Bishop Museum and Planetarium
The State Museum for Natural and Cultural History is a family friendly center for scientific and cultural experience and study. It also hosts traveling exhibitions and is home to the Jhamandus Watumull Planetarium. Almost every weekend, and on many weeknights, there are lectures, workshops, and openings. The museum also has a fascinating interactive science center.
1525 Bernice St. Honolulu • 847 3511 • www.bishopmuseum.org • 9am–5pm Mon, Wed–Sun; closed Dec 25 • Adm $19.95, child (ages 4–12) $14.95, and seniors $16.95 (discounts for local residents and military)
1. Pacific Hall
Formerly known as the Polynesian Hall, this area focuses on the lifestyle of people across the Pacific. Artifacts such as the carved figures, which give an insight into the rituals, religion, warfare, clothing, music, and dance are on display here.
2. Hawaiian Hall
The koa-paneled Hawaiian Hall, built in Victorian architectural style, is the heart of the museum. It is home to a vast collection of Hawaiian and Pacific area artifacts. The hall presents its stunning collections in a modern interpretation of Hawai’i’s history and culture.
3. Picture Gallery
Considered the world’s finest collection of 19th- century Hawaiian art, the museum’s extraordinary collection of oil paintings, watercolors, rare books, and collectibles are on display here.
4. Kāhili Room
Beloved by the Hawaiian people, this collection honors Hawaiian royalty through portraiture and displays of royal belongings, including the fragile feather standards called kāhili.
5. Hawai’i Sports Hall of Fame
This is an unusual installation for a cultural museum, but islanders are crazy about sports, which are a primary form of community-building.
6. Library
This extensive library includes a database of published diaries, narratives, and memoirs, all with an emphasis on Hawai’i and Pacific culture.
7. Richard T. Mamiya Science Center
Interactive experiences, including erupting volcanoes and deep ocean exploration, are offered at this state-of-the-art center.
8. Castle Memorial Building
Dinosaurs, robots, spiders, chocolate, and volcanoes have been the subjects of visiting exhibitions. Most are interactive and aim to pull in youngsters.
9. Joseph M. Long Gallery
This gallery serves as Bishop Museum’s venue for showcasing contemporary Hawaiian art alongside other items from the museum’s collections. This grass sculpture is an example of some of the native Hawaiian art pieces on display.
10. Planetarium
The exceptionally active planetarium stages interactive shows, night-viewing sessions, and the “Science on a Sphere” exhibit in the lobby.
The Ahupua’a
Ahupua’a – the wedge shaped units of land shown in the museum’s Science Garden – were overseen by konohiki (governors), who funneled taxes to royalty. The ahupua’a encompassed various farming regions and fishing grounds in order to meet the subsistence needs of their inhabitants.
Tip: The museum’s shop, Pacifica, is a wonderful gift emporium – one of the island’s best. The quality of its souvenirs is excellent, and the wide-ranging book selection runs from history to science, and archaeology to anthropology.
