Bailey House Museum facts for kids
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Old Bailey House
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 Location in Maui
Location in Hawaii
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| Location | 2375 Main Street, Wailuku, Hawaii |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1833 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000678 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 20, 1973 |
The Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House is a special museum in Wailuku, on the island of Maui, in Hawaiʻi. Its name means "House of Display" in Hawaiian. Many people still call it the Bailey House Museum.
This museum teaches about Hawaiian history and art. The Maui Historical Society owns and runs it. The building itself, known as the Old Bailey House, is a very old and important place. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as a significant historic site.
Contents
The Historic Bailey House
The Bailey House is a stone building built in 1833. It was one of the first Western-style houses in Wailuku. It stands at the entrance of the Iao Valley. This area was once the royal home of Kahekili II. He was the last ruling chief of Maui.
From School to Home
The house was first meant to be a Christian mission. It taught both adults and children. In 1837, it became the Wailuku Female Seminary. This was a boarding school for girls. Students learned about Christianity and school subjects like reading, writing, and math. They also learned important home skills like sewing and cooking.
The first people to run the school were Theodosia and Reverend Jonathan Smith Green. In 1844, Caroline and Edward Bailey took over. They had just arrived in Hawaii.
In 1847, the group that funded the school stopped their support. The school continued for a few more years. It taught boys and girls who could pay for their lessons. The house and land then went back to the Hawaiian government. But the Bailey family bought them in 1850. Later, the house and the Baileys' sugarcane fields became part of a large sugarcane farm.
Becoming a Museum
The Maui Historical Society was started in 1951. They wanted to save and share Maui's history. The Hale Hoʻikeʻike museum opened its doors on July 6, 1957.
In 1991, a person named Masaru "Pundy" Yokouchi bought the Bailey House. He then gave it as a gift to the Maui Historical Society. This helped make sure the museum would continue to teach people about Hawaii's past.
What You Can See at the Museum
Hale Hoʻikeʻike is a history museum with many interesting things to see. You can explore exhibits on two floors of the old house and even outside on the grounds.
First Floor Discoveries
- Ancient Hawaiian Tools: You can see tools, utensils, and weapons used by Hawaiians before Europeans arrived.
- Edward Bailey's Art: Edward Bailey was a talented painter. He created over one hundred landscape paintings of Maui in the 1800s. You can see many of his beautiful oil paintings here.
- Kamapua'a Statue: There is a rare wooden statue of Kamapua'a. He is a Hawaiian demi-god. This statue was made before the old Hawaiian religion was changed in 1819. It was hidden in a cave for over 100 years. It is the only wooden statue on Maui from that time that still exists.
- Land Snail Shells: Part of a collection of land snail shells from David Dwight Baldwin is on display. Many native Hawaiian snail species have become extinct species because new types of snails were brought to the islands.
- Hokulea Model: See a model of the Hokulea. This is a modern boat built like the ancient Polynesian sailing vessels. It shows how early Hawaiians traveled across the ocean.
Second Floor Treasures
- Monarchy Room: This room tells the story of the Kingdom of Hawaii. You can see items from the time when Hawaii had kings and queens.
- Koa Room: This room features beautiful furniture made from Koa wood. Koa is a special tree found only in Hawaii. You can see a large four-poster bed and other pieces made entirely from this wood.
The museum also has many old papers and documents. These are available for people who are doing research.
Outdoor Exhibits
- Duke Kahanamoku's Surfboard: Outside, you can see a redwood surfboard that belonged to Duke Kahanamoku. He was a famous Hawaiian Olympic swimmer and surfer. His surfboard is from 1919.
- Honaunau Canoe: There is also a 33-foot-long Honaunau outrigger canoe. This fishing canoe was made around 1900. It was carved from a single koa log. It is one of the last koa fishing canoes ever made in Hawaiʻi.
The museum's gardens are designed to show off native Hawaiian plants. This includes some endangered species from Maui and the Hawaiian Islands. There is also a gift shop where you can buy items made by local artists. The museum is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 AM to 4 PM.
See also
- History of Maui
- List of single-artist museums
