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    Kauai Museum

    4.4 (73 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Collection of Niihau shell lei in the Kauai Museum
    Stacy N.

    If you have some time while in Lihue, be sure to spend an hour or two at the Kauai Museum. You are greeted by a lovely aunty who helps with your entrance fee (only $10 if you are a Hawaii resident and less if you are a Kauai resident). Be sure to peruse their gift shop because they have great items for sale (got a koa brim baseball cap!) they have an extensive and very beautiful Niihau shell lei collection, and a room full of gigantic umeke...please be sure to stop by and check it out if you love history, and want to learn about the special history of Kauai.

    Lisa P.

    The Kauai museum was an amazing wonderful hidden gem of a museum. It featured so many treasures from the past - look at the full length feather cape in my pics below. The story of the Kauai monarchy reads like a soap opera. There is also an incredible gift shop with handmade bags , clothes and jewelry. Many books on Hawaiiama as well. There's 2 buildings and take your time because there are so many displays. The outside of the building is very old but you will be surprised with the exhibits. There is a little bit of Kauai environmental details, Kauai surfing notable displays and war info. The museum is situated among the government buildings in Lihue on the island of Kauai. There are many metered parking stalls if u r driving- I took Lyft. Hope you get to see this museum

    The fan I made
    Mary N.

    Came in on Wednesday afternoon for Uncle Onio's weaving class and made a fan out of Hala. What a great way to spend time on Kauai- $45 includes all the materials, great instruction and a product that is easy to pack and will be very useful. Also includes admission to the museum.

    Tyron C.

    Growing up on Kauai we would take field trips to the Kaua'i Museum to learn about the history of the Island as well as the culture of its natives. Quite a bit to see and there are some activities you can do here as well, like learning how to weave or make leis. The workers here are full of aloha and take pride in what they teach. A must stop on your tour around the island.

    Robert C.

    You have to undergo a 14 day mandatory quarantine in your hotel before you can see this museum. The museum is open during the pandemic on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 930am-230pm. There is a kama'aina rate of $12, but only for residents of Kauai. You residents of Oahu, Maui, and the big Island have to pay the same as us tourists from the mainland: $15 $15 per person is not cheap, considering the museum was converted in 1960 from a small town library founded in 1927. We paid the $12 senior rate for 65+ folks , which is good for the entire week, convenient only if you are staying nearby in Lihue. You know you are getting old when they don't ask for id! Fascinating museum if you are a history buff like myself. Lots of paintings of invasions and clashes between Hawaiian warriors, and the leaders in very fancy and colorful red and yellow headdresses. Then came the British and the Americans with their sailing ships. One painting depicts hundreds of natives tugging on 3 ropes trying to upright a sailing warship keeling over. Paintings of row boats hunting for whales using hand held harpoons, with nearby whaling ships. Black and whites of plantation railroads, sugar plantations, Kauai cowboys, with a exhibits of the home front on Kauai during World War II -did you know that a Japanese pilot landed his disabled fighter on one of the Hawaiian islands during the Pearl Harbor Raid. Normally would not come here, as we stay in the Poipu region, a long ways away to brave the gridlock traffic of Lihue. Came here to kill some time before our December 20, 2018 3pm flight, as we were tossed out our condo at 10am! 745 reviews on this museum by older writers in Tripadvisor and 46 reviews by younger writers in Yelp, proving that only old farts like me write museum reviews!

    Stephen W.

    We went here on a weekday on a visit to Lihue. The reviews are great, but we thought it was just moderately interesting. Our guide was boring and unexciting. The entrance fee is $15 per adult and we did not think it was worth the money at all. There is a second building that is a bit more interesting than the first, has more contemporary information. That's not to say that the displays were poorly done, they were professional. It's just that I did not learn very much about Hawaiian history that would stick with me for more than a few minutes. Your ticket allows you to return for free within 7 days, but we will not return.

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    9 months ago

    Great little museum. Lots of Kauai and Hawaiian history. Check hours and exhibits before you go .

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    Ask the Community - Kauai Museum

    Review Highlights - Kauai Museum

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    Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum - Plane Bush Sr flew

    Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

    4.3(326 reviews)
    99.8 mi

    It was a small birthday celebration--just myself, the newly minted 9-year-old grandson, and his…read moremother. The admission to the museum was pricey, even for Kama'aina, so we opted to get the Family Membership instead. The membership was for 2 adults and up to 4 kids, and also has discounts for other exhibits. After a quick sweep through the museum, and a wary observation of the flight simulator, the grandson decided it was time to eat. I got the Blue Angels Burger and he got the kids hot dog meal. I'd say the prices were reasonable, considering how much takeout and restaurant food costs these days. The burger was fat as hell and the dog wasn't Costco sized but definitely satisfied the kid. I didn't get pics of the food because I was too enthralled over the size of the patty! We spent the day also visiting the Mighty Mo, the Virtual Reality tour, and gift shop shopping also.

    Our second stop while at Pearl Harbor was the Aviation Museum. Located just a few moments from the…read moreUSS Missouri on Ford Island. In my opinion the Aviation Museum was one of the cooler stops on our trip. I really enjoyed all the different types of planes and carriers they had on display. We also ate Lunch at the Cafe in the Aviation Museum and the food was delicious! The bus picked us up from the USS Missouri and dropped us off at the Aviation Museum, there was a short line to check in at the front desk of the museum before you could enter the inside portion of the museum. They had a flight simulator inside the internal museum as well as a gift shop and restaurant. The Hangar still had the original bullet holes in the glass from the Pearl Harbor attack which was a really neat part of history to be able see. They also have a section where they are restoring some planes and helicopter parts. My favorite thing they had was this wood paneled plane in the hangar. They also had some old Military trucks out front of the hangar that were really cool. I highly recommend visiting the Aviation Museum while at Pearl Harbor.

    Photos
    Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
    Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum - You can go to the top of the tower, but make a reservation.

    You can go to the top of the tower, but make a reservation.

    Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

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    Hawaii Alive Luau Dinner & Show - Awesome show, would absolutely recommend

    Hawaii Alive Luau Dinner & Show

    3.4(61 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$

    The worst EVER!! I cannot emphasize enough that this place…read moreis a scam and NOT a luau!!! Not our first Luau, we've been to several on each island, so we knew what to expect. We paid $153 per person, so definitely had high expectations. Boy were we disappointed!!!!! First of all it's NOTHING as they advertise in their videos. It is not facing the ocean on the lawn. No one to greet you with any kind of lei. No hula dancers to take pictures with. No pig roasting ceremony. No welcome drinks... nothing!! This is NOT a luau. It's a scam! An overpriced buffet dinner. The bar only serves three types of drinks...wine, beer and Mai tai. You only get ONE drink with your luau purchase, Anymore after that, you have to buy it cash which is not disclosed anywhere. So if you got no cash with you, you can enjoy tap water all night. Also no orchids in the drinks you buy either. The buffet display had no esthetics, Zero effort was made to at least make it look pleasing. The display was as basic as your average buffet restaurant. Food choices were very basic and average. The show was very boring for the most part. The best of this whole Luau was the fire dancers. Very talented! I honestly wish we would have just done the fire show at the Hilton and saved ourselves $60. We wanted the whole Luau experience and the best on the island. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. Don't waste your money it's not worth it! THIS IS NOT A REAL LUAU!!!! We are so sad we wasted our time and money, and did not get to experience a real Luau. Do yourself a favor and book Kalamaku luau instead they're amazing!

    This was my first luau experience and it was very nice. Sitting under shaded area at the Marriott,…read moregood narration throughout to provide some background, and a variety of interesting performances. Also neat that it's a family business with some performers from the family. The show wasn't too long and there was a nice break for folks who wanted to try to dance. I'm glad we didn't pay extra for the pre-show hotel dinner...those luau-style entrees can be ordered at many other restaurants/takeout places where the food can be better.

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    Hawaii Alive Luau Dinner & Show
    Hawaii Alive Luau Dinner & Show - The thrilling Samoan fire knife!

    The thrilling Samoan fire knife!

    Hawaii Alive Luau Dinner & Show

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    Kauai Museum - artmuseums - Updated May 2026

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