Places, Earth
Bishop Museum

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Bishop Museum

The Bishop Museum began as a collection of Kamehameha family artifacts that had passed to Princess Bernice Pauahi (great grand-daughter of King Kamehameha). Structures to house these artifacts were built by Princess Bernice's husband, Charles Reed Bishop. The original buildings are filled with historic exhibits and artifacts while newer buildings include exhibits on science, a planetarium, and traveling exhibits. The buildings are arrayed around a large open landscaped space with occasional smaller outdoor exhibits.

One of the original buildings is filled with anthropology exhibits of the people of the Pacific Rim. It is primarily divided into the Hawaiian Hall and the Polynesian Hall with mostly Anthropology exhibits, but some natural history as well. It is four stories and the Hawaiian Hall has a full height gallery with gallery space around the sides at all levels.

The Castle Memorial Building has traveling exhibits (such as Dinosaurs Unearthed pictured below) on the first floor and special exhibits from the museum's own collection on the second floor.

The Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center describes several aspects of volcanos, lava tubes, how the Hawaiian Islands were formed, and other science subjects. There is a large 2-story volcano complete with erupting lava (boiling red water) at the top and several exhibits inside that explained well how the Hawaiian volcanos work. An exhibit uses hot wax to demonstrate how a shield volcano is formed. A large water tank allows visitors to drive RUVs (remote underwater vehicles) with video cameras which the visitor/operator can watch on the screen.

Jabulka Pavilion is the main entrance, shop, Café', and Planetarium. The Jhamandas Watumull Planetarium offers several different Planetarium shows each day.

Paki Hall houses the library and the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame.

A number of other building serve special purposes.

History of the Museum:

The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum is intended to be a memorial to Princess Bernice Pauahi, great grand-daughter of Kamehameha the Great. She was promised to Lot Kapuaiwa (the future Kamehameha V) but developed affection for Charles Reed Bishop and they married in 1850. C. R. Bishop was born in Glens Falls, New York, orphaned, and was raised by his grandparents. At the age of fifteen he left home and by 1846 was seeking a future far to the west. He was well educated and ambitious and found success in Honolulu. He became a naturalized subject of Hawaii in 1849 and married Bernice a year later. Bishop was involved with several businesses including the Bank of Bishop. He was made a noble and served in several capacities to four kings and a queen.

Following the death of Princess Ke'elikolani, the lands of the Kamehameha family passed to Princess Pauahi. She bequeathed her estate to found The Kamehameha Schools which Bishop established and developed after her death. Bishop was also able to establish this museum to preserve the treasures of the Kemehameha family. He also indulged his own interest in natural history which is now represented at the museum.

C. R. Bishop funded construction of the original buildings and continued support for many years.

The first building, begun in 1888, contained the entrance hall, Kahili Room, Tower, Hawaiian Vestibule, and picture gallery. During construction, Bishop began the search for important artifacts to exhibit. He hired William Tufts Brigham in 1890 as Curator and by February 1892, the museum was ready to open, one morning a week. The Polynesian Hall was built in 1894 and the Hawaiian Hall from 1898 to 1900. Today nearly a dozen buildings carry on the work.

Bishop Museum is in the middle of Honolulu near Likelike Highway and H1.

Address: 1525 Bernice Street

Honolulu, Hawaii

Mailing Addresses:
Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice Street
Honolulu, HI 96817

Ph: 808-847-3511
Fax: 808-841-8968

Hours: Wednesday to Monday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Museum is closed on Tuesdays and Christmas Day

Each level of the Hawaiian Hall has a different design of column.

Digging Dinosaurs - Traveling Exhibit Visiting the Bishop

Oahu Island Main Page

This page last updated: Saturday, 13-Feb-2010 09:54:45 CST

Note: This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice.

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