21 must-see museums in Hawai‘i (best bang for your buck)

Hawai‘i is home to a variety of world-class and local interest museums. The following popular museums offer a wide range of ways you can explore Hawaiian art, culture, and history. To guide your choices, we include general admission and the kama‘āina discount price, as well as any free days. Discount admission tickets may also be available to seniors, children, and members of the military. 

Hawai’i Island must-see museums

Hawai’i: H.N. Greenwell Store Museum

The 1890s H.N. Greenwell Store is the oldest surviving store in Kona and one of the oldest buildings in Hawaii. Restored in 2006, the museum is stocked with accurate reproductions of goods that filled the shelves and hung from the ceiling joists. The store offers a glimpse of activities at Kalukalu over a century ago. Listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

• Location: 81-6551 Mamalahoa Hwy, Kealakekua, HI 96750
• Hours: Thursday 10a-2p.
• General admission: suggested donation $5.
• Website: H.N. Greenwell Store Museum — Kona Historical Society

Hawai’i: Hulihe‘e Palace

Originally built out of lava rock as a residence of Kamehameha the Great, the Palace served as a home to several other members of Hawaiian royalty. The museum showcases artifacts from the era of King Kalākaua and Queen Kapi‘olani, featuring beautiful koa wood furniture, portraits, kapa, feather work, Hawaiian quilts, and artifacts from Hawai‘i’s royal past. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Location: Hulihe‘e Palace, 75-5718 Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
• Hours: Wed – Fri: 10 AM – 3:30 PM. Sat: 10 AM – 1:30 PM. Sun – Tue: Closed. Major Holidays: Closed.
• General admission/guided tour: $16/$22. Kama‘āina: $12/$16. Reservations encouraged.
• Website: Hulihe’e Palace | Daughters of Hawai‘i

Hawaiʻi: ʻImiloa Astronomy Center at UH Hilo

Discover the traditions and knowledge of Polynesian navigators and learn how astronomers on Maunakea unravel the mysteries of the Universe at Hawaiʻi Island’s only Planetarium.

• Location: 600 ʻImiloa Place at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, 96720
• Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• General admission: $19. Kama`āina: $14.
• Website: ʻImiloa Astronomy Center

Hawaiʻi: Kona Coffee Living History Farm

A self-guided tour through the award-winning, historic farm that tells the story of Kona’s coffee pioneers during the early 20th century. Visit the original 1920’s farmhouse brought to life by costumed interpreters who demonstrate traditional crafts, agricultural activities, and the everyday tasks of people from the past. Talk story along the way with the farm’s living history interpreters and discover the story behind Kona’s gourmet crop.

• Location: 82-6199 Mamalahoa Hwy, Captain Cook, HI 96704
• Hours: Tuesdays and Fridays 10am-2pm.
• General admission: $20. Kauaiʻi Kama‘āina $15. Discount $3 per paid admission with valid EBT, SNAP, or WIC card.
• Website: Kona Coffee Living History Farm — Kona Historical Society

Hawai’i: Lyman Museum

The Lyman Mission House was originally built in 1839 for New England missionaries David and Sarah Lyman. In 1931, the Museum was established by their descendants. The immersive exhibits give a well-rounded view of the natural history and culture of Hawai`i. Throughout the year, the museum also offers lectures and hands-on workshop in Hawaiian skills and crafts. Listed on the National Registers of Historic Places and a Smithsonian Affiliate.

• Location: Lyman Museum & Mission House, 276 Haili Street, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720
• Hours: Open Mon-Fri, 10AM-4:30PM.
• General admission: $7. Kama`āina: $5. Reservations recommended.
• Mission House Tours: $3 (Kama`āina and Out-of-State)
• Website: Lyman Museum | Located in Hilo Hawaii

Hawaiʻi: Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo

With each exhibit, story, and lesson, the Pacific Tsunami Museum carries forward the vital mission of raising awareness, promoting preparedness, and honoring the memory of those who have faced the awesome and humbling power of tsunamis. 

• Location: Pacific Tsunami Museum, 130 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo, HI 96720
• Hours: daily 10a-4p. Closed New Years Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• General admission: $15. Kama‘āina $5.
• Website: Home | Pacific Tsunami Museum

Kaua’i must-see museums

Kaua’i Museum

The Kaua’i Museum originally opened in 1960 as the William Hyde Rice Building and seeks to tell the story of Kaua’i and Ni’ihau. The collection and exhibits include the natural history, ethnological and historical background, Plantation Days, and Missionary and Asian influences.

• Location: 4428 Rice Street, Lihu`e, HI 96766.
• Hours: Monday – Friday 9am-4pm. Saturday 9am-2pm. Sunday closed. 
• General admission: $15. Kauaiʻi Kama‘āina $10.
• Free docent tours Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 10AM. No reservations necessary.
• Website: Kauai Museum

Lānaʻi must-see museums

Lānaʻi Heritage Center

This non-profit heritage organization seeks to inspire people to be informed, thoughtful, and active stewards of Lāna‘i’s heritage. The exhibits and artifacts celebrate the island’s natural history, Hawaiian traditions, diverse cultures, ranching history, and plantation history.

• Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center, Old Dole Administration Building, 730 Lāna‘i Avenue, Lanai City, HI 96763
• Admission: free; $5 donation suggested
• Hours: Monday-Friday from 11am-3 pm
• Website: Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center

Maui must-see musesums

Maui: Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum

The Hawaiian sugar industry began on the island of Kauai in 1835 and Maui in 1848. Alexander & Baldwin purchased the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company (HC&S) in 1898. The indoor and outdoor exhibits feature historical artifacts, photos, and documents to tell the story of the multi-cultural traditions contributed by the immigrants who provided the labor and contributed to the development of Hawaii’s plantation heritage.

• Location: Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum, 3957 Hansen Road, Puunene, HI 96784
• Hours: open Monday-Thursday from 10a-2p (last entry 1p).
• General admission: $10. Kamaʻāina free. 
• Website: Sugar Museum | Hawaii

Molokaʻi must-see museums

Molokaʻi Museum & Cultural Center

Learn about Molokai ‘s history over the last 150 years through newspapers, photos, short videos, and personal accounts from island locals. The eclectic exhibits include petroglyphs to plantation-era furnishings and a restored Sugar Mill, featuring a mule-driven cane crusher and a steam engine. You can also hear stories of patients with Hansen’s disease (aka leprosy) who were sent to live out their days in the community on the isolated peninsula of Kalaupapa. Don’t miss the gift shop for goods and crafts made by locals and an island map.

• Location: 1795 Kalae Hwy, Ho’olehua, HI 96729
• Hours: Monday-Saturday 10a-2p.
• Admission is $5.
• Website: Molokai Museum & Cultural Center | Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa

O’ahu must-see museums

Oʻahu: Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum

The Bishop Museum is the largest museum in Hawai’i and the premier natural and cultural history institution in the Pacific. It is recognized throughout the world for its cultural collections, as well as research projects, consulting services, and public educational programs. The architecture of the museum alone is worth the visit. Listed on the National Register of Historic Place. The Bishop Museum’s collections include millions of objects, documents, photographs, royal family treasures, specimens, and Native Hawaiian artifacts.

• Location: Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, HI 96817.
• Hours: open daily 9AM – 5PM. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
• General admission: $24.95. Kama‘āina: $95.
• Ticket discount: Purchase online and save $2. Use code ONLINE.
• Parking: paid lot on site.
• Café: offers a variety of Hawaiian specialties including plates, poke bowls, sandwiches, sweet treats, and snacks.
• Website: Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum – Natural and Cultural History
• You might also like: How to get free admission or discount tickets to Bishop Museum – Hawaiʻi on the Cheap (hawaiionthecheap.com)

O’ahu: Capitol Modern

Capitol Modern is the State Art Museum and primary venue for the display of the largest collection of contemporary Hawai‘i art. Opened as the Hawai‘i State Art Museum in 2002 and renamed Capitol Modern in 2023. The museum has four galleries totaling around 19,500 square feet plus other exhibition and live event areas including the Front Lawn, the Second Floor Courtyard, The POD, and the Sculpture Garden.

• Location: housed in the No. 1 Capitol District Building, 250 South Hotel St, Honolulu, HI 96813
• Hours: Monday-Saturday 10a-4p. First Friday is a free, family-friendly evening of art and music featuring performances in the garden.
• General admission: always free.
• Parking: Metered street parking and nearby paid lots.
• Website: Capitol Modern

O’ahu: Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site

Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives (HMH) is a one-acre site that preserves Hawai‘i’s oldest Western-style house, the 1821 Mission House, the 1831 Chamberlain House, the 1841 Bedroom Annex, a 2011 coral-and-grass performance arena, and a 2021 a reconstructed hale pili, plus a cemetery, collections storage vault, gift shop, and multi-purpose space. The library holds both English and Hawaiian archival material and welcomes researchers on site as well as from around the globe through the digital collection  of over 80,000 digital pieces, one of the largest collections of Hawaiian language printed material in the world.

• Location: 553 S. King St, Honolulu, HI 96813
• Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:30am-2:30pm. Closed Sunday-Monday.
• General admission: $10. Kama‘āina: $8. Guided tours available for additional charge.
• Parking: metered street parking and nearby paid lots.
• Website: Hawaiian Mission Houses – Thousands Of Stories

O’ahu: Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA)

Located in downtown Honolulu near Blaisdell Center, the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA) is comprised of gallery spaces, a gift shop, open-air café & coffee bar, library, theater, and art school. The museum has more than 50,000 works of art, spanning 5,000 years of history and representing all of Hawaii’s cultures. She holds one of the largest single collections of Asian and Pan-Pacific art in the United States, along with works from America, Europe, and Africa. The collections include paintings, decorative and traditional arts, woodblocks, and textiles.

• Location: Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 South Beretania Street. Honolulu, HI 96814.
• Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10AM-6PM, with extended hours until 9PM on Friday. Closed Monday-Tuesday, Independence Day, New Years Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• General admission: $25. Kama‘āina: $15.
• Free admission days: Hawai‘i residents are free every third Sunday.
• Free admission and parking to SNAP beneficiaries upon presentation of their EBT cards. 
• Parking: pay lot behind the Honolulu Museum of Art School, 1111 Victoria Street. Card only for payment.
• Café: There is no museum admission to dine at the café.
• Website: Honolulu Museum of Art

O’ahu: ‘Iolani Palace

‘Iolani Palace is the only official royal residence in the United States as the former residence of Hawaii’s monarchy, including King Kamehameha III and his successors: Kamehameha IV (Alexander Liholiho), Kamehameha V (Lot Kamehameha), William Lunalilo, and David Kalakaua. In 1882, King Kalakaua replaced Kamehameha III’s original home with the larger and more modern palace that served as his home, and his successor and sister, Queen Liliuokalani until the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in January 1893. Meticulously restored and open to the public for docent-guided and self-guided tours. Listed on the National Register for Historic Landmarks.

• Location: ‘Iolani Palace, 364 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813.
• Hours: open Wednesday-Saturday. 9AM – 2:30PM. Closed Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
• General admission: (self-guided tour) $26.95. Kama‘āina: $11.95.
• Optional guided tours: $32.95-$125.00. 
• Kamaʻāina Days free admission throughout the year offer free audio tours, presentations, and activities highlighting a different aspect of Hawaiian culture.
• Parking: limited paid street parking or parking garage at Alii Place, 1099 Alakea Street.
• Website: Iolani Palace

O’ahu: Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor is an active military base and Headquarters for the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Listed on the National Register for Historic Landmarks. The free Visitor Center is operated by the U.S. National Park Service. Pearl Harbor is also home to several free memorials: USS Arizona Memorial and USS Oklahoma and USS Utah Memorials on Ford Island. In addition, other historic sites with admission fees include SS Bowfin Submarine, Battleship Missouri, and Aviation Museum. Each of these attractions is described in more detail below.

Free Pearl Harbor Visitor Center & Memorial Sites

• Location: Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI, 96818
• Hours: Open daily 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
• Note the no-bag policy. This includes purses, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags, diaper bags, luggage, etc., exceeding the dimensions of 1.5″ x 2.25″ x 5.5″. If needed, storage is available for a fee.
• Admission to the visitor center museums & grounds and several battleship memorials (listed below) are free for all visitors.
• Parking: $7 per day. Pay via a mobile app or use the on-site kiosk.
• Website: Basic Information – Pearl Harbor National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service)

USS Arizona Memorial. The USS Arizona Memorial is built over the remains of the sunken World War II battleship USS Arizona. The memorial is the final resting place for many of the 1,177 crewmen killed on December 7, 1941, when their ship was bombed by Japanese Naval Forces. The National Park Service (NPS) offers daily boat tours to the memorial. The entire program is about 75 minutes.

• Location: Access the memorial by boat ride from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI, 96818.
• Hours: daily 7:30 am – 3:00 pm. Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• Note the no-bag policy. This includes purses, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags, diaper bags, luggage, etc., exceeding the dimensions of 1.5″ x 2.25″ x 5.5″. If needed, storage is available for a fee.
• Admission is free. Reserved online tickets are $1 and strongly recommended. Limited standby seating may be available, especially during peak visitation times (Spring Break, Summer, Thanksgiving, and Winter Break).
• Parking at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center: $7 per day. Pay via a mobile app or use the on-site kiosk.
• Website: USS Arizona Memorial Program – Pearl Harbor National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service)

USS Oklahoma and USS Utah Memorials on Ford Island. The active military base hosts visitors without an Active-Duty Military ID for a guided 90-minute round-trip tour to and from Ford Island, escorted by National Park Service Rangers. This tour allows visitors to see the USS Oklahoma and USS Utah Memorials and learn about the history of Pearl Harbor. Visitors must stay with the group at all times and refrain from photographing private residences.

• Location: Access the memorial via group to by motor coach from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center to Ford Island and return.
• Hours: Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• Note the no-bag policy. This includes purses, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags, diaper bags, luggage, etc., exceeding the dimensions of 1.5″ x 2.25″ x 5.5″. If needed, storage is available for a fee.
• Admission is free but online reservations with a $1 fee are required and can only be made through Recreation.gov.
• Parking at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center: $7 per day. Pay via a mobile app or use the on-site kiosk.
• Website: Ford Island Bus Tour – Pearl Harbor National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service)

Pearl Harbor Historic Sites

USS Bowfin Submarine. Self-guided audio tour of the fully restored WWII-era submarine plus a museum and grounds. Visitors unable to board the submarine can experience a virtual tour located in the museum. 

• Location: on the grounds of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, 11 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI, 96818.
• Hours: Open Daily 7 am to 5 pm. Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• Note the no-bag policy. This includes purses, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags, diaper bags, luggage, etc., exceeding the dimensions of 1.5″ x 2.25″ x 5.5″. If needed, storage is available for a fee.
• General admission: $25.99. Kama‘āina & Military: $18.99. 
• Parking at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center: $7 per day. Pay via a mobile app or use the on-site kiosk.
• Website: Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum & USS Bowfin

Battleship Missouri Memorial. Constructed at Brooklyn’s New York Navy Yard and commissioned on June 11, 1944 to begin her career in World War II. Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender on the deck of the battleship on 2 September 1945. USS Missouri went on to a 51-year career, serving in the Korean and Gulf Wars. In 1992, the battleship was decommissioned. In 1998, she opened as a historic museum.

• Location: Ford Island military base, accessed via free shuttle service from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI, 96818.
• Hours: Daily 8:00am – 4:00pm. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
• Note the no-bag policy. This includes purses, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags, diaper bags, luggage, etc., exceeding the dimensions of 1.5″ x 2.25″ x 5.5″. If needed, storage is available for a fee.
• General Admission with guided tour: $39.95. Kama‘āina & Military rates available in person at the admissions desk.
• Parking at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center: $7 per day. Pay via a mobile app or use the on-site kiosk.
• Website: USS Battleship Missouri Memorial

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. View the battle-damaged airfield and control tower of historic Ford Island before setting foot inside the two WWII-era hangars that house the museum’s impressive collection of vintage aircraft.

• Location: Ford Island military base, accessed via free shuttle service from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI, 96818.
• Hours: Daily 9:00am – 5:00pm. Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• Note the no-bag policy. This includes purses, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags, diaper bags, luggage, etc., exceeding the dimensions of 1.5″ x 2.25″ x 5.5″. If needed, storage is available for a fee.
• General admission: $29.99 (save $2 online). Kama‘āina & Military: $20.99.
• Dine in air-conditioned comfort in the WWII-themed Café (museum admission not required). 
• Parking at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center: $7 per day. Pay via a mobile app or use the on-site kiosk.
• Website: Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Oʻahu: Queen Emma Summer Palace

Learn important parts of Hawaiian history as they explore the Queen Emma Summer Palace, the secluded mountain-home and summer retreat of Queen Emma of Hawai‘i from 1857 to 1885, her husband King Kamehameha IV and their son, Prince Albert Edward.

• Location: 2913 Pali Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96817
• Hours: Self-guided tours Wednesday through Saturday, 10 AM – 3 PM.
• General Admission: $14. Kama‘āina : $10.
• Parking: limited parking available on site.
• Website: Queen Emma Summer Palace | Daughters of Hawai‘i

Oʻahu: U.S. Army Museum of Hawaiʻi at Fort DeRussy

The U.S. Army Museum at Fort DeRussy on Waikiki Beach is housed inside a former coastal artillery battery. The collection charts military history from early Hawai’i to Vietnam and includes weapons, uniforms, photos, and equipment. Don’t miss the gift shop.

• Location: Hawai’i Army Museum, 2131 Kalia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815.
• Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-5PM. Closed for Federal Holidays.
• Admission is free; donations graciously accepted.
• Parking: Hale Koa Saratoga lot on the corner of Kalia and Saratoga Roads. Present your Parking Ticket to the receptionist for validation.
• Website: Hawai’i Army Museum – Museum in Waikiki

Event calendar of free and affordable things to do

Listed below are all types of free and affordable things to do in the next 30 days across the Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina.

Featured Events are listed first each day, highlighted by a photo. These are unique, popular, or annual events that we or our advertisers don’t want you to overlook.

 

You might also like: Hawaiʻi on the Cheap – affordable living and things to do (hawaiionthecheap.com)