We came on a random weekday about 3 hours before their closing, and it was fairly empty. We visited the science center first before the bishop museum itself. We were disappointed that a lot of exhibits in the science center were out of order and another one of the buildings were closed in preparation for another exhibit. We ended up finishing in a little over an hour. We didn't read all of the plaques because we had two very impatient younger children. My kids enjoyed the science museum, but it was very small and didn't take us long to finish because so many things were broken. I think our experience would've been a bit better too if more exhibits were functioning properly. Parking is $5. There is a machine before you enter the building to purchase tickets, and you need to display it on your windshield. The lot was almost all empty when we went. Our experience is closer to 3.5, but the staff at the entrance were so nice and sweet that I rounded up. read more

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Very nice museum with lots of historical facts of Hawaii. You could spend several hours here reading all the placards. This was second time here so we went through it quickly. read more

I visited the Bishop Museum for the first time, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I have heard of events happening here. When I went they had dancers performing. The Bishop Museum is known to be the largest in the state as well as artifacts from Hawaii and other pacific islands. I'd suggest spending a whole day here. Take your time and enjoy all that's around you. If you're hungry, they do have a food vendor. I do wish they would have information on the artifacts that are outside (like the latte sones & the moai). read more

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The museum was even larger than expected, and in the end I was only able to see less than half of it during my 5 hour visit. The artifacts and multimedia materials on exhibit are so dense in information but nevertheless well curated and organized. Definitely worth more than one visit, especially if you are interested in the history and culture of Hawai'i and Polynesia. read more

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The Bishop Museum is a museum dedicated to Hawaiian culture, history, and science, where you will find an extensive collection of artifacts, documents, and photographs of the Polynesian culture. The museum consists of a few buildings, unfortunately some of the exhibits were closed, such as the planetarium, during the time I visited on a weekday afternoon. It's recommended to spend about 2.5 hrs here, however, if you want to go through things a bit quicker like I did, you can comfortably see everything in about 1.5 hrs. General Admission is $33.95 ($5 discount available if you purchase online with code Bishop5). Planetarium Tickets are an additional $3. There's a large parking lot out front and cost $5 for day time parking. The museum is also wheelchair accessible. Any interpreter accompanying and assisting a visitor who is deaf, hearing-impaired, blind, partially sighted, or required to aide a person with specific learning disabilities is admitted free of charge. read more

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Came by the Bishop Museum as it's been a while since we last came and they did a huge renovation. It's very nice and super education for individuals of all ages. There are multiple buildings to explore, and is rich in Hawaiian history. Staff was super kind. We bought our tickets when we got here in the kiosks. read more

Bishop Museum - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We had a good time at this incredible museum. Lots of history to learn about Hawaiian Culture. Best part of it all was the kids building where they can interact with different activities. You can go inside a volcano or tunnel with neon bright lights as a story being told. Inside the gift shop there's so many options you can shop for. Nice little stop if you are in Oahu. read more

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So interesting to visit best staff at a museum very interactive shows good with kids of all ages very very informational about Hawaiian culture fun for families and teens has a good restaurant near the planetarium planetarium shows are awesome and amazing interactive exhibits are cool can't wait to go back again read more

Beautiful location with historical value. Museum has many interactive exhibit areas for keiki and overall we had a great time visiting. We spent a few hours visiting and fit this into a very full day exploring the Waikiki side of Oahu for this day. Definitely recommend stopping here if you are doing the same. read more

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On a weekday afternoon, I stopped by Bishop Museum. Part of my intentions with my Hawaii trip was to learn a lot more about Hawaiian culture. Bishop Museum is a great place to do it as a large chunk of the museum focuses on Hawaiian history and culture. Pro tip: Buy your ticket on Groupon for a discount (this exceeds the discount given by purchasing your tickets online on their website). The portion of the museum which is all about Hawaiian history covers three floors so it took me quite a while to get through. There's plenty to read and see. And there are numerous QR codes you can scan for more information. And it's air-conditioned which is nice. We also checked out the planetarium for a show. For a small surcharge, they have several shows going on daily. The one we attended taught us about Hawaiian constellations (which are different than the Western system). It was an enjoyable experience. There's a science portion of the museum which I didn't have the time to check out though I've heard it's more for kids. I wish I would have had a little more time at the museum but I spent a good three hours exploring. Definitely make it part of your Oahu visit! read more

Lovely museum focusing on Hawaiian/Polynesian history and culture. The building housing the exhibits is an exhibit itself. Inside there is so much to learn; exhibits are a lot to read. We joined a docent tour which was pretty good but a tad long for our tastes. We were visiting on a cruise ship - it was about a 15 min/$25 Uber ride from the terminal. Aside from the museum, there didn't appear to be any other touristy things in the area. read more

I haven't been here in years. But I totally love it still! It's a great way for our children to learn about our island and what makes Hawaii unique. I definitely had fun with all interactive stations. I was bummed out that the tsunami station was not like it was before. Overall, I had a great experience and had so much fun seeing everything. I would recommend grade level field trips or just taking your children to do someone fun indoors! read more

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Hawaiian and Polynesian history are what's on display at this museum. Our time was limited here so we didn't get to see everything but it was fun learning what we did see and hear through our fascinating tour guide. The coolest part of the entire tour is that the wooden boxes that house a lot of the priceless artifacts were milled in my current hometown of Stillwater MN...so we had a little piece of home with us at this museum. read more

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I walked into this museum not knowing what I am going to see and what is it about. My daughters wanted to go there and I agreed since it was a cold day for Honolulu and we couldn't go to the beach. Our plan was to go there instead of the beach or the dole farm. So here is the things I left with.. I have been coming to Hawaii for like 13 years I think I have been to this island 5-6 times throughout these years. I usually do the touristy stuff. And I don't like museums that much as I get bored. But this one stuck with me for the rest of my life. Do you know why? Cuz it's very very informative to the history of the islands of Hawaii and the nearby islands. The sadness I felt as I am going through the history of these beautiful people and their lands made my heart hurt for them. I always forget I am in the US when I come to Hawaii and honestly going to this museum made me understand why I get these feelings. I think every visitor to Honolulu should go and visit this museum before they see anything or do anything in this island so they can appreciate the land and its people. The beautiful history of this land is just amazing. The amazing native culture and people is something else that I am holding in my heart until the day I die. Hawai'i is not only beaches, good food and fancy hotels. It's a beautiful islands that we need to get deep into understanding their culture which honesty I was guilty of doing what everyone else do when they go to any island in Hawaii. But thanks to this museum now I have a different view of the islands that made me love it more and appreciate it more with yes sadness and heartbreak for the native people. Mahalo for your amazing museum that made me understand a lot , learn a lot and appreciate the land more. read more

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We'd been to Oahu back in 2017 but didn't visit this museum. I am glad I did this trip! This place is so beautiful just on the architectural merits but there is a ton of history to learn. There was a planetarium show for $3 which I highly suggest you do! It's only 25 mins and very entertaining. read more

We enjoyed every moment of our 3-hour visit (including kailua pork lunch from the tiny onsite restaurant). So fascinating to view the exhibits and read and listen about the lives of the ancient people, and also read about and see thousands of artifacts/items from the Polynesian people of the past couple centuries. What a beautiful and rich cultural treasure. They offer military/veteran discounts. read more

We just got back from the Bishop Museum and to say it was a huge disappointment is an understatement. The science center is a joke!! The volcano looks like my hot tub, it's not even red and it shows no info on how a volcano works. The giant tank under the volcano is now a projection with a blue tarp. This place used to be great. It had a red flowing volcano with info on how volcanos work and a big water tank underneath to show how a volcano and the ocean are in sync. The dino exhibit was mid at best. I've seen better displays at the mall. $50 for this is a JOKE!! As Kama'āina, we are so disappointed with how Bishop Museum is being maintained and ran. We came here as children and it was great, now it's just a huge disappointment. Do a better job in keeping this place alive. I've seen better science displays at high school science fairs. Also, there's absolutely no wheelchair and stroller access to anything! This is such a waste of time and money for us. Science center: -10/10 Hawaiian building: 10/10 Dino exhibit: 3/10 read more

Bishop Museum - This tank used to be filled with water. - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

What an amazing mix of Hawaii/Pacific Island history with a bit of a science center flair all in one complex! There were so many artifacts and displays that explained the Hawaii history and history of the Pacific Islands. I'm glad that we had toured Iolani Palace a few days earlier to have an even greater appreciation of the long royal lineage of the Hawaiian leaders. There are several other buildings that provide an interactive sciency museum experience which is great for kids of all ages. You need to plan for at least 2-3 hours at this place as there are so many things to see. read more

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This museum is always a must when we come to Hawaii. It is HUGE and there is so much to explore and see and they even extended some areas since we last have been here. The Hawaiian culture and artifacts are beautiful and leave me in awe every time I come. It's beautiful to be educated on the history and see the different times in each exhibit. They also offer parts of the museum that are interactive and fun for both adults and children!! This can be an almost all day activity and the staff here is so nice and willing to answer any questions you may have. I love that there are QR codes displayed throughout so you can have guided tours of each piece here and learn a bit further in depth about the history. I love coming here and always notice new things when I come. This is a beautiful way to educate and learn on the Hawaiian people and culture and all the beauty that comes with it. So grateful to experience this! Mahalo for the hospitality read more

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Hey guys. It's been years since I left a review about charging for parking. Guess what? They still charge parking and you still park on the grass and gravel! All those years getting money from parking and they did absolutely squat for their parking area. No new parking or pavement. What the hell have you been doing with that money people are paying? read more

The main museum building is like stepping back in time which I really enjoyed. The science building is good for kids. The main building exhibits were super old school which I can take or leave. The downside is that with an exorbitant entrance fee as well as parking, I enjoyed the visit but not sure I'd ever go back. YMMV. read more

If you want to know anything and everything Hawaiian, this is the place to start for a $26.95 admission. Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop was a descendant of King Kamehameha I, and girlfriend owned enough Hawaiian artifacts and royal heirlooms to fill several seasons of "Antiques Roadshow". Know what I'm sayin'? Jamie W. and I were just finishing up our road trip around Oahu. Because of bad timing or crowds, we skipped a few spots along the way like the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Dole Plantation. That gave us enough time to stop at this large complex in a less touristed part of Honolulu. There are a number of buildings devoted to hyperactive children, bless their hearts, but the high point was the Hawaiian Hall. It's a cavernous Victorian-style building made of restored native koa wood with multiple floors of historic exhibits around the perimeter and a huge whale hanging from the ceiling. Hawaii isn't just about the next ABC Store. RELATED - Exploring Hawaii? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3Kz5ksc read more

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This place is geared towards an older audience. Kind of expensive for admission. You can opt into adding the planetarium for an additional $3 which we did. It was interesting but my kiddos were bored. Not sure what I expected. Large amount of really wonderful items but I kind of wish it was laid out a bit better. The writing on the descriptions are pretty hard to read and with two littles, I was only able to see the items and not really know what they were because I didn't have time read the little cards. Would have appreciated large printed one liner descriptors and then additional info if needed. Enjoyed the hands on options for kids because you know kids really want to touch and feel things. Can try on clothing and can test out things. Love the science portion because it has cool Things. read more

Visiting the Bishop museum on my trip was really special! There's the main hall with tons of Hawaiian history and some modern art which was perfect to learn more about the culture and its past. Then, there's also a science hall and the planetarium which both seemed a little more geared toward children but cool to check out regardless. In the main hall, there are so so many artifacts, paintings, and models to see, and it felt a bit overwhelming to attempt and read them all. So, be content with grazing the surface for 2 hrs or so, or set aside 3+ hours if you like being thorough. I consider this a must if you're visiting O'ahu because it will contextualize a lot of cultural practices and give you a greater appreciation for their preservation. ALSO! No one told us about this beforehand, but, regularly admission is $33 per person (a little steep), however if you're staying at certain Honululu hotels, you're able to get 3 people in for $35 total!! Not sure what the discount would be for groups of 2 or 4+, but this was so helpful, and we almost didn't even get the discount until the museum entrance happened to ask where we were staying. The Moana Surfrider is where we stayed, but ask your hotel if they offer anything because they had an extensive list for the discount. read more

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Disappointed experience. Haven't visit this place for about 15 years. If I had known that it's an additional fee of 20 plus dollars per person to access the Hawaiian Hall Complex, I wouldn't have gone. This complex should be available for Kamaʻāina for free so we can see our heritage. For Kamaʻāina rate without having access to the Hawaiian Hall Complex, I paid $56 for two adults and one child. Parking was $9.70. $3 for planetarium. Update to Bishop Museum comment- we (myself, husband and grandson) were stopped at the door of the Hawaiian Hall Complex) and was told we cannot enter without a wrist band. If we were supposed to have a wrist band, that's an error on your staff. After that encounter, I did go back to the gift shop and ask how much it would be to enter the Hawaiian Hall. Which was a ridiculous additional fee. If what you say that my original fee covered all areas, maybe extra training needs to be done for ALL staff members. read more

Always amazing with their planetarium and exhibits! Beautiful area and plenty to learn & enjoy. Membership is a great value as well!

A ubiquitous presence on all the 'must do' lists of Oahu attractions, Bishop Museum in fact delivers. It's an outstanding repository of all things to do with Hawaiian history. And the main building is fabulous in of itself. Highly recommended. - Not too expensive - Easy parking (until the lot fills but it's not a small lot) Highly recommended. read more

Enjoyed touring the Bishop Museum and the Science Adventure Center. The museum is located in a beautiful historic building with 3 floors of the exhibit that answers many questions about Hawaiian Gods, culture, attire, Royalty, customs, Etc, etc. As we made our way through the exhibit we have a greater understanding of these proud people, where they came from, History and their culture. The Science Center is in a separate modem building across the lawn and is set up to educate the viewer. The Keiki will enjoy the volcano and the different hands on exhibits. I am an old child and enjoyed the activities. They offer different exhibits and special events throughout the year. Including star gazing at the Planetarium. The Kama'aina discount is available. There is small fee for parking by credit card. read more

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A singular museum experience. The main building itself is worth visiting and the exhibits were interesting and informative. We planned to spend 3 hours here and it wasn't enough time! read more

Great way to experience Hawaiian/Pacific heritage, beautiful grounds, friendly staff. We bought tickets online, took the 2 bus from Waikiki and it was super easy. The bus passes through downtown and Chinatown so you can stop along the way if you want to break up the bus trip (30-40 min). Inside was a breathtaking building with a detailed collection of Hawaiian artifacts as well as greater Oceania. Learn about the art of gourd decoration, barkcloth/tapa/kappa craft. Learn about Hawaiian royalty and see authentic adornments from each family. Find out how fishhooks are used to teach oceanic migrations... Also I heard they host the Hawaiian beer fest in June. So great for local events! read more

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good place to visit the Lost ark has the painting display or the dinosaur fossils good to discover Hawaiian culture displaced items Not found in 10.000 bc where you find Hawaiian instruments good visual effects to see at the Museum read more

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Finally as promised I returned to the Bishop museum. What an amazing place the architecture alone on the outside is worth The Visit let alone going inside and seeing all the stunning display and hit is in Hawaiian history that captures your mind. I learned the migration patterns of the South Pacific islanders finally making their way to Hawaii I saw examples of animals that were indigenous to Hawaii and learned about the Royal family. And that's just the tip of the iceberg . Yongshan and Haliegh greeted my wife and I as we entered for tickets. I am slightly disabled and there's a lot of staircases on the inside but you'll be glad to know that there's an elevator and an entry way in the back there require no steps and they have levels of admission prices based on whether you're a senior, a student, military, retired military, or members of the museum. You can also get tickets in advance online and sometimes there are discounts offered through 3rd party. These young ladies were very helpful in helping me get a wheelchair that they have on loner's status for guests in the museum. And all the elevators are wheelchair friendly. There are several buildings on the campus that feature different things depending on what you were looking for from science to history about The Hawaiian Islands. And it's people. And every room holds a plethora of wonderful artifacts from the history of the islands. One of the things that I thought was absolutely the best part of the tour was catching a rotating show about the healing stones. There are 4 huge stones that are placed in a protected area in Waikiki beach. Each that have a history that is very magical and fun to learn about. And this traveling ANIMATION program here shows an animation that won an award at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2020. We watched that film and many others that they have on display throughout the building. We also met a wonderful lady wonderful lady on the 1st floor of the building as you walk in who is a docent and knows so much of the history of the museum and gives you these little known facts and she has so much energy coming from her that's so positive and inspires you to dig deeper into what you don't know and what you learn will make you happy. I can truly say that there are so many things that you can see here that there is no way that I could have you understand how magic this place is in this short review. It's one of those things that you have to go and see and enjoy. read more

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Awesome venue, wonderful museum with a lot of history and art. If you haven't experienced the museum yet, I highly recommend to checking it out. Very clean and family friendly. It's great seeing a lot of ancient Hawaiian relics and history. The up side to this museum that it's also a venue. Con, it's hard to get contact information. Takes a lot of work getting connected to the right people or a possible call back. But I feel the venue would be awesome, a lot of parking inside and on the streets. If able to book I would say it would be a wonderful event if planned correctly. read more

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If you have the time, check out this museum! The whole family loved it - we have a seven and eleven year old. The great hall was amazing and we could have spent hours in there, but were under time constraints so we cut it a little short to check out the other areas. Our kids favorite part was the interactive volcano exhibit. It was amazing! read more

bishop museum is super cool and very educational to the kids and family about Polynesian cultural and all about hawaii! they have this cool volcano that u can see erupt!!! general admission is $33.95 and daily times is 9-4 pm but can stay until 5 pm!! Planetarium tickets are $3 and can be purchased onsite with valid Bishop Museum admission. so much cool stuff to learn about and there was also this cool glow in the dark area too!! we just loved exploring and taking our time to look and learn and read everything here!! we werent in a rush and there wasnt alot of people here either probably cause it was a weekday when we went! but so glad to experience this museum!! read more

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Loved learning about the history of Hawaii. An amazing museum with a planetarium (closed on certain days) and an interactive section for children. A must see if you want to learn about Hawaii and the history of Polynesian culture. read more

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The Bishop Museum is second to none! Not only does it have rotating exhibits, but the core collection is outstanding. From the main hall, with all the amazing history and artifacts from Hawaii to the science center that's very kid friendly, we love coming to the Bishop museum. One of the most exciting things they have done recently, is there after hours events. This is my favorite! You are able to go to the museum at night at a decent cost and enjoy programming that is provided with specific topics chosen for each event. We attended an event that featured an art exhibit focused on kalo. There was food in live music, and guest speakers, all of which was exceptional, especially in a family setting. The Bishop museum is an absolute must see if you're around, and if you're local, definitely head to the after hours event, you won't be disappointed. read more

Bishop Museum - Art exhibit - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We had such an amazing time exploring the Bishop Museum! I was surprised how big it is and how much it has to offer! We actually gained admission here after paying to attend the Native American Intertribal Pow Wow for $5! It was great being able to check out the galleries in the museum after the Pow Wow. We started off by visiting the The Healer Stones of Kapaemahu exhibit first. It was such a visually stunning exhibit with the tapestries hanging with the words in English and Hawaiian. The story of Kapaemahu is not well known due to the healer stones being buried underground for years under a bowling alley, how sad. I had no idea Mahu were healers, and the whole exhibit was eye-opening. We next visited the Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center which was sooo fun for us! We have a 14 month old baby, so he was just loving running around and trying all of the hands-on activities including being inside an active volcano, riding a giant snail, dressing up as a bird in the treetop, and going through a glow in the dark lava tube. I absolutely adored the Hawaiian theme of everything. It reminded me of my native Chicago's Science and Industry Museum, but Hawaii-centric. Awesome! I can't wait to go back one day to visit the Hawaiian and Pacific Halls, and the Planetarium. This museum has something to offer every visitor. read more

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Filled with history! 3 floors and ton of rooms. This place added to our trip something special! Bonus: we got in for free staying at wayfinder! Check in w ur hotel and see if they offer this deal too! read more

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We just moved here from the mainland and are adventuring out to learn more about the island we live on. My family and I love history, so the best place to start would be here at the Bishop Museum. There's so much to take in here. Things I've only seen and read in text books or online, but having the privilege of being here physically in person was an awesome and appreciative experience. read more

Bishop Museum - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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