A must on the list of returning tourists as well as a reminder to local residents is a visit to the recently reopened Bishop Museum.  Allowing only 500 visitors per day and well equipped with hand sanitizer stations scattered on the grounds and in the exhibit halls, visitors can feel safe to marvel at this sanctuary tucked away from Honolulu’s hustle and bustle.

Built-in 1889, the Bishop Museum, known as the “Museum of Hawai’i,” was named after Princess Bernice, a philanthropist who was the last descendant of the Kamehameha royal family. Her husband, Charles Reed Bishop designed and built the famed Victorian-styled museum, with its spacious halls and stonework, originally as a heritage showcase of his wife’s ancestral heirlooms and Hawaiian treasures. Among the most impressive collections are her ancestor King Kamehameha’s colorfully feathered capes, leis, helmets. Today, with its $20 million renovations, the Bishop boasts more than 24 million artifacts, documents, and photos about Hawaii and other Polynesian cultures.

A crash course in Hawaii history awaits you in this 3-4 hour tour of the museum.  The Hawaiian Hall features the sacred Hawaiian gods, legends, and beliefs in pre-contact Hawaii, as well as how people lived, worked, played, and of course, fought. One highlight is the model of a heiau or sacrificial temple. Don’t miss the 55-foot sperm whale skeleton and other natural-history exhibits, along with a planetarium showing how voyagers navigated the Pacific, guided by the stars.

The Bishop’s Pacific Hall explores the cultural treasures and migration patterns of the Pacific people throughout Oceania.  The making of model canoes has deep roots in Oceania. Miniature canoes were part of religious ceremonies for ancestors.  The famous waʻa – outrigger canoe is made of at least three kinds of wood.  One gains a deeper understanding of just how difficult it was for Hawaii’s intrepid first people to reach its shores. They used only the stars — and their keen sense of navigation — to find their way.

In the Kahili Room, one learns about the fascinating and tragic lives of the Hawaiian royal family as well as the forced abdication of its final Queen Lili’uokalani, in the 1890s. The grand surrounding gardens feature native Hawaiian plants and local landscapes where one can sometimes hear the local Royal Hawaiian Band performs.

Don’t miss the 55-foot sperm whale skeleton and other natural-history exhibits, along with a planetarium showing how voyagers navigated the Pacific, guided by the stars.

Surfing is also pure Hawaiian culture with generations of Hawaiians perfecting the ancient sport.  “Mai Kinohi Mai: Surfing in Hawai‘i” in the Castle Memorial Building is a special exhibit featuring vintage boards, historic photos, a detailed intro to Hawaii’s world-famous surfing waves and even a computer simulator giving one a chance to give the sport a virtual try.  Exhibits on surfing legends such as larger than life, Duke Kahanamoku, and today’s surfing pros are also highlighted.

Sounds of ukulele and guitar tunes can be heard in Bishop Museum’s most recent exhibit,  “Kaula Piko: The Source of Strings,” exploring Hawaii’s musical contributions throughout the years. Famous guitars are traced to the Kingdom of Hawaii and generations of royal Hawaiian contributors who took Hawaiian music to every corner of the globe, influencing popular culture.  The exhibit features rare and historical instruments and film clips of Hawaii’s most influential figures from Hawaii and beyond, ranging from King David Kalakaua to Mekia Kealaka’i to Johnny Cash.

Outdoor Museum programming is bountiful with numerous themes such as “Na Mea Ola” or “Health and Wellness.” Self-directed activities include learning about the healing properties of plants on the Great Lawn; presentations on food and its effects on physical and mental well-being; and a Keiki take-home growing kit.

Big mahalo to Melanie Ide, President & CEO of Bishop Museum who conducted a walkthrough for Honolulu Vibes!

Looking for more attractions on Oahu? Check out the links below for more things to do on Oahu: