Incredible museum…a fusion of both modern and traditional exhibits housed in an updated 100 year old stone heritage building complex. It’s dark and moody in the main Hawaii hall building and you really feel like you have gone back in time to the turn of the century to see how the public viewed such artifacts. The 1909 giant sperm whale suspended in the main hall is an example…exactly how it was originally displayed. Pretty cool. My favourite part was the small hall off to the side of the main hall which featured a wall showing all of the Polynesian island chains and the various outrigger canoe styles from each region. I definitely recommend going to see the planetarium as the astronomy host was excellent and informative.

Excellent place to learn more about their culture and just how much of their heritage is missing. What I noticed the most is just much the early settlers of these lands resemble Native Indians, Indians and Africans. From their facial features, to heights, builds let alone the clothes and dance routines. Now I know more about Captain Cooke and the Dole empire.

I visited Bishop Museum solo in August and it was an enriching experience that immersed me deeply in Hawaiian history and culture. Nestled in Honolulu, this museum stands out not only for its extensive collection but also for its captivating storytelling.. It was fascinating to learn how they used the stars to navigate the vast Pacific Ocean, underscoring their remarkable knowledge of astronomy and maritime prowess... For a moment I felt like Moana. Haha.. The museum caters to both casual visitors like mine and avid learners. It simply was perfect.

As a Pohnpeian from Micronesia that saw some artifacts from my island in your museum, I wish that my home had tried with more effort to save our past with similar (albeit smaller scale) efforts. Congratulations Hawaii on what you have here and you of course must cherish these time-capsules. Very informative place. Kalahngan.

Visiting the Bishop museum on my trip was really special! There's the main hall with tons of Hawaiian history and some modern art which was perfect to learn more about the culture and its past. Then, there's also a science hall and the planetarium which both seemed a little more geared toward children but cool to check out regardless. In the main hall, there are so so many artifacts, paintings, and models to see, and it felt a bit overwhelming to attempt and read them all. So, be content with grazing the surface for 2 hrs or so, or set aside 3+ hours if you like being thorough. I consider this a must if you're visiting O'ahu because it will contextualize a lot of cultural practices and give you a greater appreciation for their preservation. ALSO! No one told us about this beforehand, but, regularly admission is $33 per person (a little steep), however if you're staying at certain Honululu hotels, you're able to get 3 people in for $35 total!! Not sure what the discount would be for groups of 2 or 4+, but this was so helpful, and we almost didn't even get the discount until the museum entrance happened to ask where we were staying. The Moana Surfrider is where we stayed, but ask your hotel if they offer anything because they had an extensive list for the discount.

I am glad we were able to visit the Bishop Museum. The original building itself is beautiful and reminded me of the Natural History Museum in London. The Hawaiian culture is so rich and unique that it deserves at least half a day of your vacation time You may need extra time to visit separate exhibits housed in another building and/or to visit a children's section.