For the Keiki & Ohana: Bishop Museum

Through the eyes of my children, as well as my work here at Hawaii Traditions, I am rediscovering Hawaii in unexpected ways. Having been born and raised here, with only a few short jaunts to other locales, it is humbling to realize how little I actually know of this truly special place and culture. Take for example Honolulu’s Bishop Museum, originally founded in 1889 by Chalres Reed Bishop for his late wife, Bernice Pauahi Bishop—the last of descendant of the Royal Family. My first visit to this site, the State’s largest museum, did not occur until well into my adulthood, yet now that I have children, I find myself not just a frequent visitor, but also a proud member of what has been designated Hawaii’s State Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

My children never tire of experiencing “The Volcano”, a permanent exhibit at the Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center on the grounds of the Bishop Museum. The newly (and beautifully) renovated Hawaiian Hall is also a draw, with its three floors of historic Hawaiian artifacts, interactive exhibits, videos and a huge hanging replica of a sperm whale. Other permanent exhibits at the Bishop Museum include Polynesian Hall, the Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kahili Room, and the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame. The Planetarium is also a permanent feature at the museum, and boasts a small, but quality theatre featuring a projected night sky and an educational video presentation of the native Hawaiian’s voyaging history. Science on a Sphere–a dynamic suspended representation of the Earth and other planets–also runs throughout the day. Both are housed in the Jhamandas Watumull Planetarium, situated next to the entrance of the Bishop Museum.

In addition to these permanent exhibitions are the visiting interactive exhibits which run about 3 months at a time and change out roughly 4 times a year. The current exhibit is entitled “Circus“  and highlights the science behind the big top. Recent past exhibits include “Dinosaurs Unearthed”, “Backyard Monsters: The World of Insects” and “Animation“.

For more information about the Bishop Museum, follow these links:

Bishop Museum
About becoming a Member

Photo Credit: cliff1066