The Bishop Museum is Hawaiʻi’s state museum of natural and cultural history, on Bernice Street in the Kalihi district of Honolulu.
This guide was updated in July 2026. Family Sundays, once a well-known free day for kamaʻāina, are no longer offered, a change many older guides still miss. General admission is also dynamically priced, moving with the day of the week and seasonal demand, so the figure quoted online can shift from one visit to the next. You can book your ticket in advance through Viator to lock in your visit day.
Quick facts about the Bishop Museum
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 |
| Hours | Daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (last check-in 4 p.m.) |
| Kamaʻāina / military admission | From $14.95 |
| Non-resident admission | From $22.95 |
| Nearest transit | TheBus route #2, alighting a short walk from the entrance |
| Typical visit duration | 2–3 hours |
Why book Bishop Museum tickets?
- 🏛️ The world’s largest collection: Polynesian and Hawaiian cultural artefacts and natural history specimens under one roof.
- 🎟️ New for 2026: Aloha Bricks ’26 celebrates Hawaiian places, people and stories through detailed LEGO builds.
- 🌿 Live lava demonstration: Watch a molten pour at the Science Adventure Center’s Lava Theater.
- 📜 Daily planetarium shows: Explore the night sky and Polynesian wayfinding traditions for just $3 more.
- 💰 Save 20% online: Use promo code MAHALO20 at checkout for a discount off general admission.
Bishop Museum opening hours
The Bishop Museum is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission has a last check-in time of 4 p.m., though guests already inside can stay until closing. The museum closes on four days each year: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Bishop Museum ticket prices
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Kamaʻāina / military (valid local or military ID required) | From $14.95 |
| Non-resident | From $22.95 |
| Museums for All (SNAP EBT card, up to 4 people) | Free, plus free parking for one vehicle |
Prices above reflect standard rates, but the Bishop Museum uses dynamic pricing that varies by day of the week and season, so the amount shown at checkout may differ. Booking online with the code MAHALO20 takes 20% off your general admission total. The museum accepts card payments only, with no cash accepted at the door. Book in advance through Viator to secure your preferred visit date.
How to get to the Bishop Museum
By car, the museum is close to downtown Honolulu and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, reached via Kapālama Avenue off Likelike Highway. By public transport, TheBus route #2 stops at School Street and Kapālama Street, a short walk from the entrance, and route #7 also serves the campus. The Lea Lea trolley stops directly at the museum. Taxis and rideshares can drop off at the main gate on Bernice Street.
Parking at the Bishop Museum
Parking costs $16 per vehicle for non-residents and $8 for Hawaiʻi residents, paid by scanning the QR code on the signage in the lot. It’s free for museum members displaying a valid parking sticker. Spaces are first-come, first-served, so arriving earlier in the day improves your chances. Limited free street parking is available nearby, though it fills quickly.
How long to spend at the Bishop Museum
Most visitors spend two to three hours exploring the main galleries. The collection is large enough to fill half a day or more for anyone with a deep interest in Hawaiian history.
Bishop Museum accessibility
The Bishop Museum is wheelchair accessible throughout, with ramps, elevators and paved pathways connecting its galleries. A limited number of manual wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge at the Admissions Desk, on a first-come, first-served basis. Photo ID is held for the duration of the visit. Electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters are also welcome, operated at walking pace. Service dogs are permitted but must be announced at the Admissions Desk before entering the campus. Sign-language interpretation is available for exhibits and programmes with two weeks’ notice, and any interpreter accompanying a deaf, blind or learning-disabled visitor is admitted free.
What to see at the Bishop Museum
Hawaiian Hall Complex. A restored three-storey Victorian-era building houses feather cloaks, royal artefacts and one of the finest collections of Hawaiian cultural treasures in the world.
J. Watumull Planetarium. A full-dome Digistar 4 system powers daily shows exploring the night sky, alongside stories of traditional Polynesian wayfinding across the Pacific.
Science Adventure Center. Walk through the glowing Hawaiian Origins Tunnel to the Lava Theater, where a live lava demonstration runs once daily, followed by displays of deep-sea creatures.
Pacific Hall. Ceremonial objects, tools, canoes and clothing from across Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia trace the shared history of the wider Pacific.
Nā Ulu Kanu o Kaiwiʻula Native Hawaiian Garden. A living outdoor collection of native coastal and dry forest plants, set beside the Hawaiian Hall Complex.
Aloha Bricks ’26: Stories of Hawaiʻi. A new exhibition in the Castle Memorial Building, built entirely from LEGO bricks, celebrating Hawaiian landmarks, native species and legendary tales.
Practical visitor tips for the Bishop Museum
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book online and use code MAHALO20 | This saves 20% on general admission compared with paying at the door. |
| Arrive before 4 p.m. | Last check-in for general admission is 4 p.m., though you can stay until closing. |
| Catch the daily lava show | The Science Adventure Center’s live lava demonstration runs once a day at the Lava Theater. |
| Bring a payment card, not cash | The museum only accepts credit card transactions throughout the campus. |
| Ask about Museums for All | SNAP EBT cardholders get free admission for up to four people, plus free parking. |
Bishop Museum FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the opening hours? | Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last check-in at 4 p.m., except four closed holidays a year. |
| Is Family Sunday still free? | No, Family Sundays are no longer offered. |
| How much is parking? | $16 for non-residents, $8 for Hawaiʻi residents, and free for members with a valid sticker. |
| Is the planetarium included in general admission? | No, planetarium shows cost an extra $3 with a valid general admission ticket. |
| How long should I plan to stay? | Most visitors spend two to three hours, though the collection can fill a full day. |
Things to do near the Bishop Museum
The Foster Botanical Garden is a short drive away, a lush tropical garden dating back to the 1850s.
Chinatown Honolulu offers a short drive to historic markets, temples and family-run restaurants.
The ʻIolani Palace is a short drive away, the only official state residence of royalty in the United States.
The Honolulu Museum of Art gives visitors a short drive to Hawaiʻi’s largest art collection, spanning Asian, European and Pacific works.
Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a short drive away, home to the USS Arizona Memorial and several naval history museums.
What to visit tomorrow
The Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site is a short drive away in downtown Honolulu, preserving the oldest wood-frame buildings in Hawaiʻi.
Hawaiʻi’s Plantation Village in Waipahu is a short drive from Honolulu, a recreated village telling the story of the islands’ immigrant plantation workers.
Same-type museums beyond Oʻahu need an inter-island flight, roughly two hours door to door.
The Lyman Museum in Hilo, on Hawaiʻi Island, combines a natural history collection with a restored 1839 missionary home.
The Bailey House Museum in Wailuku, Maui, occupies a former mission house and displays Hawaiian artefacts and historic artwork.
