Bishop Museum. (Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson)
For more than a century, the Bishop Museum, at 1525 Bernice St. in Honolulu, has been the premier research institution of natural and cultural history in the Pacific. Rooted in Hawaii’s rich cultural heritage, the museum attracts nearly 400,000 people a year.
The museum’s new Science Adventure Center is the only facility in Hawaii dedicated to showcasing the latest in scientific technology and research.
Exhibits focus on topics such as oceanography, volcanology, biodiversity and ecology. In a highly interactive environment, visitors will feel the heat of a volcano, control a submersible ROV and learn more about Hawaii’s fascinating natural environment.
If you’re curious about ancient Hawaiian star navigation techniques, try the museum’s planetarium where shows air twice a day.
The Hawaiian Hall, a popular feature of the museum, is a three-story gallery which was completed in 1903.
Bishop Museum has the largest collection of Hawaii and Pacific area artifacts in the world. The Picture Gallery has been restored as a window into the nineteenth century. Pieces from the Museum’s extraordinary collection of oil paintings and rare books from the museum library will be displayed on a rotating basis.
Founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop, the museum originally was intended to house the Hawaiian objects and family heirlooms of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last heir to Kamehameha I.
Eventually, the focus was broadened to include the islands of the Pacific Basin. The museum offers a wide variety of tours and demonstrations on a daily basis and special exhibitions throughout the year.
