Bishop Museum
About This Museum
For generations here in Honolulu, the Bishop Museum has been the place to truly understand Hawaiʻi. It all started back in 1889, founded by Charles Reed Bishop as a tribute to his late wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha line. You don't just see artifacts here; you feel the weight of history, from the feathered capes of chiefs to the skeletal frame of a giant sperm whale looming overhead. It’s more than a museum; it’s a sacred space for preserving the soul of these islands.
Collection Highlights
The Hawaiian Hall is the heart of it all, a three-story Victorian masterpiece where the legendary feathered cloak of Kamehameha I seems to still hold his mana, or spiritual power. Over in the Pacific Hall, you can trace the incredible voyages that settled an ocean, staring up at a full-size outrigger canoe. And then there's the planetarium, which beautifully connects our ancestral Polynesian wayfinding—navigating by stars and waves—to modern astronomy.
Visitor Information
You'll find us tucked away on Bernice Street in the historic Kalihi district—it's easy to spend a whole day, so plan accordingly. Be sure to check the daily schedule for live cultural demonstrations and planetarium shows; they really bring everything to life.
Architecture & Building
The main building is this magnificent Romanesque Revival structure made of dark lava rock, all grand arches and turrets—it feels like a castle built for kings, which is fitting given its royal origins.
Contact & Location
Address: Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, 1525, Bernice Street, Kalihi, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, 96817, United States
Phone: +1 808-847-3511
Website: Visit Website
