL of this place. I'd prefer you check it out yourself. I do suggest tho, you should start your tour first thing because there is A LOT of things to look through. And if you're rushing, you won't be able to appreciate your visit. Because there's so much information that is available to you, you would have to come back another day if you come in after 12pm. Tbh, because I'm kamaaina & live here & HAD the yearly pass, for us, going in the afternoon wasn't an issue. We'd return whenever. But if you ARE a visitor... PLAN FOR IT A MORNING TO CLOSING VISIT. IF YOU'RE DONE SOONER THAN YOU THOUGHT, GREAT! You can leave & search other places. But there are NIGHT VISITS TOO. Mostly the observatory. These are dated on specific moments of the year due to the meteor showers or weather conditions, or certain events & programs throughout the year. Just have to check their calendar events. I guess that's enough. Thanks for the read and hope you enjoyed my experienced opinions. Have good one!! ALOHA! read more

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Excellent displays/exhibits of Hawaiian History and it's collection of artifacts. The shop has collection of books and artworks of artists.

Not much of a museum goer myself. But, briefly learning the history of Hawaii was quite interesting. The science building was fun for my kid. We only stayed there for an hour and that was good enough. Glad I used Groupon to get our tickets. read more

Bishop Museum - Tiki Head at the entrance - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place is a hidden gem. I came here in the hopes of hearing that there was a dinosaur exhibit. But, in lieu of the dinosaur exhibit that we found out that was no longer there we were able to make the most of this experience and see real lava being melted and formed into various forms. I was very impressed with their presentation of forming their genuine bonafide lava in their back building on their property. Beautiful property to say the least! My nephew ran across their lush green field up and down all afternoon long. read more

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The Bishop Museum is Hawaii's largest and oldest Museum. It is located about halfway between Waikiki and the airport in the Kalihi area. For years they've had a free family Sunday once a month but recently I haven't been seeing it advertised as often. Fortunately I was able to take my friend who was visiting for China for a special free admission day. The largest exhibition hall is the Hawaii Hall that houses ancient Hawaii artifacts leading up to the discovery of Hawaii and early modernization. The newest building is the Discovery Center which has exhibits ranging from live lava demonstrations to invasive species and wind and wave current exhibits. There's also a planetarium but it's definitely showing signs of age and could use an update. A small peeve is that in addition to whatever the admission fee might be, there is a $5 parking charge. I understand if there's an attendant but there's no attendant and people park on the grass and any other spot that is available. I simply parked right outside on street parking and saved the 5 bucks. Strongly recommended if you're into history or just learning about stuff. read more

Bishop Museum - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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My family and I have had the opportunity to visit this museum many times over the past few years and we always enjoy it. The exhibits are beautifully displayed and you can walk around at your leisure and look at each exhibit at your own pace. Please allow enough time so that you can read about each displayed item and the cultural significance that it holds. There are headsets available that translate into several languages so everyone can understand each display that they are looking at. Don't forget to visit all three floors of the museum building! There are hands on exhibits that are interactive on the second floor of the main building along with several video screens that show various historical Hawaiian images. If you are lucky enough to have a chance to talk with the tour guide named Bill, you will be absolutely amazed at the wealth of knowledge that he has regarding this beautiful island and it's history. There are three buildings total so please allow enough time to visit each one. read more

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Fantastic history of not only the Hawaiian people but off all the Pacific Islanders. Great science building for kids too.

I always come to this museum when we're in town. Even though you're not Hawaiian you feel in touch with it's history, culture and it's people. I must if you're in town and want to spend sometime where you and your family will learn and feel it's message. Besides the dinosaur exhibition in currently in town! read more

After having a nice lunch of Hawaiian cuisine at Helena's, we were inspired to tour (actually wanted to ward of a "Kanak Attack") the Bishop Museum. We wanted to catch the special exhibit featuring the "Father of International Surfing", Duke Kahanamoku, that is quickly ending its run of February 28. We parked our car in their paid parking lot, proceeded into Jabulka Pavilion toward the ticket box. The ticket prices have changed as of January 1, 2016. - Adults ..........................$22.95 - Seniors (65+) ..............$19.95 - Youth (4-12 yrs) ..........$14.95 - Children (3 & Under) ....FREE - Members ......................FREE Not wanting to waste any time and to escape the heat from the blazing sun, we headed directly for the Hawaiian Hall. This grand historic structure, made from locally quarried bluestone lava, is called "Ka Hale Hō'ike'ike 'o Pīhopa", Bishop Museum. The Bishop Museum was opened in 1889. As soon as we entered the air-conditioned building, we were met by the beautifully handcrafted koa wood staircase leading up to the Pacific Hall but instead of ascending the stairs, we opted to start our tour in the Joseph Long Gallery featuring its current revolving exhibit, the Duke Kahanamoku exhibit. The Duke Kahanamoku exhibit was very interesting as it had interactive displays such as competing against the Duke on a 35' wave from Diamond Head to Waikīkī"s Moana Hotel or trying to break his record breaking swim in an 100-yard course. You could see how much impact this Ambassador, Olympian, businessman, waterman, family-oriented man and Lawman. But, you have to hurry, because this exhibit will close on February 28, 2016. For the next 3 hours, we roamed through the rest of the Hawaiian Hall which is dedicated to THREE floors of Hawaiian artifacts to a significant "realm". The first floor (Kai Akea) features the legends, beliefs, and the world of pre-contact Hawai'i. The second floor (Wao Kanaka) is the realm of man or humans living, working and playing. The third floor (Wao Lani) represents the "Heavenly" realm. It shows the journey of the Hawaiian civilization from King Kamehameha I through the overthrow of the Hawaiian nation, to the Hawaiian renaissance of the 20th Century. From floor to floor, I could recall coming into this museum throughout my Life. The exhibits gave me a sense of Pride of living in Hawai'i. After exiting the Hawaiian Hall, we dipped into the Richard Mamiya Science Adventure Center. The displays showed how our islands were created or formed by volcanic action, winds and ocean waves. The displays were great draws for all ages but I think more suited for children. The Bishop Museum is a great place to learn about Hawaii's rich history and how it shaped our present day. I'd highly recommend that you visit this museum as a resident or as a visitor to our islands. #537 read more

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General Admission Rates: Adult: $19.95 Senior, 65 & over: $16.95 Junior, ages 4-12: $14.95 Child, age 3 & under: Free Spent almost an entire day here. They have a free parking lot. Upon entering, pay the cashier and make sure you get a Bishop Museum sticker. Place it on your shirt, where employees around the museum can see it. The lady who checked us in wasn't all that friendly. However, employees around the museum and at the Planetarium are super sweet! There was a gentleman (part of security) who was really helpful and friendly. The lady at the planetarium was knowledgable and kind. The Bishop Museum has so much to see. It's broken into different sections. The Hawaiian Hall, Pacific Hall and Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kāhili Room are in one building. There is also the Nā Ulu Kaiwi'ula Native Hawaiian Garden, Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center, Castle Memorial Building, The J. Watumull Planetarium, and Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame. All of these buildings are super close to one another. The Hawaiian Hall, Pacific Hall and Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kāhili Room took us the longest to see. There is so much rich history to learn here! We had a lot of fun. Don't forget to drop by the Planetarium and catch one of their shows. It's super educational and beautiful to watch. This place is very kid friendly. We saw school kids on a field trip here and they were just the cutest. They would sing Hawaiian songs together as they walked from one room to another. read more

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Bishop Museum is a great place for kids. In addition to their permanent exhibits (volcano, Hawaiian Hall etc.) there are new exhibits each season. Some of them have been really cool for kids (dinosaurs, Mars, etc.) and some of them not so cool for kids (guitars) but this is a great place to spend 1-2hrs. BECOME A MEMBER There are student ($35), senior ($45) and friend ($50) memberships, but for $85/yr, your family can go every day EXCEPT TUESDAYS. IF YOU HAVE KIDS AND TRAVEL When we travel, my kids love to see the natural history museums. If you join Bishop Museum at the Patron level ($120/yr), you get free membership to over 300 other science museums across the US and abroad. This year alone we have used this reciprocal admission in three science museums, which would have cost us over $120 if we paid at the door. This is where my additional 5th star comes from. What a great opportunity to save money while on the road. Here is a list of all the other participating science museums. www.astc.org/passport. Bishop museum also does kid birthday party packages on the weekend, and you can also rent out the whole entire lawn for larger functions (weddings, etc.) and bring bounce houses and carnival rides. read more

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We usually frequent the free Bishop Museum days, which happen to be when a health organization sponsors a family day. YMCA was sponsoring this weekend's free family event so we took advantage of the offerings, otherwise the entry fee is $17.95 for adults and $14.95 for children. You get a discount if you live in the islands (called a "Kama'aina" discount) or if you are military - show your ID at the door. Bishop Museum has many attractions to offer besides the free family events held in the middle of the large field: - Main museum with Hawaiian/Polynesian artifacts and a large hanging whale display (you can see the bones on the other side of the whale) - Planetarium with daily shows - Special exhibits (we came over a period of years for the dinosaurs, Sesame Street, the Human Body and the Circus) - Volcano display in a separate building. Out of all the displays at the Museum, our kid's favorite is the volcano display. It's a large fake volcano that you can interact with to make it bubble up gas or burp up magma. Pretty cool. There's also a black light lava tube you can walk through (see photos). My 6 yr. old was a bit frightened when he heard the Hawaiian chants in the dark lava tube but he got over it after about the third time through. This is a relatively small museum. My favorite part of the museum is the main museum where all the old artifacts are displayed. You can tell this museum has been around a while with its lava rock bricks, ornate wood staircases and koa wood floors in some sections. Any visitor coming to Hawaii must definitely check out the Bishop Museum to get a piece of Hawaiian and Polynesian history. They have personal guided tours but you are also free to walk around and explore at your own leisure...oh, and lots of bathrooms scattered throughout the grounds ;-) read more

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Bishop Museum is a wonderful place to spend the day at especially if you have a young family. It's very engaging and the staff are very helpful. I came here to babysit a former student - she's 6 years old and came here many times. The last time I was here was 2015, so she was my tour guide. To view the planetarium, you need to purchase tickets at the entrance. You will not be let in otherwise and you need to be on time. We saw the first showing of the planetarium. The guide was helpful in letting us know where to sit to have the best view. He was very informative and had some laughs for the adults as well. It was a great show for all ages!! There's castle hall for special features. This month was Rapa Nui. Although it was more informative than interactive, we both enjoyed ourselves and learned a couple of things about the culture and people. Of course, Hawaii Hall is a must! I want to say there's 4 levels of Hawaiian culture. A lot of great information, interactive crafts and instruments, great exercise for the children - going up and down stairs ;), and a cute hula costume area for kids and adults. Super cool!! The science center features the volcano, insect costumes (as well as insect displays around the center), and interactive play. This was our favorite part of our trip. I would definitely come back :) Thanks for a great experience!! read more

The art was beautiful. The culture was beautiful. The old man working in the museum was very unfriendly towards kids. When we walked through the front door he immediately scolded us for warning us not to be too loud. A little while later he came to us voice very loud, making a scene about the children running around. I understand I have 5 children under 9 and I understand they can make some people nervous his reaction was completely unprofessional and uncalled for. He embarrassed my party and scared my children. We left immediately because we did not feel welcome. They need a more friendly understanding caretaker. Not cool. read more

Bishop Museum - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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What you want to know: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Tuesdays and December 25 Adults $17.95 Seniors 65 & over $14.95 Children ages 4-12 $14.95 Children 3 & under Free Kama'ina/Military Admissions (ID req'd) Adult: $10.95 Junior: $8.95 Senior: $8.95 Children 3 and under: Free Tips: Remember to put up your sun shade. Your car WILL get hot. Bring your ID for Kama'aina (Hawaii Resident) discount. A lot of the doors have dark tint, but the doors are usually open. Note: The science center closes at 2:00pm Parking: I believe there are two lots available for you to park in. I parked in the front lot. Spots are wide, but they ARE in the sun. Entrance: You walk into their gift shop and through your right is the line to the ticketing booth. Experience: Needless to say, the Bishop Museum provides so many educational facts in their facilities, it's really amazing. My first stop was the "Hawaiian Hall." A lot of the buildings actually look closed because of the tint on the doors, but don't be fooled. This building had all types of displays about Hawaiian history from the ahupua'a to the weapons they used in war. My next stop was the Castle Memorial Building where they had the Sesame Street "Body" exhibition. I felt a little out of place being that I was the only adult there without a kid with me, but I must say, the stuff in there was pretty cool. It was an interactive exhibit so you could play certain games or use their equipment to see how selected body organs work. Upstairs was the history of Hawaii in terms of immigration I guess. This is where grandma and grandpa fit into the plantation picture. Then while looking for Paki Hall, I got lost. "Forget it." I walked over to the new Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center (which is only open until 2:00pm). This place was like the body exhibit for the big boys. Now I was ready to have some fun! It was so interesting to see and feel the different types of rocks formed by lava. There were also demos of what types of geological events could cause the biggest waves (landslides, wind, and earthquakes). Though the landslide display uses a hydraulic with compressed air so it kinda scared me at first when the air was released and the block fell into the water. Then it REALLY scared this little 10 year old girl when she pressed the button xD Overall: This is probably the coolest place to come with your kids or even your friends. There are so many things you can interact with and learn from. I wish I explored a little more. The planetarium looks cool and I really want to see what's in Paki Hall. I'll probably have to come back one day. read more

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Wonderful museum to visit and learn about Hawaiian history and culture. Beautiful main building with 3 floors. Other buildings include the planetarium, there was a Lego exhibit in another building, and a building that focuses on science ( volcanos, sea life). Nice tours and worth spending time here. Check out the nice gift shop too. read more

Bishop Museum - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Grrrrrrr, Rahhhh, R...O...A...R! Beware, Dinosaurs has been "unleashed" and stomped their way into the Bishop Museum! Oh, no? They have taken over the new exhibit at Castle Memorial Hall until September 7, 2015 ! Enter at your own risk! On display, you will feast your eyes on life-sized animated dinosaurs that look so REALISTIC! . As we started our trek, we encountered a flying pteranodon and a ferocious T-Rex at the front line. Then, we saw some Triceratops, Maiasuras and lots more others on exhibit. There were also hands-on activities for the keiki to do such as a dinosaur dig, dinosaur crayon rubbing, dinosaur dress-up, operate a mechanical dinosaur and take a photo-op in a HUGE T-Rex jaw. Have your camera ready! For your shopping pleasure, there is a gift shop in the exhibit area. You can purchase...ANYTHING DINOSAUR! Books, t-shirts and toys. You name it...they have it all. So, if you have young ones, take them to the dinosaur exhibit. They will have a "Dino-Diggity" time. My daughter sure did! read more

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When you live here so long, you sort of take it for granted that there's this incredible museum tucked in Kalihi that houses Hawaiian artifacts, a cool science facility, and "edu-taining" traveling exhibits amidst beautifully landscaped lawns and gardens filled with native and endemic plants. Bishop Museum really is all that and more. On this rather gray and rainy Sunday, we took my friend's 4-year-old son to Bishop Museum for the Sesame Street traveling exhibit on The Body. Seeing the wonder and excitement in his eyes made the outing all the more fun. The exhibits were both entertaining and educational. Imagine pushing a lever to hear and see a beating heart, or pulling another one to see lungs fill with air. Then, learn how your digestive system starts at the mouth and ends at the b__t. Sound effects included, to the delight of the four year old! That and so much more kept his attention for all of an hour. After, we crossed the great lawn to check out the permanent science exhibit which houses a stories-high volcano that spews gas and bubbles. Of course, it's all effect, but so cool. The 4-year-old got to peer through a microscope at the different rocks, touch cooled lava, see molten "lava" (sfx again) and even control an underwater camera and make waves. He ended his adventure by turning a wheel to make a wind turbine generate energy! We could have stayed longer, but hunger pangs pulled us to the exit but not before we were hooked into buying a few things at the gift shop! I found a couple of photographs while my friend bought Sesame Street amenities for her first grade class. All in all, a great way to spend a rainy (or sunny) Sunday morning. Go early for best parking! read more

We have the go card and I really wanted to hit some museums. We didn't leave enough time to see the entirety of this museum but what we did see leaves us wanting to come back for more and my two teenagers agree. This museum is strikingly and surprisingly beautiful. We went into the little planetarium and really enjoyed ourselves with the interactive displays. It kept the kids busy and gave us a break from the heat... A must see if you have a few hours free.... So much to see in Hawaii's largest museum... and a nice break from the heat and outside beauty... read more

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A beautiful telling of Hawaii's past and present through science and history. The architecture alone is something to marvel at and I highly recommend, if you see one museum in Hawaii, it's this one. I've been to this museum on two occasions and could easily go back a third. The museum is comprised of several buildings, some with multiple floors, with dozens of different exhibits. My favorite exhibit is between the surfing exhibit and the science dome. The surfing exhibit has a projector room that is extraordinary. The science dome has a IMAX type room that shows clips like the Hawaiian sky in all it's beauty. If you're a stargazer, it's highly recommended you take a look. read more

Excellent museum with a lot of Hawaiian history. We went to the Richard T Mamiya MD science hall hoping to see at least a section of recognition for Dr. Mamiya. I knew him from working at Queens Medical center many years ago and cared for some of his patients so I was sad to see nothing about him. He deserves recognition since he was an amazing doctor who helped so many people. Kind to nurses also. At least the hall in his name brought back nice memories. My displeasure was with the parking system. Payment all done in the lot where you have to use your smart phone. One system for Hi residents lower sign and one for "standard" parking higher up. Difficult to reach or see if you are short. It was a negative experience that was in my opinion overpriced parking and difficult to figure out on the phone especially as senior citizens that we are! read more

The last time that I've been to the Bishop Museum was in the 8th grade believe it or not, and that was just for a project at the science center! I was lucky enough to have been part of one of the schools to paint the (glow in the dark area) with the fish! I also have a few papier-mâché fish that I made hanging in the exhibit as well! So of course coming back to see my art work and hard work painting definitely paid off! Bishop Museum is definitely one of my favorite places on the island, because it's full and rich of Hawaiian history. I got to share stories of my culture with my cousin and niece as we walked around. The main building has so much Hawaiian history. Also a lot about the other pacific islands as well. One of the coolest parts was the planetarium, two great shows back to back, the first one was for the kids and the second was about constellations. I'm a total nerd when it comes to things like that. Also the show at the science center about lava! It's a great way to teach your kids about Pele and the different types of lava we have. All in all it's definitely worth the money, kamaaina is about $14 a person 13Yr+. I will definitely be back! read more

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The Bishop Museum is hands down the best place to learn about the culture and history of Hawaii. We loved the very different buildings, from the hall of the pacific very business like exhibits on the many rulers of Oahu to the discovery building with hands on science exhibits for our children. We loved the grounds, the planetarium was great fun, and the gift shop was extensive. We spent our first morning in Oahu at the Bishop Museum to get the lay of the land ( I really don't believe you visit and know an area until you can appreciate it's history and culture). It was about $120 for two kids and two adults to visit, which was equal or less to almost all the attractions we did over our two week stay. read more

Cool local museum, they have a lot more to offer than I was expecting, we spent a few hours here and will need to go back for a second visit to finish up. Thoroughly enjoyed the temporary surfing exhibit. read more

With COVID on the rise, I was a bit worried about taking my family to the Bishop Museum, not knowing if it would be bustling with tourists and what not. I was so thrilled to have the museum (basically) ourselves with heavy guidelines adhering to COVID all while workers busily cleaned and sanitized as visitors walked in and out. The different departments are filled with wonderful history lessons, artifacts and beautiful visuals. It was a bummer that a lot of the displays were shut off (to prevent fingers from touching) plus a few exhibits closed off, it was a great chance to get out of the house and learn more about our beautiful island. I will definitely be returning to get the full experience! read more

Bishop Museum - Beautiful and fun surfboard photo op - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Just attended Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Ho'olaule'a Centennial Celebration at Bishop Museum and can say I had a blast. There was plenty of entertainment and prizes they gave away, but most of all, it was free. It's been awhile since I've visit this place and never disappointed. It's like every time I go there, I learn something new. Like all museums, lots of artifacts and interesting stuff. I was amazed to see the Kii statue that was donated from a anonymous donor, who bought it from the auction. Anyway, I recommend this wonderful museum to all local residents and tourists alike. read more

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An excellent place to learn about Hawaiian History and culture and crafts. Hawai'i has everything. It and Hawaiians are unique. read more

We loved the Bishop Museum! I wouldn't bring a wild or irresponsible child, though. It is very calm and there is lots of heritage and the displays involve lots of reading. No complaints though! We went around opening, so there weren't many people. read more

Bishop Museum - Inside - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Located in Honolulu the Bishop Museum is a great place to spend the day and let the kids explore. We have visited multiple times and won a free membership during one of their events! The movie night when they played "The Good Dinosaur" was a perfect evening that we enjoyed with our family and friends that were in attendance. They brought food trucks and vendors and we all had a terrific evening. Our kids LOVE visiting and we continue to come back as they rotate their displays regularly. We've seen: Candy, Sharks, Dinosaurs, amongst others and our children have always been amazed. While this is a great spot on a rainy day you're still going to need an umbrella to travel from building to building! read more

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I moved to Hawaii back in the early 90s and this is my first time going to Bishop Museum. My bff who still lives here wanted to take our kids to see the dinosaur exhibit so we were extremely excited for this adventure. From what I've read about Bishop Museum is the largest museum in the state and a must if you are interested in Natural and Cultural History and Sciences. The buildings are beautiful, the grounds are immaculate and the exhibits were fantastic!!! We really enjoyed and learned a lot today. But there is always a butt... the customer service was seriously 50/50. Some of the employees were very nice and I only mention this because I love nothing better than seeing a friendly face, especially if I'm paying you to be there... the others well, with their huge bad ATTITUDES, it's extremely challenging to give this experience 5 stars. I seriously question why people work in jobs where they have to service the public if they are so unprofessional in their unwillingness to be nice. *Please retire and let a appreciative millennial have your job.* read more

Bishop Museum - Wow!!! - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The Bishop Museum is pretty cool. Except for their Planetarium Show. That one was horrible :( The museum is big enough that you could spend few hours here.. but if you're the type of person that like to walk through pretty fast.. you could see a lot of it quickly too. There is a lot of the island's history shown here, with cool and disgusting stuff. We saw a rock where they used to throw in used umbilical cords.. stuff made out of human hair. While I was there.. there was also a cool Bug exhibit going on! It was nice seeing all the bugs up close. While you're there stop by Helena's for great Hawaiian food. It's nearby! read more

Bishop Museum - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I've been living in Hawaii for a while and finally made an impromptu and amazing visit to this museum. Natural history museums are my favorite, and this one is mixed with Hawaiian/Polynesian culture and a science center. There are great things for both adults and children to enjoy. I spent the most time in Hawaii Hall, the gorgeous old stone building. Inside the Hall, everything was wood inlays and pillars separating each exhibit area. The room tells the story of the Hawaiian people through three levels. I only wish I could've stayed longer to read everything. The artifacts and information are great to see. I loved how the museum is laid out; many buildings around a central courtyard. From this large grassy area, you get a beautiful view of Honolulu and Diamond Head in the distance. The science center looked like a great hands-on area for children and children-at-heart. I went here this time to attend the Blood Moon Party, which was not a typical evening at the museum. Running from 9pm-2am, there was a surprising amount of people. I enjoyed the bar and live music in Atherton Hall before laying out on blankets in the courtyard to watch the blood-red eclipse. There were tons of amateur stargazers and many telescopes, which people readily shared. Food was also available. Next time, I'd love to visit the planetarium! read more

It's a very interesting museum that clearly explained the history of Polynesia. My family had a few hours to kill before going to the airport, so we decided to visit and we were all glad to be there. My high schooler and elementary schooler both expressed how much they liked it. It's a really well curated museum that lays out the history well so that my 5th grader could follow and had things to investigate, and my 11th grader liked the details and facts. This is a must see for anyone interested in Polynesian history. The buildings are also beautiful and worth seeing if you like architecture. read more

I have visited the Bishop Museum a number of times when I was in elementary school for field trips. My grandparents even took me there to see special exhibits when I was a toddler. Most recently, my man and I attended "Dino Night," which matched up to the release of the new Jurassic Park movie, Jurassic World: The Fallen Kingdom. The proceeds from the event all went to donations for the museum. It's a good thing I got tickets online ahead of time because it became a sold out event! They had to turn away people at the door who didn't have advanced tickets. The museum itself hadn't really changed over the years, yet facilities are well maintained. For the event, there was live entertainment for the kids. There was even someone in a t-rex suit prancing around. The Bishop Museum is great for what it is... Definitely doesn't compare to mainland museums, though. read more

Visited in June 2021. Spent a few hours here and learned a lot about Hawaii's culture and origins. The planetarium was closed, but the rest of the buildings were beautiful and well-kept. read more

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In my visit to Hawaii, I decided to take advantage of a reciprocal museum membership through the ASTC program that allowed my friend and I to enter this museum with only a $3 charge each for a planetarium show. The Bishop Museum was incredible. An array of buildings that cover all of Hawaii's origins, history, flora and fauna. With diverse activities for kids and adults, this place can steal your attention away for a full day. The Hawaiian Hall Complex covers their origins and history filled with incredible artifacts, models and lots to read from delving deep into Hawaiian monarchy, traditions and legends. Castle Memorial Building was housing a temporary dinosaur exhibition, feeling geared toward children, it was a quick walk through but definitely held our attention with button controlled dinosaurs around the building (unfortunately some were broken). We unfortunately slept through the hour long planetarium show regarding Hokuleas Worldwide Voyage but the little we did see was interesting, mixed with movie clips, sky show and interactive discussion from their facilitator. (We were tuckered out from the beginning of our day) My all time favorite was the Science Adventure Center. Here there was plenty of information and activities on the flora, fauna and volcano activity around the Hawaiian islands. My favorite was a wax demonstration of how lava pours and builds up, incredibly visual and easy to understand a larger than life concept. Unfortunately their Hotspot theater, where they replicate lava production, was out of service due to broken equipment but the demonstration was still amazing. I could go on but it is a must visit on a trip to Hawaii! read more

May Day Concert at the Bishop Museum. Featuring many local entertainers ..Kapena , Robert Cazimero , and many more! read more

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Nice and informative place for those wanting to learn about Hawaii. There are interactive sections for kids, two small take one leave one "libraries", a Cafe, planetarium, garden, and regular art exhibits and shows. The only downside is there's no AC. read more

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