Bishop Museum

With nearly 400,000 visitors each year, Bishop Museum serves as one of Hawai'i's top destinations, providing hands-on educational experiences to help residents and visitors appreciate and embrace Hawai'i's rich culture. By combining education, history, and culture, the Museum strives to fulfill a mission that was set with its founding in 1889, "to study, preserve and tell the stories of the cultures and natural history of Hawai'i and the Pacific".

The Bishop Museum was originally designed to house the extensive collection of Hawaiian artifacts and royal family heirlooms of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. The Museum has since expanded to include millions of artifacts, documents and photos about Hawai'i and other Pacific cultures.

Daily programs let visitors discover more about Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures through live, interactive presentations and exhibit tours. Planetarium shows showcase Polynesian skies and how voyagers navigated using the stars to sail the Pacific. Experience one of the interactive traveling exhibits. Updated schedules and information are available at www.bishopmuseum.org.

In the Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center, visitors can control volcanic eruptions, pilot a deep sea rover, see lava melting demos, or walk-through the vivid environment of the Hawaiian Origins Tunnel. At the core of the Center's theme is Hawai'i's unique lands, surrounding oceans and skies which it highlights through highly interactive displays, creating a connection between the science and the wonders themselves.

Bishop Museum also houses prestigious research facilities, the Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame, native gardens, changing cultural exhibits featuring contemporary Native Hawaiian artists and intriguing storylines, and more. Authentic Hawaiian and Pacific books and gifts can be purchased in the Bishop Museum Shop, including books published by Bishop Museum Press. See the heritage of Hawai'i come to life at Bishop Museum.

ACTIVITIES:

Museum Admission

Bishop Museum is the largest museum of natural and cultural history in Hawai'i and the Pacific. Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop as a memorial to his wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last direct descendant of King Kamehameha I. The original collections were based largely on the royal family heirlooms. Today, the Museum is recognized as the principal museum of the Pacific, housing the world's largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific artifacts and natural history specimens. There are many facets of the Museum for you to explore. Artifacts in our Polynesian and Historic Hawaiian Hall capture the cultural legacy of the islands with the most unique collection in the world. Our planetarium uncovers the secret of celestial navigation. Traveling exhibits and educational programs in the Castle Memorial Building provide insights and exceitement for everyone in the family. Bringing these together are Museum docents, who tell stories that you will remember for a lifetime. Daily programming includes guided exhibit tours, dramatic storytelling, planetarium shows, lava melting demonstrations, garden tours and much more.

Restore - Re-Launch - Hawai'iLoa: Celebrate Celestial Navigation Lecture & Concert

THIS LECTURE&CONCERT TICKET HAS LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE!

Bring family, friends, and neighbors to Bishop Museum for The Friends of Hokule?a and Hawai?iloa?s one-time, don?t-miss back-yard-party celebration and fundraiser to help restore and relaunch Hawai?iloa, Hawai?i?s only double-hulled canoe constructed entirely of traditional materials.

ISLAND BACKYARD PARTY

Like the very best island backyard party, there will be plenty of food and music, and of course, hula. According to Kumu hula Mapuana de Silva, this will be a first-ever event as she and the dancers of Halau Mohala ?Ilima take the stage, joined by Maelia Loebenstein Carter and Ka Pa Hula o Kauanoe o Wa?ahila, Michael Pili Pang and Halau Hula Ka No?eau, and Vicky Holt Takamine and Pua Ali?i ?Ilima, Manu Boyd and Halau Ke 'A'ali'i Ku Makani. In this one-of-a-kind hula celebration, these four kumu hula and their halau will present hula kahiko and hula ?auana individually, in small groups and en masse to raise funds for this worthy cause. Musical group WELO featuring Chad Takatsugi, Glenn Mayeda, and Dennis Keohokalole will be performing.

TRY YOUR HAND AT LASHING

Touch, feel, and even try your hand at lashing with the crew of Hokule?a as they perfect skills for their around-the-world journey by relashing Hawai?iloa.

CELEBRATE CELESTIAL NAVIGATION

Prior to the main event, guests can also enjoy a special lecture and interactive Pacific navigation activity with Chad Baybayan, the Navigator in Residence at the Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. Program starts at 3:30 p.m. Special ticket required. Hurry! Space is limited for this exciting activity.

RESTORE AND RELAUNCH HAWAI?ILOA

Built in the record time of two years and launched in 1993, Hawai?iloa voyaged 6,000 miles to Tahiti and throughout French Polynesia to the Marquesas and back. Over the years, weather and exposure took a toll. The Hawai?iloa was disassembled and stored in pieces. The challenge now is to put the giant jigsaw puzzle of canoe parts together. Well into the process of restoration, the Friends are fund raising and friend-raising in a race to complete and re-launch the canoe. As the Hokule?a embarks on a four year journey around the globe, Hawai?iloa will re-launch and be the touch-stone for the Hawaiian islands during the Hokule?a?s voyage.

Please Note: No coolers or outside food or beverage allowed. Lawn chairs must be low profile. Admission tickets are nonrefundable.

Restore - Re-Launch - Hawai'iLoa: Celebrate Celestial Navigation Concert