Bishop Museum is a museum where you can learn plenty about the culture and history of Hawaii.
It is the largest museum in Hawaii, featuring a collection of about 25 million items, including artworks, crafts, documents, and photographs related to Hawaii and the rest of Polynesia.
It is famous as a large building established in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop, the husband of Princess Bernice Pauahi, the last direct descendant of the Kamehameha royal family, in memory of his wife!
Because of its preciousness, it is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places of the United States.
Although it is a tourist destination in an area that is somewhat difficult to access, it is a spot full of highlights, so it is worth visiting at least once.
Inside the Bishop Museum
The Bishop Museum is divided into two parts: the main building and the annex.
The main building is called the Hawaiian Hall, and it is an area that exhibits how Polynesians came to Hawaii and prospered, as well as the culture and history of the Hawaiian monarchy!
It has an atrium up to the third floor, and each floor introduces the history of Hawaii divided by theme.
The sight of life-size models of whales, sharks, and sea turtles hanging from the ceiling is very impressive.
Other areas include the Kahili Room, which has many exhibits and materials from the Hawaiian monarchy that history buffs will love, the Long Gallery, which hosts special exhibitions, and the Pacific Hall, which features photographs and exhibits related to all of Oceania.
The annex is designed so that the exhibits change depending on the season and events.
Since Hawaii is famous as a filming location for Jurassic Park, dinosaur fairs in particular are held frequently.
Also, although there is an additional fee, several planetarium shows are screened, and you can fully enjoy each of them for about 25 to 50 minutes.
Another popular attraction is the Science Adventure Center, where you can have experiences unique to Hawaii, such as volcano-related exhibits and an experiment of melting rocks to make lava (Lava Melt program)!
Japanese Guides at the Bishop Museum
At the Bishop Museum, Japanese tours are held only when a Japanese guide is available.
The duration of the tour is about 30 minutes per session, and it is basically held every day from Monday to Saturday, but there are days when it is not operated depending on the staff’s schedule.
If you wish to join a Japanese tour, be sure to inquire in advance via email or other means to check the detailed schedule!
By the way, Japanese audio guides are also prepared for the main exhibits, so you will not have any trouble even on days when there is no Japanese-speaking guide.
In addition, in the main exhibition areas (such as the Hawaiian Hall), there are many places where Japanese is written alongside the explanation panels of the exhibits, so you can fully understand them at your own pace.
Hula Lessons at the Bishop Museum
The hula lesson experience program held about twice a month is also an event to look out for!
It is a fulfilling program content where you can enjoy not only hula but also Hawaiian culture.
[What is included in the program]
- Admission fee
- Hula lesson
- Japanese guided tour (about 30 minutes)
- Ti leaf lei making
The event dates vary depending on the month, but it seems to be often held on Thursdays.
Since it is not held frequently, be sure to check the date and time in advance if you want to participate in the hula lesson.
Estimated Time Needed at the Bishop Museum
The Bishop Museum is a place where the length of stay varies greatly depending on the person!
If it is only the main Hawaiian Hall, it takes about 1 hour at the fastest, or about 2 hours if you take your time.
If you visit all the facilities, including the gardens and special exhibitions, it often takes about 3 to 4 hours.
If you want to experience the Japanese tour, hula lesson, and planetarium, you might want to go prepared to stay for almost the whole day.
There is also a cafe in the building operated by Highway Inn, a famous restaurant for traditional Hawaiian food (such as poke, kalua pig, and laulau), so staying for a long time is not a problem at all!
Basic Information about the Bishop Museum
| Name | Bishop Museum |
| Address | 1525 Bernice St, Honolulu, HI 96817 |
| Map | |
| Hours | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Admission Fee | Adults (18-64 years old): $38.95 Seniors (65 years and older): $35.95 Children (4-17 years old): $30.95 Infants (3 years and younger): Free *Discounts (such as 20% OFF) may apply if you book in advance from the official website. |
| Closed | Thanksgiving (4th Thursday in November), Christmas (December 25) |
| Estimated Time | About 1 hour or more |
| Restrooms | Available |
| Parking | Available (Paid) |
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