9 of the Best Museums in Hawaii and How To Visit

Serving as the official home of the monarchs of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1882 to 1893, Iolani Palace was—and still is—an architectural marvel, even getting electricity before the White House. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse when a group of American businessmen overthrew Queen Liliuokalani, keeping her under house arrest for eight months and stripping her of her title and power. Today, you can walk through the many rooms of this cultural attraction on Oahu, learning about the rise and fall of the Hawaiian monarchy.

Don’t miss: Queen Liliuokalani’s Imprisonment Room, where you’ll find the quilt the queen sewed during her detainment, which documents the events of the coup.

The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum in Honolulu has long been a go-to resource for island history and education, with exhibits on every time period of Native Hawaiian history. It’s so comprehensive that it’s, without a doubt, one of the best Hawaiian history museums. In the Pacific Hall, meet Hawaii’s first inhabitants, the trans-Pacific-journeying Polynesians from around AD 1200. In the Hawaiian Hall, learn about how pre-Western Hawaiian society functioned. And in the Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kahiki Room, find out more about the monarchs of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Don’t miss: The Planetarium, where you can learn the science behind the night sky and how ancient Polynesians used the stars for navigation.

On December 7, 1941—two years into WWII—the Japanese military bombed Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 people and wounding another 1,178. This attack prompted the US to join and put an end to the brutal war. During a visit to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and must-see museum in Hawaii, be sure to wander through the exhibits at the visitor center, pay your respects at the USS Arizona Memorial, and take the lesser-known Ford Island bus tour.

Don’t miss: The USS Arizona Memorial boat ride. Reserve tickets in advance, as spots are limited and sell out quickly.

Nestled in the former home of billionaire tobacco heiress Doris Duke, the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture, and Design is a treasure trove of Islamic art from North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Given the approximately 4,500 pieces in the museum, it’s safe to say that the heiress was an avid collector. Plus, the oceanfront building is an architectural marvel in and of itself. And riding a bike from Waikiki to Diamond Head solves the problem of how to visit this museum in Hawaii.

Don’t miss: The lusterware mihrab (prayer niche) is one of only a few of its kind found in the US.

Calling all art lovers! The Honolulu Museum of Art, opened in 1927, is a prestigious art museum—open longer than Hawaii has been a state. More than that, it’s home to some 60,000 pieces of art from all across the globe. Stop by on a Honolulu city tour.

Don’t miss: The Honolulu Museum of Art’s Asian art collection is particularly impressive. More specifically, don’t miss the incredible collection of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints.

One of the most family-friendly museums in Hawaii, the Imiloa Astronomy Center is a gem. Located in Hilo, this museum focuses on the overlap between Hawaiian culture and astronomy. Start by learning about Polynesian star-based wayfinding techniques that date back to 3,000 BC, and finish with the exhibits that touch on the recent disputes regarding Mauna Kea Summit and Observatory, where Hawaiian cultural significance and scientific research have continued to collide.

Don’t miss: The Planetarium shows: While ever-rotating, the shows are always a mix of entertaining and educational, showcasing Hawaiian culture, astronomy, or both.

Only open for four hours on Tuesdays and Fridays, the Kona Coffee Living History Farm often slips off of visitors’ itineraries, but this unique museum is one of Hawaii’s best. Situated on the Daisaku Uchida Coffee Farm, this small agriculture museum takes guests back in time to a 1920s Kona coffee farm, more specifically one run by Japanese immigrants.

Don’t miss: The stories of the guides! Since these tours are often led by descendants of Japanese Kona coffee farmers, their tales make this museum experience even more special.

The oldest and largest museum on the island, the aptly named Kauai Museum covers quite a bit about this Hawaiian Island—including its natural and cultural history. The most beloved part of the museum is the local art gallery, featuring works from artists from Kauai and from the rarely visited yet inhabited nearby island of Niihau. The shell lei made from a variety of Niihau shells, including kahelelani, laiki, momi, and kamoa, is especially lovely.

Don’t miss: The museum’s cultural classes—learn everything from lei making to lauhala (pandanus leaf) weaving to hula dancing.

In the 1800s and 1900s, Hawaii was filled to the brim with sugarcane plantations. As a matter of fact, the growing global market for sugar brought immigrants from all around the world to the islands. Demand for Hawaii’s sugar eventually lessened, and the last sugar mill closed in December 2016. The Alexander and Baldwin Sugar Museum on Maui is one of the last traces of this once-booming industry, taking you back in time with peeks at its plantation life photos, immigrant labor contracts, and sugarcane-crushing machinery.

Don’t miss: The outdoor exhibits, where you’ll find the biggest and baddest pieces of sugarcane-processing machinery on the property.