was dark and dusty.............more light would have been wonderful....I'm sure the displays are wonderful, but the gloomy atmosphere was off putting
This museum is impressive, especially if you are interested in the Polynesian islands and cultures. Now, I personally think they could tear everything down except the Polynesian exhibits and focus on what they do best, but that may not be fair to Hawaii. It's hard to spend time in a museum while in Hawaii but if you are sun burnt, looking for a break from the beaches or just want to see some amazing relics of history, this is a good place to stop. The artifacts here are impressive and it's interesting to see the similarities across the pacific. Part of me believes things like these should be returned to the people/places where they are found, but if the people of Hawaii support this museum, who am I to argue. At $19.95 a person it's not exactly cheap, but definitely not the most expensive thing on Oahu.
Lots of Hawaiian history on display here, this is the best spot to learn about all things Hawaii. But what impressed me were the scientific displays. I learned a lot. Don't miss the Bishop. Too many people just come to Honolulu to lay on the beach in Waikiki. Give yourself half a day to enjoy the Bishop, you won't regret it.
....insight into Hawaiian culture and indeed Polynesia in general. A 30 minute bus ride from central Wiakiki at $2.50 each was well worth it. $8 (seniors) also good value. Restaurant closed for refurbishment but small shopping centre a 5 minute walk away. Shame that the gardens were not better kept.
We only visited the part of the museum that presents the history and culture of Hawaii. We did not visit the planetarium or the special exhibits. We didn't want to spend the entire day there, which the other visits would require. The main building and exhibits are impressive. It is possible to do the visit with volunteers way talk about the exhibits or explore on your own. We did a bit of both. I think this is a very worthwhile stop for anyone who really wants to understand the origins of the islands and the culture of the Hawaiian people.
This was the best of all of Oahu. The museum is 3 stories full of Polynesian treasures and artifacts. There is also a planetarium to learn about Hawaii skies. A separate interactive building featured the making and display of a Hawaii volcanoes. A fluorescent glowing lava tube was the highlight for my granddaughter to walk through. We spent all day going through every floor and still needed more time to explore do we bought a family pass to use when we visit Honolulu. It is the best place to take visitors and friends!!
We visited the museum during our recent trip to the area. We were able to take TheBus directly within 1-2 blocks of the museum and then took a short 1-2 block walk to the museum. We found the exhibits interesting and really learned some new facts about the history of Hawaii. I highly recommend attending the planetarium show which uses updated technology.
Well organized and displayed with "hosts" discussing the history of the main building.Lovely grounds surrounding the museum, gift shop and planetarium. A visit to this museum helps visitors appreciate the history of the Hawaiian Islands, and the progression in time into the 20th century as tourism grows.
The main building with its wooden staircases and exhibition areas is certainly impressive, though dark and old-fashioned in its "behind glass" attitude (probably necessary). It's certainly full enough, almost overwhelming. We had to go outside periodically to prevent sensory overload and to get some air. Even if you think you know about Hawaii and its connection to Oceania, you'll learn quite a bit here.One problem: the restaurant is closed. If you need sustenance to get through this museum, you'll have to go outside the grounds and walk a long block to some not very good restaurants.