Charles Reed Bishop founded this museum in 1889 to honor his late wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. She was the last descendant of the Kamehameha royal family. Housed here are the Hawaiian artifacts and heirlooms of the Princess, along with millions of additional items collected over the past century, including an extensive archive of documents and photographs about Hawaii and other Pacific island cultures.
Today, with 24 million objects and specimens under its care, Bishop Museum is the largest museum in Hawaii and the Pacific region's premier natural and cultural history institution. It has been recognized worldwide for its cultural artifacts, research projects, consulting services and public educational programs, as well as its collection of natural history specimens, ranking among the largest in the world
Among the many permanent exhibits here is the two-story Polynesian Hall, a gallery representing the cultures of Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia. It contains artifacts of daily life, clothing, ritual, warfare, religion, music and dance.
The Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike K?hili Room holds relics of the old monarchy, including sacred ali'i and precious K?hili (feather standards) associated with them. Portraits of the Hawaiian royals and their personal effects are on display.
The Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center takes up 16,500 square feet, exhibiting items related to volcanology, oceanography, and biodiversity. Meanwhile, the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame preserves pictures and memorabilia associated with the islands' top athletes and figures of sports.
The popular Hawaiian Hall, where treasured objects of Hawaiian culture are kept, has recently undergone a major renovation to improve access, control climate and conserve objects. This hall occupies three full floors of the Victorian-style 19th-century museum gallery. Representing and serving the interests of native Hawaiians remains a primary purpose of the Museum.
Each year, more than 300,000 people visit Bishop Museum to experience its exhibits, take part in educational programs, and attend special events. The expansion of public programs has been significant over the past few decades.
Bishop Museum has its own publishing arm, the Bishop Museum Press, which is the world's fourth largest publisher of books in Hawaii. It has released more than 1,300 titles and distributed more than one million books in 72 countries.
Shop Pacifica, the Museum's gift shop, serves as the major distribution outlet for Bishop Museum Press. It is a good place to look for books on Hawaiian and Polynesian history and culture, as well as one-of-a-kind items handmade by local crafters and artists. Admission to the shop is always free.
The Bishop Museum is open from 9am to 5pm, Wednesday through Monday, and dark on Tuesdays and Christmas Day. Parking is free, and facility rentals are available upon request.
Admission is free to Bishop Museum Members. Otherwise, the following general admission rates apply: adults $ 15.95; seniors (65 & over) and youth (4~12) $12.95; and children (age 3 & under) free. Special kama'aina (local resident) and military rates are available.
Bishop Museum can be reached by car from the H1 by taking Exit #20A, merging to HI-63 N/Likelike Highway, and turning right onto Bernice Street. It is also on Express Bus Route B and local bus route #2, stopping at the intersection of School and Kap?lama streets. The address is 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817.
