| :: Hawaii >Oahu
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Attraction >Museum
| Bishop Museum |
Address:
1525 Bernice St
| Hawaii | 96817-2704
Region:
Oahu
Rating:
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More Info
Phone: (808) 847-3511
FAX:
Website
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Description and Basic Information ::
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 In its earliest days, the Bishop Museum shared the grounds with the Kamehameha Schools. The school was founded by Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last of the descendants of the royal line of Kamehameha, for the purpose of educating Hawaiian children. Her husband, Charles Reed Bishop had established the museum to house his wife's large collection of Hawaiian artifacts and royal family heirlooms.
Soon after, the schools were relocated nearby on a Kapalama Heights hillside. This move allowed the museum to expand its collection.
Today, the museum has the largest Polynesian collections in the world with over two million artifacts, documents and photographs about Hawaii and other Pacific Island cultures. It also has one of the largest collections of natural history specimens in the world.
The museum complex has broadened its focus in the past several years to include a planetarium and traveling exhibits that include everything from dinosaurs to space exploration, but the main attraction of the museum continues to be the Hawaiian artifacts of feathered war God Kukailimoku and the handmade feather capes worn by kings, high ranking warriors and other 'ali'i' of ancient Hawaii. Also, quite popular is the royal carriage, the full-scale blue whale exhibit and the grass 'hale' or hut in the main hall.
The museum offers more than just static exhibits of artifacts. There are also many programs that include hands on learning experiences in craft demonstrations in lei-making, ukulele and hula for those interested in a more in-depth cultural experience. For those who look more toward the stars, the museum offers a wonderful program on Polynesian navigation and space exploration in an educational partnership with NASA. The experiences at the museum are almost all indoor, making it the perfect destination on an unexpected rainy day. Otherwise, the best time to visit would be in the middle of the day when the sun is at it's strongest and when the cool dark atmosphere brings welcomed relief.
The museum has over 500,000 visitors each year and can be easily reached from Waikiki by city bus (board the #2 along Kuhio Avenue), by car (exit the H-1 at Likelike Hwy, right on Bernice street) or via Waikiki Trolley. |
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:: Hawaii >Oahu :: |
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