List of museums in Hawaii facts for kids

Hawaii is a beautiful state with a rich history and amazing nature. It also has many interesting museums! A museum is a special place where people collect and take care of important objects. These objects can be about art, science, history, or different cultures. Museums then show these collections to everyone who wants to learn and explore. In Hawaii, you can find museums that tell stories about the islands' past, its people, and even the stars above!

Cool Museums to Explore

Hawaii has many exciting museums. Here are some you might enjoy visiting:

Oahu Museums

• Bernice P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu: This is a huge museum where you can learn all about Hawaiian history, culture, and the Pacific islands. It also has amazing science exhibits.
• Hawaii Children's Discovery Center in Honolulu: This museum is made just for kids! It has lots of hands-on activities and exhibits where you can play and learn at the same time.
• Hawaii State Art Museum in Honolulu: See beautiful art made by Hawaiian artists. They have both permanent and changing exhibits.
• Honolulu Museum of Art in Honolulu: Explore a wide range of art from different parts of the world, including contemporary art.
• [[ʻIolani Palace]] in Honolulu: Step back in time at the only royal palace in the United States! This was once the home of Hawaiian kings and queens, like King David Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani.
• Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor on Ford Island: Learn about aviation history, especially during World War II. You can see historic aircraft and even visit old hangars.
• Polynesian Cultural Center in Lā'ie: This is like a living museum where you can experience the cultures of different Polynesian islands through displays, crafts, and performances.
• U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii in Waikiki: Discover the history of the U.S. Army in Hawaii at Fort DeRussy.
• USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor: This important memorial and museum honors those who lost their lives on the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
• U.S.S. Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park at Pearl Harbor: Explore a real World War II submarine and learn all about submarines.
• USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor: Visit this famous battleship, where World War II officially ended.

Big Island Museums

• Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center in North Kona: Located at Kona International Airport, this museum is all about space science and features artifacts from astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who was from Hawaii.
• Hawaii Keiki Museum in Kailua-Kona: Another great science museum for kids, with interactive exhibits to spark curiosity.
• [[ʻImiloa Astronomy Center]] in Hilo: This center connects Hawaiian culture and history with the wonders of astronomy, especially the telescopes on Mauna Kea.
• Jaggar Museum at Kīlauea: Learn about volcanoes and earthquakes at this museum located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It's a great place to understand how the islands were formed.
• Kona Coffee Living History Farm in South Kona: See what life was like for early Japanese immigrants and coffee pioneers in Hawaii between 1920 and 1945.
• Lyman House Memorial Museum in Hilo: Explore Hawaiian culture, and see collections of shells and minerals.
• Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo: Learn about the powerful tsunamis that have affected Hilo, like the ones in 1946 and 1960, and how people prepare for them.

Maui Museums

• Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum in Kahului: Discover the history and heritage of Hawaii's sugar plantations.
• Bailey House Museum in Wailuku: This historic 19th-century house museum shares Hawaiian history, art, and even has a collection of land snails.
• Baldwin Home Museum in Lahaina: Visit a mid-19th-century missionary home, operated by the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.
• Hana Cultural Center & Museum in Hana: This museum includes a local history museum, a historic courthouse, a jail, and four authentic Hawaiian hale (houses).
• Hawaii Nature Center in ʻĪao Valley: This facility has museum exhibits about natural history.
• Whaler's Village Museum in Lahaina: Learn about the whaling industry and whales through interesting exhibits.

Kauaʻi Museums

• Grove Farm in Lihuʻe: Explore an 1860s sugar plantation.
• [[Kauaʻi Museum]] in Lihuʻe: See art and artifacts from Native Hawaiians, and learn about the local and natural history of Kauaʻi.
• [[Waiʻoli Mission House]] in Hanalei: Visit a mission house built in 1837.

Museums That Are No Longer Open

Some museums in Hawaii have closed over the years. These include:

• Hawaiʻi Maritime Center, Honolulu, which closed in 2009.
• Kamuela Museum, in Kamuela.
• Kauaʻi Children's Discovery Museum, in Lihuʻe.
• The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu, which merged with the Honolulu Academy of Arts in 2011 and is now part of the Honolulu Museum of Art.

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