History, Culture, and the Cosmos Await This Summer at Hawaii’s Bishop Museum

If you are like me, when you explore the Hawaiian Islands, your itinerary is filled with activities like waterfall hikes, swimming at beaches, and diving into a giant snow cone. However, we know that Hawaii’s rain can dampen these outdoor plans, and sometimes, we just need to get out of the tropical heat. At times like these, I love recommending the Bishop Museum in Honolulu.

Located in the heart of the city, the Bishop Museum is Hawaii’s largest museum and a bucket-list-worthy destination on Oahu. It is a place where you can learn more about the history and culture of Hawaii and the Pacific, and a destination where you can truly fall in love with the Islands. This museum was established in 1889 and has been teaching about and celebrating the Hawaiian culture for nearly 130 years.

The Bishop Museum was originally designed to protect and preserve Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop’s royal family heirlooms, as well as many other Hawaiian artifacts. In fact, as you walk around today, you will see more than 25 million artifacts, photos, documents, and other items. This is certainly no small place to explore.

In addition to the incredible Hawaiian artifacts you will see, this museum also houses seasonal exhibits. For example, from May 2025 until January 25, 2026, you can step back in time to a period when massive creatures roamed the Earth. Known as Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep, this exhibit will teach you about ancient creatures that once lived on the land or the sea, and individuals of all ages can participate in hands-on activities such as augmented reality sandboxes, fossil digs, and more.

While the Bishop Museum will take you back in time, it will also take you up, as this unique destination is home to the J. Watumull Planetarium. Here, you can sit back and learn more about the stars above us and hear stories from the islands about the universe. Throughout the summer months, there are several daytime and evening shows where you can learn, explore, and expand your mind. Show and event schedules for the planetarium are available on the Bishop Museum website.

And if you want to spend an entire day at this unique destination (which you can easily do), when hunger strikes, step into the Bishop Museum Café by Highway Inn for sandwiches, snacks, drinks, etc. It’s a great place to fuel up for even more history, learning, and adventure.

I recommend purchasing your tickets for the Bishop Museum in advance and on its website to make your visit much smoother. Planetarium tickets do require a small additional charge. The museum is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Bishop Museum is a great way to escape the heat or rain this summer. It’s a family-friendly destination where you can learn, explore, and become immersed in Hawaiian culture. What other destinations would you recommend for a rainy day on the Hawaiian Islands? Let me know by filling out this nomination form. I’d love to hear from you.