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2023 Travel Update: As of 2023, Hawaii is open for tourism by both vaccinated and unvaccinated US citizen travelers without Covid-specific documentation or testing. It also essentially is open to vaccinated non-US citizen travelers with proof of vaccination but no additional testing although some exceptions apply. Nevertheless, be sure to double check the official state of Hawaii requirements and national CDC requirements for up-to-the minute details.

In 1889, Charles Reed Bishop established the Bishop Museum to honor his late wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop — the final descendant of Hawaiian royals — and showcase her extensive collection of royal heirlooms and Hawaiian artifacts. The attractive main building, designed in a Romanesque Revival style by architect William F. Smith and now referred to as Hawaiian Hall, provided the facilities to spearhead this initial collection.

The Bishop Museum subsequently has expanded to include millions of other items related to Hawaiian and Pacific culture and history. It has increased its scope to teach children about science and natural resources, too.

Whether you live in Honolulu or are just in town for a few days, the Bishop Museum is a must-visit destination for sure.

How to Buy Tickets for the Bishop Museum

The Bishop Museum requires tickets to be booked in advance for a specific day for either a 9 AM to 1 PM or 1 PM to 4 PM time slot. Regardless of the time slot that you choose, you can stay as long as you like; as late as closing time at 5 PM if you wish. It is open every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Discounts are offered for local kama'aina with Hawaiian identification as well as US military personnel, but visitor tickets for those from the mainland United States and internationally cost US$26.95 for adults, US$18.95 for youth 4 to 17, and US$23.95 for visiting kupuna (65+).

You also might consider buying the Go City Pass Honolulu, which includes entry to the Bishop Museum in addition to Diamond Head, Iolani Palace, several Pearl Harbor attractions, a number of boat tours, water activities, bike rental, and more.

What to See at the Bishop Museum

There are five main portions of the Bishop Museum. These include the attached Hawaiian Hall and Pacific Hall, which cover the history and culture of Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders; the Planetarium and Science Adventure Center which focus on astronomy, biology, geology and other sciences; and Castle Hall, which hosts rotating special exhibits.

For those who are not from Hawaii, travelgasm.com suggests that the exhibits about ancient Hawaiian wayfinding are perhaps the most impressive. This detailed knowledge of the wind and water currents combined with the sun and stars to navigate vast distances across the Pacific Ocean and beyond truly is remarkable.

Be sure to take a peek at the Bishop Museum Events page, also. There are a wide variety of presentations, performances, and festivities throughout the year, and you may wish to time your visit to align with a specific occasion.

Where to Eat at the Bishop Museum

Because the Bishop Museum essentially is penned in by freeways and the nearby area largely is a car-oriented residential district that is unpleasant on foot, the best place to eat is the branch of the well-regarded Highway Inn within the Bishop Museum itself.

Launched in 1947, Highway Inn specializes in Hawaiian dishes like smoked kalua pig and shoyu chicken. We tried their smoked kalua pig with lomi salmon served over rice; it hit the spot.

Below, we have mapped out the most straightforward route from the nearest bus stop to the Bishop Museum.

How to Get Here: Take TheBus route 2 to School St and Kapalama St (Stop 74). Get off the bus and turn right on Kapalama St (behind you from the bus) to head toward the museum. As a visitor in Honolulu, route 2 from Kuhio Avenue in Waikiki or from Hotel Street in downtown likely will be the most logical; stand on the mauka side of the street — toward the mountains — to go toward the Bishop Museum.

travelgasm.com's Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum Map (Full Screen)

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