I came here because I heard about them on the plane. There was a short video about their exhibit about the art of Tatoo. My interest was piqued even further when I was told by the host I met at my hotel that the Bishop Museum building was the second state house/palace in the world to have indoor plumbing. The first was Buckingham palace. I'll admit that I was disappointed when I learned that the exhibit I was looking for had closed on July 4th. But they had a lot of stuff for me to digest. The first-floor exhibit to my right was about the flora and fauna of the island and the attempts to document, learn more, etc and that wasn't my thing. But I saw why it was there. But once I passed through (I spent about 45 min in this room), I went to the next room, where there were lots of exhibits about the gods, the kings, the robes, the rebuilt ceremonial house, and more. It was overwhelming. I took a tour and learned even more. I'm glad that I did this. There were three levels of this museum and we spent most of our time on the first floor. The tour guide was knowledgeable and quite pleasant. The part to the left had three floors of art, info about other Polynesian islands, pictures of Hawaiian royalty, and more. I went outside and looked for my beloved tattoo exhibit and found another one about the healing stones. It was quite captivating. There were movies and pictures about the stones and people on the LGBTQA+ spectrum, and an exhibit about a nightclub that featured transgendered women. It was all interesting history and the exhibit in the back room was a revelation. There is so much that I didn't know about. I thought that I saw the stones on my last trip a few months back, but didn't want to bother with reading another placard about another thing. I wish I had the time and energy to go back, but I'll do that upon my next trip there. I can't wait to see them in person and appreciate what they are. The only issue for me is that this place is way out of the way, but that's not a star losing issue. The other issue is that there is a place nearby to eat food but it was hard to find. I found it at the end of the day and it was closed, but some signs, telling me where to find such food, especially since it is named after an inn, leading me to belive that I had to go elsewhere to eat was a source of frustration. But, I had my snacks so I survived it. I may come back next time if they have an exhbiti that I'm interested in. I know that I have to see what they have online before showing up, so that I don't have the disappointment of finding out that the exhibit I want to see isn't there. But all in all, I recommend it. read more

Bishop Museum - Wall of decorations. - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I love bishop museum! They always have fun exciting things going on and the Kahuli Festival was such a hit! The only thing I have to say is the people who work in the store and where you pay for your entry are terribly rude. I've been to many of the events and I have not once had someone at the counter show any sign of customer service. This past interaction I had was the woman cashier scanned our tickets and handed us a handout with our wristbands and just said "here" and turned away. We thanked her and while we were walking around the festival one of the vendors asked us if we had a "passport" we were confused on what the passport was and they let us know that it was given to us with our wristbands. We missed out on getting stamps and knowing about this because the cashier just didn't feel like giving us any information on it. I also would've understood if it was busy like it usually is for these types of events and it wasn't. Everytime we come in to the store the employees all speak amongst themselves and are not approachable at all. Past the employees in the store everything is great and so much fun! But, after many interactions with them I'm starting to realize that it's not the greatest to have to check in with them. read more

This is one of the best museums I've been to, and I've been to museums around the world. The museum is in a historic building on historic grounds, and I love how a museum dedicated to educating and remembering the scourge of colonialism is housed in a colonist's mansion. It is beautiful, truly awesome. The displays are well laid out with excellent captioning, clearly some expertise as well as passionate care was involved. This is absolutely a must see, a must experience, but there is a lot to take in so come in the morning after a good rest, a good breakfast, and a couple cups of good Hawai'ian coffee. Wear comfortable shoes. And make sure to bring your curiosity, and if you're a Pacific Islander, bring your Pride. Easily reached by TheBus. read more

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This was a fun museum! We didn't realize how large it was, so we only allowed two hours to see it - definitely not enough time. We didn't make it through the history of Hawaii, unfortunately, but we did learn a lot. Beautiful museum. They also had a dinosaur exhibit with animatronics that was pretty cool and an aquatics exhibit that I would have liked to have spent more time at. If I'd known what they had to offer, I would have allocated more time to visiting. Well worth it! Also, apparently a lot of the hotels offer free passes to get in, so if you decide to go, check with the front desk of your hotel to see if you can get free passes. We did. read more

This museum was super fun and informative. Theres a lot to look at and learn about, but is not overwhelming. My family and I really enjoyed not just the museum but loosening about Hawaii's culture and heritage. There's also a science center that was fun to enter and interact with. Highly recommend if you're visiting! read more

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

Allow time to wander through 3 stories of high quality Hawaiianna. Ig makes sense of The Islands

Stellar museum in a wonderful old setting. The museum has dim lighting which works out great. Plenty is displays and short videos to watch. Parking is $5. Highly recommended! read more

Bishop Museum - June 2023 - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The Bishop Museum is one of my favorite indoor activities on the island. Always excited to visit when they have events or new exhibits. The main hall gives so much information about Hawaiian Culture and history and is a must for anyone visiting to learn about Hawaii! There is also a science area and planetarium with rotating shows. If you have not been, go, and if you are visiting and want a deeper understanding of Hawaii, this is a great place to start along with Iolani Palace. read more

We took advantage of the Hawaiian Triennial All-Access Pass for students where you have free unlimited access to certain exhibition sites! Bishop Museum was one of them and well worth the trip! There are lots of exhibits displaying the history of Hawaii, a newer building for the Science Hall, and one of the buildings was showcasing exhibits specifically for the Triennial Event. Unfortunately the Planetarium was closed when we visited. The Science Hall has lots of interactive items and is mostly geared for kids but I had a lot of fun playing with the air cannon and shield volcano simulator! There's even a slide for kids to play around where the volcano is. I would love to come back again whenever the Planetarium is open again! read more

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Thank you to Yelp Hawaii and Pow! Wow! Hawaii for the free ticket from an Instagram contest! I heard about the "POW! WOW! The First Decade: From Hawaii to The World" exhibit from Social Media and I wanted to go. However, I didn't do research nor plan a day to attend. When I won the ticket for a One-Day Pass to the Bishop Museum, I was elated and set my day for Tuesday, September 7. I knew that the Pow! Wow! Exhibit would end on September 19, 2021. PARKING: there is a self-service machine to pre-pay. There is also free street parking in the residential area. Everyone enters through the Gift Shop. There's a wide variety of local jewelry, clothing, books, etc. I liked the air conditioning and serene environment! There is a downloadable map. I just browsed along, hoping to see the gigantic whale that I remember from an elementary school excursion... And I found it... in the Great Hall. This building contains the largest collection of Polynesian artifacts! The other building held the Pow! Wow! Hawaii exhibit. It was my main purpose of my visit. I went through the entire place and found the video (at the end) to be so educational and valuable! The video showed POW! WOW! events - over the years - in Japan, Korea, Honolulu, and Long Beach, California. It was amazing to see artists from all over the world - gathering together in one place to improve each city! They agreed that Hawaii had the best weather and the best people! I'm truly grateful to have the opportunity to experience POW! WOW! The First Decade: From Hawaii to The World!!! It's SO much better in person. My photos don't do this artwork justice. Please attend and support! It's awesome, inspiring, and mind-blowing! I learned about the different types of Graffiti and discovered the names of the artists that I like. In the video, I had the chance to hear to the artists' voices and listen to their messages! Tip: There is a Groupon Deal (about $12) for tickets to the Bishop Museum! read more

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Parking is now $18.10, or $9.05 with a Hawaii drivers license. The museum employees told me it just changed two months ago. This is pretty steep compared to paid parking throughout the island. The Hawai'i and Pacific halls are amazing. Packed with all sorts of displays and artifacts about Hawai'i. These two halls could take days to thoroughly go through. The children's science museum was disappointing. Many of the displays are in transition and seem incomplete or maybe underfunded. I would say 50 percent of the displays were not operational. The rotating exhibit, Ka 'Ula Wena: Oceanic Red (running May 25, 2024 to January 12, 2025) was pretty boring. Seemed like tidbits pulled from the Hawaiian and Pacific halls and given some sort of "red" connection. Plan to get gouged on parking and see some cool Hawaiian history. Don't go for the kids' science museum or the current rotating exhibit. read more

I love Bishop Museum. One can spend hours just in the main hall, reading about the culture, the history, the incredible displays. Come here early, plan to spend at least a few hours. Check out the planetarium while you're at it -- it's only a few bucks but the shows are really fantastic. I highly recommend anyone, local or visitor, to pay Bishop Museum a visit! read more

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Way more run down than I had expected. The section of the museum with artifacts looked nice but when I went, it was right after one of the rotating exhibits ended so a whole building was closed off. The kids building was a real let down though, half the stuff was broken or under construction. Their volcano slide was so poorly designed that you can't actually slide on it because it's not steep enough. I also didn't like the descriptions of their artifacts since a lot of them only stated what they were made of and not what it's use was. read more

Came here May 7, 2021, during a light rain, but only now reviewing the largest museum in Hawaii, and the largest collection of Polynesian culture in the world. Spent 47 minutes walking half a mile from Hilton Hawaiian Village to bus stop, took the #2 bus through 29 stops, walked another half mile to the museum. At least it did not rain on us when walking. And we had it easy compared to the the ancient Polynesians who came on catamarans, sailing over thousands of miles of ocean to discover Hawaii! $14.95 for Hawaii residents over 12, but $21.95 for out of state visitors over 12.  50+% tourist tax surcharge! Heard that the real price is $24.95, but discounted for us due to closures of so many exhibits. Masks required at all times, social distancing, and restrictions on number of visitors per room. Wife and I both very disappointed that the planetarium, the scientific spheres and the Nasa Earth observing mission exhibits closed. Came to the main building only to find it hot and humid, as the AC was broken. Spots in front of the giant portable fans were a favorite spot. Old Hawaiian masks, spears, and an ancient Hawaiian village, with a life size Hawaiian thatched roof hut, and Hawaiian totem poles in Great Hall ground floor.   Times of war between the rival Hawaiian tribes, climaxing in a battle to the death on the grasslands of Kauai, depicted in a magnificent painting. Hawaiian chiefs from King Kamehameha I through the overthrow of the monarchy, and the takeover of the islands by the USA at the end of the 19th century on third floor.   Lahaina was a whaling station in the 1800s. Life size replica of a sperm whale, skin on one side, and skeleton on other side, 40 feet above the floor. Model disassembled, and transported by railroad across the continental USA, and then by ship to Hawaii in 1901. A great white shark, a Hawaiian giant turtle and a stingray mounted besides an outrigger canoe used by the Hawaiian to sail the oceans from the Great Hall ceiling. Panorama of the sailings of the Polynesians to the furthest extents of the Pacific to Easter Island, with a replica of catamaran used in those voyages. Didn't see the Hawaii sports hall of fame, nor the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor exhibit, unsure if they were open. The science hall was open, but all interactive exhibits requiring touching closed, along with the volcano lava demonstration closed. Didn't see the natural history section with the dinosaurs open. Picture of remnants of Hawaii's aristocrat class well into the 20th century. Underground exhibit of lighted reproductions of Hawaiian culture in the dark - the Hawaiian origins tunnel. Paintings and dress of Hawaii's royalty, including capes and the finest collection of 19th century Hawaiian paintings in the world.  The dress looks a little small compared to the pictures of the Queen!   Now if the Queen was alive and heard me, she would have said "off with his head!" read more

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The kids and I really enjoyed our visit here. I am so glad we went. The kids loved the science building and were very curious to see all the Hawaiian artifacts. Kaneikokala was stunning. I bought tickets online and there was a coupon code to save five dollars per person. read more

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

The Bishop Museum maintains its classic attributes over the years (giant Whale is something to behold )... the history shared here is beautiful and holds amazing value. However, along with keeping its great aspects, it also evolves with new details and amazing exhibits! The most recent dinosaur exhibit is the best yet! Don't miss it! The Bishop museum is always a great time. Pick a weekday if you'd like to avoid crowds. One word of warning... recently their planetarium show has been very full of an agenda. Be sure to look at the details before you pay to go... might not line up with your personal beliefs. The one we signed up for taught the Big Bang theory as a fact. Important to know what you're signing up for, especially if young kids are involved. read more

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Went on a weekday. Easy free street parking. We spent far too little time here due but I think a great outing here would be to spend at least 4 hours (especially if you watch one of the movies in the planetarium) to get your money's worth. Next time we'll check out all the buildings and exhibits, bring snacks, or try something from the cafe during breaks, and catch a couple movies in the planetarium (you have to pay extra for each movie). The wayfinders movie was really informative and the presenter gave a surprisingly detailed lesson on how to navigate via the stars that my kid eventually got interested in. One problem though was that there was some tall equipment in the center of the room that was blocking parts of the screen on the ceiling for most of the seats. Only the folks in the backmost row of seats would've had an unobstructed view. read more

This review is limited to the museum's special exhibit, POW!WOW! The First Decade, From Hawaii to the World, being held 5/15 - 9/19/21. It is always a treat to drive around Kakaako to view the many artistic wall paintings, which started off as graffiti, and some people still call it that. On a worldwide scale, graffiti is associated with the hip-hop culture and identified through its disco and funk music, with mural festivals were being organized to bring artists together create murals that beautify communities. Many of these graffiti writers then became interested in formal graphic design and illustration processes, as they could design logos, stages, and events for musicians. Many of these artists have been recognized for their creative artwork. In Hawaii, graffiti artists have been doing just that in the Kakaako area, which is known as POW!WOW! "POW!" refers to the impact that art has on a person, and "WOW!" being the reaction that art has on a viewer. Taken together, "POW!WOW" is a Native American term that describes a gathering that celebrates culture, music, and art; with its core mission to beautify, educate, and bring people together through art. It has expanded to 17 major cities in the world, including Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Italy, and Israel. Founder and lead director of POW!WOW!, Jasper Wong and his team had planned this exhibit two years ago and has partnered with the Bishop Museum to bring this amazing exhibition, POW!WOW! The First Decade, From Hawaii to the World to Hawaii's residents. From 5/15/21 to 9/19/21, this exhibition, in the Castle Memorial Building, showcases the art of some of the most notable Hawaii-based artists, international street artists, and sculptors over the past 10 years who have displayed their artwork in Hawaii. Hawaiian Airlines is the sponsor of the exhibit. Bishop Museum is known for their collection of Native Hawaiian and Pacific culture and history, as well as a history and science museum, the POW!WOW! Exhibit falls in line in showcasing the culture of Hawaii's street artists and sculptures. After all, art is a form of communication in telling of stories of Hawaii's past. We were really impressed with this exhibit, as we were able to appreciate the many forms of graffiti art, such as: · Two real cars, one covered in spray paint of different colors, and the other with black and white cartoon characters. · A fake Chinese dim sum stand of sculptured pork hash, hanging roast duck, roast chicken, roast pork, egg tarts, and a bowl of saimin. · Street art and graffiti-clad storefronts with even fake roaches in a wall. · Walls of vibrant small, large and giant original framed artwork and murals by local and international artists. · Recreated street scene of Queen St. and The Alley with a record vinyl shop. · Wire art, using black wiring to form words and figurines. · A yellow fire hydrant and Pooh Bear "doing their thing." Creative expression to the max! We loved the colors and the uniqueness and perspectives that the artists had tried to convey, as not everyone has the artistic skill to do what they have done. There is even some laughter in some of the hilarious scenes. This exhibit had allowed us to be immersed into such an environment, which I call graffiti that became art. We are also grateful for POW!WOW!Hawaii in giving back to the community in the form of music camps for kids, educational workshops, artist talks, gallery shows, breakdance battles, and soccer matches. Hours of operation are 9a to 5p daily. With COVID, 525 daily tickets are issued by check-in time slots to allow for social distancing, and masks are required. Admission fee with discounts for Hawaii residents (note free tickets available by organizations, e.g., Servco Toyota provided complimentary tickets to Toyota owners). Parking with fee is available in the museum's parking lots in the front and back, as well as free street parking. We enjoyed being immersed into this captivating art environment and were glad that we were able to experience this first-time exhibit! We hope you'll get a chance to view POW!WOW! The First Decade, From Hawaii to the World! read more

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I will always recommend the Bishop Museum to anyone who wants to learn about and celebrate the environment and culture of Hawaii. There has been a recent wave of people who are trying to visit Hawaii ethically. I believe if you are trying to do that- the Bishop Museum has to be on your travel itinerary. It is absolutely appalling how many visitors come to Hawaii and they do not know the basic history of the islands. I really appreciate the Bishop Museum and all those who work towards preserving and educating folks on the history and culture of Hawaii. It is so important that we support these pillars of community and culture. Here's the 4-1-1: Save $2 off general admission by purchasing your tickets online. Kama'ana, senior, student, and military discounts are available. Parking is credit card only and $5 during the day and $3 after 5 pm. The Bishop Museum does a After Hours event every second Friday of the month from 5-9pm. Presale tickets are $5 or $10 at the door. This is a really cool pau hana spot with food and drinks on the great lawn from local vendors. There are tours of the Hawaiian Hall and Planetarium Shows at 6pm, 7pm, and 8pm. There are also activities for the keiki from 5:30-7pm. I can't remember the first time I ever went to the Bishop Museum, but the last time I visited was to check out the PowWow art exhibit. It showcased some of Hawaii's street artists and sculptures. My favorite part was the recreation of Chinatown in the 90s-00s. Hawaii is such a unique place with a vibrant history, culture, and environment. The Bishop Museum has an unparalleled collection that highlights the natural and cultural history of Hawaii. There isn't another museum like this and I'm so grateful that the Bishop Museum is here to preserve the history of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Once again, if you are visiting our islands The Bishop museum needs to be on your travel itinerary if your goal is to respect and learn about Hawaiian culture and history. read more

Note: This review is specifically for the "Pow! Wow! The First Decade" limited engagement exhibit (May - September 2021). We've all seen the thought provoking, colorful murals throughout Kakaako and the Ward Entertainment District. Now, see works created by the same artists over the past decade all in one immersive contemporary art exhibition. Lovers of contemporary art, this one is for you! Installations from a music store, coffee shop, convenience store, tattoo parlor, a car, even a public restroom to wall sized murals, Winnie the Pooh pooping out more Poohs in a Mendalbrot fractal world, to the IG wall of provocative mixed medium works. Captivating, intriguing, engaging works. From the Death of NFTs, to a hilarious miniature Pig Roast (check out the pig) to an incredible social commentary (Beware of Dogma), hidden political messages, and ultimately art for arts sake. IMPORTANT: Explore the entire space (go up the stairs and look through the glasses), read the graffiti on the installations, look for hidden, miniature objects. For the Museum nerds, videos on Pow! Wow! from around the world and a display of the history of Pow! Wow! Hawaii (the story of the whole roasted pig and painted skulls). Tip: Give yourself at least two hours to view the exhibit and be prepared to return multiple times. Note: Some of the art is NOT appropriate for kids (unless you want to explain the meaning of another name for a cat or choice four letter words). The exhibit is included with your Bishop Museum ticket or membership. Online reservations required. Parking $5. Masks required. Social distancing enforced. Stunning in every respect and something we have not seen in Hawaii since the closing of the Contemporary Museum of Art. read more

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With the mo'opuna visiting from CA we had to make a reservation to visit the Museum. I am a member and tried to use my membership on line to get some free admissions, but was charged full price. Upon arrival, I explained my plight to the staff and they promptly and courteously refunded the incorrect charges. Mahalo! The kids had a blast touring the museum and especially Hawaii Hall. I never know history could fascinate younger children, but maybe it's in their blood. All the exhibits are top notch and well put together. The current taxonomy exhibits are very interesting and fit in well with the kids fascination with biology and animals. This place has so much to see and you can spend hours and hours here! read more

Knocked off 1 star because you pay extra for the dinosaur exhibit and extra for the planetarium. PLUS The planetarium is kept closed unless you go and reserve at certain times. I really feel like they should leave it open, and we shouldn't have to pay extra to visit these at the museum if we're already paying to go to the museum makes no sense to me. On the other hand, the way they did the castle hall where the dinosaurs are, soooooo awesome! My kids loved it! So much activities for the kids and interesting facts we learned. Hawaiian and pacific hall was pretty cool too, learned some stuff and got to see how things were back in the day. Although some stuff in the case were missing. Science hall is also another kid favorite! Volcanos, bugs and I saw they were building a deep in the ocean thing. Can't wait to see how that turns out. By the cafe they had a few vendors there selling foods, drinks and items. It was cool. They also have daily lawn activities. Gotta ask the front desk for the supplies and you can just hang around their big grass. Play games, have a picnic. Love it! We're definitely coming back, we had too much fun. read more

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I'd recommend the Bishop Museum, it first looked a little quirky if not eccentric, not really sure what to expect. They have a very interactive that blends education and entertainment with hands on activities area for KIDS (our 6 year old had lots of fun). I'd recommend this unique museum for families with kids for sure. I think we attended this for "Free" (as part of a Hawaii "City Pass" deal) so I'm not sure how much it's worth. We stayed for an hour or so. read more

This is an amazing place. We were there for several hours and did not come close to seeing the whole thing. The number of artifacts and historical information was a delight. I wanted to read everything on all three floors, but we ran out of time. I recommend going for a full day just for the museum if you want to deep dive into Hawaii's history. I highly recommend the planetarium shows as well. One in particular was about Wayfinders and it added greatly to the Hawaiian history contained in the museum. We did not have time for the science museum, native gardens, or any other buildings on the grounds. Ideally, combining a day or two trip to the Bishop Museum/Planetarium with a trip the following day to Iolani Palace would give you a very thorough history of Hawaii. Every school and homeschool family would do well to include this in their curriculum plan for the year. read more

Oh sweet memories... Taking field trips here in the 90s is what I remember. Making Ti Leaf souvenirs and having lunch with the rest of my elementary school buddies in the green green grass surrounded by birds and bugs. Fast forward 20+ something years later, the gigantic whale structure still sits high above the ceilings... There are THREE main buildings for exhibits. Took myself and 3 children (5, 6, 11) less than 2 hours to see everything. I was especially intrigued at the 'creatures' (nene bird, butterflies, bugs, sharks, starfish) that I have pictured to share. - Parking is $5 all day till 5pm. - SNAP recipients free admission + parking - Gift shop has beautiful treasures - 2 bathrooms (outside + inside science building) Will definitely come back again soon. read more

This is a lovely museum campus and great place to learn about Hawaiian history. Unfortunately it was a bit dry for our teenagers and we didn't stay long. We spent some time in the science center area but it was more for younger kids. The garden is being renovated. So it was a bit of a bust for our family but if you are a group of adults who truly wants to learn about history and read all the displays, you will probably enjoy it. read more

It was a planned visit with my 6-yr-old grandson, who was excited to go somewhere "new". I took him when he was a toddler and he didn't remember any of it. We started off in Hawaiian Hall, where I hadn't been for decades. The whale hanging above was a hit with my gkid, as was the shark. He managed to listen enough to recall the weapons, fishhooks, and cordage. On to the Backyard Adventures in the Castle Memorial Building, which always seems so dim-lighted inside. Some areas are pretty dark there. We made it to the garden, then to the Planetarium, which did not have any shows that day. The café by Highway Inn is always serving up good stuff. The choc mac nut cookies was winnahz because the macnuts were HUUUGE and cookies were a little soft. Cons: bathrooms were downstairs of the Planetarium, which felt out of the way. We also accidentally walked into a private party on the premises, so signage would be helpful. Signs directing guests to the Café would've been helpful. Also, more water stations are needed. read more

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Fun and educational. We enjoyed our time with all of our children & the hot lava show was great to see. read more

Bishop Museum - Hot Lava - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Having visited before, I'm going to keep my review focused on two exhibits: PowWow Hawaii and (Re)Generations. First, logistics. Bishop Museum is located just off the freeway. Super accessible and easy to find (follow the signs), but yes, you need to pay a $5 flat rate for parking. I hate paying for parking, but it goes to the museum so cool. In terms of tickets, you can purchase your tickets in person or online. Bonus; Kamaaina rate. Bonus bonus: if you have a Hawaiian Airlines card, log on to their site to get a promo code ($3 off each ticket). With parking, my wife and I got in for less than $30. In terms of PWH, it was cool to see the work in a curated space. It provided an interesting context and experience. Though, I do think this kind of art comes to life more in the urban spaces where it originates and comments on. Along with the usual folx, I was excited to discover Slinkachu and Spenser Little. The former works with miniatures which are featured throughout (but you need to look for them). Little works with wire and other mediums. Truly interesting and engaging. I also like social commentary mixed in with my art. In terms of (Re)Generations, it would have been cool to see it expanded, but this is an important exhibit and I like that it was the first thing that you walk into when you enter Hawaiian Hall. Overall, we spent about a little over an hour or so at the museum, but could have doubled that if we had visited previous exhibits that we had seen before. As always, worth a visit. read more

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If I were curating an itinerary of Honolulu, the Bishop Museum would be my recommendation for the first stop. You want to go beach? Nope, not until you first visit the Bishop. Why? One gallery has a highly polished wood floor with an inlaid map. Literally walking on the Polynesian countries is a visceral reminder that Hawaii was connected to another world and not the mainland United States. This wondrous museum has thousands of artifacts to prove it's pre-Spam history. From the street, the entrance to this museum doesn't scream curb appeal but the Polynesian and Hawaiian Halls are enticing on the outside and overwhelming on the inside. Really, it's one of the great interior public spaces and the architecture alone is worth a visit. There are so many stereotypes of Hawaiian culture that it's easy to think you know everything before your plane lands. This museum gently but consistently tells the incredible richness of the people here and does it with more respect than many museums on the mainland that try to explain their own cultures. Truly, the Bishop is a must-see attraction. After exhausting myself on the ancient history, I explored a final gallery that features a temporary exhibition on surfing. I think it's one of the most visually beautiful art forms -- yeah, I think it's too pretty when done well to call it a sport -- and this exhibition has rows of surfboards on display. Staring at a few primitive and heavy thick wood boards was intimidating. How did surfers not get knocked out by their own boards if they made a wrong move in the water? The big Bishop takeaway is that the people of these islands employed such graceful ingenuity to thrive in a beautiful but often harsh environment. I'm grateful to this museum for providing that compelling narrative. read more

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Awesome museum! This should be on the top of your list of attractions in Honolulu, I believe it gives you an appreciation for the culture and land that the native Hawaiians are proudly protecting. They have many exhibits and artifacts and do a great job explaining the history of Polynesia and the islands. They also have a small cafe (Roadway Inn) that's open from 11am - 2pm where you can grab some small plates and snacks. I loved the museum, I went to Hawai'i to learn more about the Kingdom and it's people. Not to go shopping in Waikīkī! read more

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何気なくWEB siteを見ていて偶然見つけたこのミュージアム。 実はそれまで全く知らなかった。 Bishopと言う名称からダウンタウンのビショップにある美術館だと考えていた。 同じコンドに住む仲間と行くことになったが、正直私たちはそれにあまり期待はしていなかった。 ところが入場してその規模に全員がびっくりした。 我々が行った日は夕方からの定期的なイベントが行われていた。沢山のベンターが中庭にテントを張っていた。 私たちは少し腹ごしらえをしてから館内を巡ったが、とにかく一つ一つがとても広く、見応えもたっぷりで、我々が想像していた時間内には到底全てを鑑賞することは出来なかった。 ハワイの歴史と文化がぎっしりと詰まったとても値打ちのあるミュージアムだ。 しかも入場料はたったの5ドル。 パーキングも広くて料金もとても安い！ 私たちは全員一致でまた行く約束をした。 I found this museum by chance while casually looking at the website. I actually didn't know that until then. From the name Bishop, I thought it was an art museum in downtown Bishop. We went with friends who live in the same condo, but to be honest, we weren't expecting much. However, when we entered, everyone was surprised at the scale of the event. On the day we went, regular events were held from the evening. Many venters pitched their tents in the courtyard. After we had a little something to eat, we went around the museum, but each one was so spacious and full of things to see that we couldn't see everything in the time we had imagined. A very worthwhile museum full of Hawaiian history and culture. And admission is only $5. The parking lot is big and the price is very cheap! We unanimously promised to go again! hi read more

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I've been to this museum a handful of times. This most recent visit was to support the Pusong Filipinx Market and POW WOW!'s recent installation. What can I say about this place except for absolute beauty. I'm always amazed at the architecture found at this museum. The exterior and interior is beautiful. When we visited the Pusong Market, it was held outside near the outdoor stage. It offered great shade and beautiful walks. For the installation, it was found inside and was perfectly executed. I've also had a friend get married here and it was a beautiful wedding. It truly is a hidden gem in the streets of Kalihi. read more

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Review #19 for 2022. Beautiful museum with so much to offer in multiple buildings! Bishop Museum is amazing! I hadn't been in probably 25 years, but I wanted to take some friends who were staying with me to visit because of the excellent displays and experiences. There are exhibits on the āina and kai (land and sea) from a cultural perspective, history, cultural artifacts, kings and queens, and more. One of the most interesting parts of our visit was on Kapaemahu. The story of visiting mahu and their gifts of healing was so powerful. And there is still a huge recreation of a Hawaiian hale (house) and a sperm whale. I also enjoyed the hands-on natural science building with a model of a volcano and a display on how invasive species affect native plants and animals. The planetarium was closed, but we still had a great time. read more

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So much to look at! We learned so much about Hawaii and the royalty. We also loved the area on different Polynesian Cultures. The Planetarium show was OK but ours got cut short for technical issues. Would love to try again next time. read more

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The absolute best museum in Honolulu. Truly a remarkable job of documenting and preserving such precious cultures. The gift shop is also AMAZING. Everyone who comes to Hawaii should come here FIRST to set the tone of your trip, followed by going to the Polynesian cultural center, and maybe Kualoa ranch. read more

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What a great museum!!! So much to see and do. My toddler and baby LOVED their science building, especially learning about the volcano making it erupt! We also bought their special 45minute planetarium show and my 3yo toddler and 1yo baby loved watching the stars and history of NASA's satellites. The air-conditioned building with their special presentation of the healing stones was perfect to nurse baby, and have toddler watch the mini movie on healing stones. read more

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Bishop Museum is one of those true gems to visit as a Kama'aina or a visitor to the island. I have gone to Bishop numerous times growing up for field trips, Kama'aina Sundays, and when they have events on Friday nights. There was always an interesting exhibit going on and the Hawai'i Hall and Kahili room are always worth a Hawaiian history refresher. This last visit was extra special. It had been over five years since I had last visited my home in Honolulu and since I didn't have a whole lot on my agenda I thought it would be nice to visit Bishop museum. The process of purchasing a ticket was super easy online but I really didn't have to buy my tickets online because it was also easy to pick up there in person. Parking was almost full in the front lot but I managed to find a space. You do have to pay for parking at the machine near the shop and put the ticket on your dash which is a tad inconvenient but probably the only thing inconvenient so it really isn't that bad. I walked in the shop to show them my ticket and the staff were super friendly and helpful. I looked around while I waited for my cousin to meet me and as soon as he came we headed towards the museum. The other building was still in the process of building a new exhibit coming up so we headed to the main building to see the Tatau exhibit and Hawai'i Hall. I remember being excited to see that the Tatau exhibit was still on display during my visit home! It coincided with me also getting my long awaited tattoo from Lopeti and Soul Signature Tattoo! Reading and looking through this exhibit was beautiful. The art, the soul, the meaning behind each tattoo and design was amazing to learn about. It feels so special. My cousin and I loved walking through each floor of the Hawai'i hall and learning and relearning about our history and our people. I always feel a sense of sadness about what has happened over time, but also thankful for being part of a people that exuded kindness and love in every thing they did. After we finished at the museum we had lunch at the highway inn cafe which was perfect! Both of us had kalua pig with rice and lomi salmon and it was delicious. We topped our day off with kona coffee ice cream and we both headed out. Me, to nap and deal with the jetlag I was still experiencing, my cousin to work. Bishop museum is such a wonderful place to learn and experience something new. Next time I'm home hopefully I can see more exhibits and experience their Friday nights too! read more

We had a super fun time here! The planetarium was my personal fave - we have a membership there so we didn't need to pay, but typically there is a small fee to see the planetarium shows. We really enjoyed the science exhibit as well - defs showcased a lot about Hawaiian culture, so I really enjoyed that. They have lots of different exhibits. When we went, It was the "backyard exhibit" and there were many different types of interactive activities to do! Will definitely be back read more

I have not been here since middle school, I am happy to see that this Hawaii Landmark is still up and running. The care that it took to preserve this iconic museum is mind-blowing, the caretakers have added new features to the attractions that you and your children can enjoy. I love museums and this is one of my favorites, the main museum is built entirely out of lava rocks and the interior mostly out of Koa wood, a beautiful detail. I appreciate the updates they've made over the years, mainly the audio tour with a QR code so there's not too much reading. The audio tour is thorough in teaching you not only about the Hawaiian culture and history but includes all of the cultures of Polynesia. the three-story museum features beautifully preserved artifacts from ancient times, in addition to the audio tours, there are mini TV screens that provide more information about specific artifacts and practices spread throughout the structure. Once you're done with the main building, make your way to the castle center with their fun light-featured exhibits for some fun and education on light projection and then finally to their science center where you can learn about invasive species that are harmful and local species which are helpful. Bishop Museum is a must see for locals and visitors alike. read more

Bishop Museum - Main building, 3-story museum built out of lava rocks - Museums Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii