The Big Island is an outdoor paradise and most people visiting spend their time exploring the beaches and other great activities the Big Island has to offer but not many people stop to think about the rich history of the island. Many things that you see today are intimately connected to things that happened in the past, and those are worth exploring!
Learning about the Hawaiian history of volcanic eruptions, tsunami’s, the kingdom of Hawaii, astronomy, and native Hawaiian culture and legends, is bound to make your stay more memorable. In addition to learning about the island’s history and legends, you will get to see collections and exhibits of art, artifact and prized island treasures.
Table of contents
If you are into museums you may enjoy our full list of historic and cultural sites on the Big Island.
Map of Big Island Museums
Below we show these Big Island Museums on a map. If you click on the icons you will get a short description and opening hours. Browse further down this page for a short description of each museum, their opening hours and websites.
List of Museums on the Big Island
- Hawai’i Museum of Contemporary Art (north Hilo)
- Hawai’i Plantation Museum (north Hilo)
- H.N. Greenwell Store (south Kona)
- Hulihe’e Palace (Kona)
- Honokaʻa Heritage Center (Honokaʻa)
- `Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii (Hilo)
- Kilauea Visitor Center (Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park)
- Laupahoehoe train museum (Laupahoehoe)
- Lyman Museum & Mission House (Hilo)
- Mokupāpapa Discovery center (Hilo)
- Pacific Tsunami Museum (Hilo)
- Parker Ranch Historic Homes & Private Art Gallery (Waimea)
- Quilt Museum (Kona)
- Hawaii Keiki museum
- Jaggar Museum (closed)
- Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center (closed)
1: Hawaiʻi Museum of Contemporary Art
The Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art (“HMOCA”) exhibition galleries showcase local arts, culture, theater, special events as well as exhibitions from around the world.
The main focus of this museum are temporary exhibitions and arts education offerings to the public. There is also a small permanent collection of art by artists living in the state of Hawaii
Directions: 141 Kalakaua St. in Hilo.
Opening hours:Tuesday – Saturday from 10am to 4pm
Website: East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center website
2: Hawaiʻi Plantation Museum
Sugar has dominated the economy of the Hawaiian islands from the in 1800s up to ~the 1970s, when tourism took over. The last sugarcane plantation in Hawaiʻi closed in 2016. As such, sugar plantations have shaped life on Hawaiʻi for over a century.
The mission and purpose of the museum is to collect, preserve and exhibit Hawaii Island sugar plantation artifacts, and small business (Mom & Pops stores) memorabilia for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations. They aim to be a history as well as an educational center to show how the sugar industry helped develop a very different lifestyle in Hawaii.
Directions: 27-246 Old Mamalahoa Hwy (5 miles north of Hilo).
Opening hours:Tuesday – Saturday between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm
Website: http://plantationmuseum.org/
3: H.N. Greenwell Store
Operated by the Kona Historical Society, this museum is housed in the historic Greenwell Family Store built in 1875. It features i.e. costumed interpreters greeting and interacting with visitors and the portrayal of daily life in Hawaii in the 1890s.
The Kona Historical Society also organizes (almost) daily “Hands on History” workshops and events where you can learn about Kona’s history in a deeper and more sensory way. Participation is free with the purchase of admission to the farm.
Directions: 81-6551 Hawaii Belt Rd, Kealakekua, HI 96750
Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Website: Kona Historical Society.
4: Honokaʻa Heritage Center
The Honokaʻa Heritage Center aim to preserve and celebrate the heritage of Honokaʻa for visitors and local communities alike, by providing educational opportunities and exhibits. The Heritage Center also contains an archives, a visitor center and a gift shop, and maps for a self-guided tour through Honokaʻa are available in the gift shop.
Directions: 45-3490 Māmane St., Suite C Honokaʻa, HI 96727
Opening hours: Tue-Sat: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Website: Honokaʻa Heritage Center.
The Honokaʻa Heritage Center is located in the historic Botelho Building (constructed in 1927). Image: Honokaʻa Heritage Center.
5: Huliheʻe Palace
Hulehe’e palace is the former vacation residence for Hawaiian royalty. The museum displays a collection of artifacts and personal memorabilia of Hawaiian royalty, and you can either join one of the guided tours or explore the museum yourself.
Directions: 75-5718 Alii Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Opening hours: Daily: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Website: Visit their website here.
The Huliheʻe Palace in Kailua-Kona is a former vacation home of Hawaiian royalty that now is converted to a museum showcasing furniture and artifacts.
6: ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
This center explores the connection between Hawaiian cultural tradition and the science of Astronomy. They feature interactive exhibits, planetarium shows, tour groups and plenty of events throughout the year.
Directions: 600 Imiloa Pl, Hilo, HI 96720
Opening hours: Tue-Sun: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
More on our Website: ʻImiloa center for Astronomy
7: Kilauea Visitor Center
The Kilauea visitor center should be the first stop for everyone that visits the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. In the visitor center you can get up-to-date information from the park rangers about lava viewing and hiking possibilities, and see an interesting 25 minute film about the Kilauea volcano every hour.
The visitor center also displays many volcano-related photographs and artifacts, and hosts a gift-shop.
Directions: Within the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
Opening hours: daily from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: Visit their website here.
8: Laupahoehoe train museum
The Laupahoehoe Train Museum is located in the restored old station agent’s house. This museum mostly commemorates the Hilo Railroad that operated between 1899 and 1946, when large parts of the railroad and railroad facilities were destroyed by a devastating tsunami.
Visitors will find fascinating photographs, railroad artifacts and memorabilia from days gone by.
Directions: 36-2377 Mamalahoa Hwy, Laupahoehoe, HI 96764
Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday – Open 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, other days open by appointment.
Note: that this is a volunteer-run museum, and that it is possible that you will find the museum closed during the opening hours. If possible, try to get in touch with the museum staff (and/or schedule a tour or private appointment) by calling (808) 962-6300 or by email [email protected]
Website: Laupahoehoe train musem website.
Laupahoehoe train museum. Image adapted from Google Streetview
9: Lyman Museum & Mission House
The museum’s exhibitions demonstrate the natural and cultural history of Hawaii. The mission house features the furniture and everyday items used by the early missionary families.
Directions: 276 Haili St, Hilo, HI 96720
Opening hours: Mon-Sat: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
More on our Website: Lyman Museum and Mission House in Hilo.
10: Mokupāpapa Discovery center
The discovery center for Hawaii’s remote coral reefs offers educational and interactive exhibits, including a 2,500 gallon (9,500 liters) salt-water aquarium and a mock-up of the control panel of Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory’s exploration submersible that allows you to use working robot arms.
Directions: 76 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo, HI 96720
Opening hours: Tue-Sat: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Website: Visit their website here.
11: Pacific Tsunami Museum
The Hawaiian islands are vulnerable to tsunamis, and are regularly struck by these waves. The museum provides education about tsunamis and serves as a living memory to those who lost their lives in past tsunamis.
Directions: 130 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo, HI 96720
Opening hours: Tue-Sat: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Website: Visit their website here.
12: Parker Ranch Historic Homes & Private Art Gallery
Tour the two historic homes filled with fine art to learn more about John Parker and his Hawaiian Cattle Kingdom. A self-guided tour and 20-minute video are available free of charge, the homes are open 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Directions: 66-1304 Mamalahoa Hwy, Waimea, HI 96743
Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More on our website: Parker Ranch in Waimea.
13: Hawaiian Quilt Museum
The Kona Hawaiian Quilt Museum features a collection of locally made vintage and contemporary Hawaiian quilts as well as learning opportunities for all ages about the culture and history of Hawaiian quilting.
Docents are on hand to talk story about the quilts, and visitors can trace a Hawaiian quilt pattern to take home. The museum is family-friendly with activities for keiki and a small library of children’s and general books about Hawaiian quilting to enjoy.
Directions: 75-5706 Kuakini Hwy., Ste. 112, Kailua Kona, HI 96740
Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; Saturday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm; Sunday: Closed
Admission: $5.00 (July 2018)
More on the Kona Hawaiian Quilt Museum website: https://www.konahqm.org/
14: Hawaiian Keiki Museum
The Hawaii Keiki museum is a children’s museum about science on the Big Island. Over a dozen hands-on exhibits connect children (and their parents!) to Hawai’i Island through hands-on exploration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) that is all around us using open ended play experiences.
Directions: At the Kings’ Shops in Waikoloa
Opening hours: Every day of the week 10 AM to 8 PM.
Admission: $10 (children) and $15.00 (adults)
Website: HawaiiKeikiMuseum.org
15: Jaggar Museum (closed indefinitely)
Dedicated to the volcanologist Thomas A. Jaggar, this museum offered cultural and geological displays along with photographs and videos of the Hawaiian volcanoes.
It has now been demolished because its location close to the crater edge had become unsafe.
16: Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center
Dedicated to the memory of Hawaii’s first astronaut who died during the challenger mission in 1986. There are space-related exhibits and interactive displays. It is now closed indefinitely.