Bishop Museum

4.6(5.6K)google

4.3(623)yelp

Adult $38.95·Child(4-17y) $30.95·Infant(under 3) Free·Resident $24.95·Military $24.95USD(Standard peak rates listed for general admission galleries. The museum utilizes a flexible dynamic scheduling framework [Admission Details and Ticket Information - Bishop Museum](https://bishopmuseum.org). Entry to the onsite planetarium or high-profile traveling exhibits typically requires a minor $3 token upgrade fee [Admission Details and Ticket Information - Bishop Museum](https://bishopmuseum.org).)

HistoryScienceFolk CultureEducationalFamily

Overview

The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, designated the Hawaiʻi State Museum of Natural and Cultural History, is a museum of history and science in the historic Kalihi district of Honolulu on the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu. Founded in 1889, it is the largest museum in Hawaiʻi and has the world's largest collection of Polynesian cultural artifacts and natural history specimens. Besides the comprehensive exhibits of Hawaiian cultural material, the museum's total holding of natural history specimens exceeds 24 million, of which the entomological collection alone represents more than 13.5 million specimens (making it the third-largest insect collection in the United States).

Practical Info

1525 Bernice St, Honolulu, HI 96817, USA

Every day9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Suggested Duration2.5-4 hours

Best TimeAs Hawaii's premier cultural and natural history museum, this is an outstanding year-round indoor destination. Tour the galleries between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM; this allows you to marvel at the priceless royal feather cloaks and Koa artifacts under crisp display lighting, while retreating into the AC pavilions during the midday heat.

Getting ThereConveniently nestled at 1525 Bernice St, Honolulu. Drivers take H-1 to Exit 20 (Likelike Hwy) and navigate a few short residential blocks straight into the museum's gated secure paid public parking lot. By public transit, take Oahu's TheBus Route 2 or 7, deboard at the regional stop, and walk 4 minutes to the entrance.

(808) 847-3511

bishopmuseum.org/

Travel Tips

The museum’s designated lot off Bernice Street enforces a flat-rate automated parking fee; never leave rental vehicles parked on surrounding Kalihi residential side-streets, as this high-density urban district sustains elevated property crime/break-in statistics and localized private tow enforcement.
General admission covers fixed-schedule planetarium theater viewings and live volcanic kinetic melt presentations inside the Science Adventure Center; interior theater seating operates on a strict first-come capacity cap, requiring you to sync your schedule at the front desk and queue 20 minutes early.

Photo Tips

Photo Rules

The central Hawaiian Hall displays highly light-sensitive, irreplaceable native royal feather cloaks; while personal non-commercial photography is permitted, employing artificial camera flashes, heavy studio tripods, monopods, or extendable selfie-sticks is strictly illegal and enforced by floor docents.

Reviews

Positive

This is the world's premier museum for Hawaiian and Polynesian cultural artifacts, possessing priceless core historical value. The three-story wooden main hall is magnificent, and its collections fully live up to its reputation.
The service management is highly international, providing professional scheduled English tours daily, with select galleries featuring multi-lingual electronic interactive signs and a modern planetarium, maximizing fun.
The galleries feature blasting air-conditioning and highly comfortable seating areas, with comprehensive accessible infrastructure like elevators and long ramps. Restrooms are pristine, offering an easy trip for families with elders.
Driving here is highly convenient, just minutes from downtown Honolulu, equipped with its own large dedicated parking lot. Order is pristine and crowd caps work well, completely free of the packed tourist swarm found on beaches.

Heads up

The main ticket price is relatively expensive (adults near $30), and the internal planetarium dome shows or select premium special expos require separate tickets, imposing secondary spending and fair value for budget travelers.
The main campus spans a wide area, but select older galleries feature dim and aged lighting systems; some English descriptions use small fonts and lack substantial multi-lingual paper translation brochures.
The lone internal café sells pricey local meals and sandwiches with very few choices, backing up long lines at peak hours. The surrounding neighborhood is an old industrial/residential pocket with scant dining choices within walking distance.
For tourists arriving in Hawaii purely seeking sun, sand, and water recreation with zero interest in history, archaeology, or indigenous anthropology, spending a half-day here will feel dry and boring.