Bishop Museum
add photos9 Reviews for Bishop Museum
46
84
'11, '12
3 families found this helpful
"Awesome museum for those with short attention spans"
Caveat: I'm not much of a museum person. Most museums make me bored.
When it was suggested that we go to the Bishop Museum, I wasn't too thrilled. But, when we pulled up and I saw that the building looked pretty small, I was relieved -- we wouldn't have to stay too long. I quickly learned that there was a whole campus of buildings, all of which focused on different things.
My mind was quickly changed. We were there when the dinosaurs were there. The exhibit was on a small side, but was really fun. Our kids loved the animated dinosaurs that moved and roared on occasion - at first they were scared but quickly thought it was really funny. Because there weren't too many dinosaurs, we were able to spend a little more time at each exhibit and actually learn something.
We also liked the volcano exhibit and the animal dress-up area just upstairs from the volcano. Even though it wasn't an exhibit, the large grassy area between the buildings was also a fun place to run around.
It's great to find a museum that has interesting exhibits for all ages. I was surprised that after 1.5 hours when we had to leave, I felt disappointed and had to pull the kids away from what they were doing.
Send a Message 
Send a Compliment
It's helpful
0 families found this helpful
"Awesome place to explore and learn"
I haven't been to the Bishop Museum in what feels likes years. I remember not being very excited about going in the past because all the Hawaiian Artifacts were displayed in a dark, dusty, old building. In recent years, though, they have made some big improvements to the property and we visited The Bishop Museum a couple weeks ago with our boys because they have a dinosaur display. My opinion of the museum has changed dramatically. We loved it! The boys are asking us to go back again.
What makes it so great you might be asking yourself. Well, they have revamped the museum quite a bit. They have built 2 new buildings since when I remember visiting. One building is like a hands on science museum with the theme of the start of Hawaii. There's a big volcano in the middle of the building. The entrance floor is the middle of the volcano where you can walk into the middle of the volcano and learn about the native insects and how volcanoes work. You can go up an elevator or flight of stairs to see into the top of the volcano. No it doesn't actually spout lava, but it does bubbles and smoke. On this top level there is also room for the kids to play with huge felt pieces that teach about native animals.
After visiting the middle and top, I highly recommend also going to the underground level. You can walk through a really neat neon, glow in the dark tunnel that has pictures and paper mache animals and trees that basically tell you the story of the creation of Hawaii as you walk through the tunnel. Or if your children are scared of the dark (mine are) you also have the option of the stairs or elevator. Under ground you can see the bottom of the volcano. There's a huge water tank that you can operate underwater cameras to look at the rocks, or you can put on a pack and watch a big screen pretending you're taking pictures of underwater plants and animals. The thing we loved the most was the presentation. There are two during the day where someone talks to you about volcanoes, lava, and demonstrates how a volcano erupts. We got to see and touch the different types of rocks that are formed from a volcano. At the very end of the presentation we got to watch some lava being poured out of a really hot furnace. It was amazing to watch the bright red and orange lava pouring out and then run down the metal plate on the floor turning into a kind of clear, marble, black stone. Our son asked if he could touch the stone and she said no because it was still very hot even though it looked cool. To demonstrate, she took a piece of paper and when she touched it to the stone it caught on fire.
In addition to having the Hawaiian buildings, there's also another building that the museum uses for rotating exhibits. They are currently showing live animatronic dinosaurs. As you come up to the building you see a T-rex on your right and a Triceratops on your left. Our kids walked right up to the T-rex because they love dinosaurs. As soon as T-rex started roaring and moving the screamed and ran past my husband and I in the other direction. It was quite funny for us, but we put on our acting faces and tried to sooth them by saying the dinosaurs were told to stay inside the roped area, so they needn't be afraid. HA HA HA! Anyway, inside was a lot of fun. Many, many, many, different types of dinosaurs. Our 3 year olds favorite was the stegosaurus because there was a pad you could push buttons, which would make the dinosaur move its tail, breath, open its mouth, and a few other movements. After getting over his initial fear he didn't want to leave.
We stayed a good 4 hours at the museum and didn't even make it to the Hawaiian History building that displayed all the artifacts. I'm not quite sure how excited our boys (3 and 5) would be about that building quite yet because it's not too hands on. However, we plan on going back since we got the annual pass. And I hear that they've renovated it quite a bit, so hopefully there's more light and less dust from the place that I remember. I will have to come back and amend this post when we do check out that building.
There's also an planetarium and discovery room that we didn't visit because they were closed. A couple other places we'll have to see and then later review on.
So, if we had such a great experience why not 5 stars? Basically, we went to see the dinosaurs because it was my son's birthday. I saw on the Bishop Museum website that they were having a family Sunday on his birthday so we thought "Perfect! Cheaper entrance fee of $5 vs. $17.95 AND our son loves dinosaurs." Long story short, the Bishop Museum wouldn't honor the ad saying it was an error. I talked to the manager and explained I saw it on their website. I even pulled it up on the internet for her on her own computer. I told her we were there for my son's birthday and he really wanted to see the dinosaurs. She didn't care. She said sorry. The website was wrong and she wasn't going to honor it. So, I took a star off because we were quite upset at the customer service that we received and basically were drawn in by false advertising.
Despite our entrance experience, though, we had a great time and intend on going back many times within the next year. And maybe more if we renew our annual pass. The dinosaur exhibit is only there until Sept. '11. After that ??? During the beginning of this year there was an animation exhibit which sounded really neat, so I do feel the museum does choose rotating exhibits which are interesting and fun.
There are water fountains here and there and the buildings have A/C, so no need to bring a bottle of water. I think there's a cafe of some kind at the museum, but we didn't go. Instead we went to Kenny's up the street. A fairly old-school restaurant with decent food for a reasonable price. With admission you can go in and out of the museum grounds all day.
I highly recommend going to the Bishop Museum if you have kids who are 3 years and older. The exhibits are informative and hands on.
0 families found this helpful
"Learn about Hawaiian culture and watch a volcano erupt"
The Bishop Museum, located in Honolulu, is a great place for your family to take a break from the beach or find refuge on a rainy day and learn a bit about the culture of the islands that we enjoy so much. It includes one of the largest collections in the Pacific of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island cultural artifacts, historical documents, plant and animal life, and works of art.
The museum consists of four main buildings connected by gardens and uncovered walkways, so bring an umbrella if you do go on a rainy day! The original Bishop Museum building is full of Hawaiian and Polynesian artifacts and is a beautiful historic building. Adults will enjoy this look into Hawaii's past but may find this building to be on the dull side. Not to worry though, there is much more to explore that they will love!
The Castle Memorial Building contains national traveling exhibits that in the past has included "Dinosaurs Unearthed: Feathered Discoveries” and currently has “Sesame Street Presents: The Body.” Kids will undoubtedly enjoy this area! There is also a small gift shop (one of two at the museum complex) in this building.
In the Science Adventure Center, our child’s favorite part of the museum, young adventurers can learn about volcanoes, crawl through a lava tube, slide down the side and watch it erupt!
The remaining building, Paki Hall, contains the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame and the museum's library and archives.
If you find yourself still at the museum at lunch time the cafeteria is located near the museum's main entrance at the Jabulka Pavilion (also the location of the second Gift Shop and the Planetarium). There is a fine variety of sandwiches, salads and even baked goods available. The food is actually quite good and the prices are reasonable. If you prefer to pack your lunch, there are some benches surrounding the trees in the front parking lot and lots of room to spread out a blanket on the Great Lawn.
Exploring all of the museum exhibits does entail a lot of walking for the little ones so be prepared to make frequent stops or bring a stroller or backpack carrier. There are restroom facilities available in all of the buildings and elevators available for those who bring strollers. The museum is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. but closed on Tuesdays. Admission is a bit pricey, $17.95 for adults, children 4-12 are $14.95, and three and under are free, but they do have a kama'aina and military discount available with valid I.D. for $11.95. If you will be on the island for awhile or are kama'aina, for $70 you can get a one year pass for the family (2 adults and 2 children). A daily schedule of events can be downloaded from the museum website www.bishopmuseum.org so you can manage your time and be sure not miss any of the great presentations, shows, and tours.
1 family found this helpful
"Lots to See and Do"
The Bishop Museum is a fantastic place to take older children who express an interest in science. They will not be disappointed. The volcano is my childrens' favorite exhibit and it never ceases to amaze them. Check the website often for special events. There are periodic "family days" where admission is lower and there are activities on the lawn. Even on a regular day, the planetarium and rotating exhibits are enough to fascinate children and adults alike. Very young children will enoy running on the lawn, and can participate in a limited number of activities inside. Fun and educational!
0 families found this helpful
"we had been member"
for 2 years. I think this place is great for kids especially if they have a special exhibit that kids love it ( ex. about dinosours , bugs, animals etc). Even no such special exhibit, kids can learn many things about volcanoes, stars, hawaiian cultures, animals in Hawaii... I recommend to eat lunch outside and go this place, since they have only small cafe to eat. Please bring some drink too.
1 family found this helpful
"Tons to see!"
This place has so many different things to see, make sure you go early cause you need lots of time to see everything. This is a bunch of different types of museums all in one place. If you have kids there is a great science museum that has lots of hands on exhibits and demonstrations. My kids didn't want to leave. The Hawaii culture museum is very informative, but the walk way on the top levels are narrow, so its a bit hard to use a stroller. I really enjoyed this place, and the rest of my family did as well.
1 family found this helpful
"A great place to learn about the history of Polynesia and Hawaii"
I remember coming to the Bishop Museum when I was seven years old and seeing a giant whale hanging from the ceiling. I was so pleased when I returned as an adult to the newly reopened Hawaiian Hall to find that same whale along many more fantastic new displays. I spent hours learning about native cultures and lore. I am sure my kids could not spend hours but I think they would enjoy the hands on exhibits and especially love the volcano demonstration. Its importannt to throw a little education into every vacation and the Bishop Museum is a great place to do just that.
1 family found this helpful
"Interesting, better for older kids"
The Bishop Museum is a fantastic display of Hawaiian history and the natural sciences surrounding the development of the Hawaiian islands. The displays in the main hall are impressive and the museum has tried very hard to make the displays kid friendly and interactive. When entering the main hall, kids are stunned by the whale, turtles, fish and shark hanging from the ceiling and then are intrigued by the grass house in the middle of the room. The planetarium offers 4-5 shows daily starting with the most kid friendly earliest in the day. Best part of the planetarium - it's included in your admission price! Check the website to see what the visiting exhibit is. Kids will find the volcano and the visiting exhibits the most interesting usually - Dinosaurs are visiting until January 2010. It is a fantastic display of robotic lifesize dinosaurs on the lawn in front of the museum and smaller versions inside.
0 families found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
A Hawaiian princess, Bernice Pauahi Bishop, founded this four-story, lava-rock museum, the world’s greatest repository of cultural and natural artifacts from Hawaii and the Pacific. Among the displays are royal cloaks crafted from millions of colorful feathers. The difficulty involved in constructing them made them priceless, and only the highest ali`i (chiefs) were allowed to don them.
You’ll get a firsthand glimpse into the past, in which pre-contact Hawaii thrived as a Stone Age culture. There are weapons, cooking utensils, and even a replica of a grass hut, or hale, that was used for shelter.
A series of fantastic nature exhibits covers the evolutionary adaptations unique to the Pacific Basin. Before humans arrived, the Hawaiian Islands were even more isolated than the Galapagos, which were the primary focus of Charles Darwin’s theory on evolution. As a result, species developed here in a completely natural, symbiotic state. For example, rather than forming nests in trees to keep eggs safe, birds were ground nesters because they had no predators.
The cave exhibit is especially fascinating. You can peek into a replica of a newly formed lava tube and learn about the unusual life-forms that exist on the hot, barren lava. The on-site planetarium lets you gaze into the skies above Hawaii and contemplate the vastness of the universe.
There is a restaurant and gift shop on the grounds. West from Waikiki on H–1, exit at Likelike Highway and turn right. The second right leads straight to the museum. Ample free parking on site.
What's Nearby? Hotels » Activities »
Find Hotels near Bishop Museum »
Find Activities near Bishop Museum »
Find Restaurants near Bishop Museum »
Get the inside scoop from parents who have been there!
