Unfortunately, finding the Collection requires some work. It is located at the extreme northwest corner of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The easiest way is to find the Kalia Tower and enter its lobby area. Once there, exit the doors at the Niumalu Café & Bar on the north side of the tower. Walk to your left around the corner and you will find a stairway up to the Bishop Museum Collection. An elevator is located around the corner to the left of the stairs.
The Bishop Museum Collection is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $7 per person, and children under 12 are free with a paid admission. Admission for Hilton Hawaiian Village guests, as well as kama‘aina (Hawaii residents) and military with appropriate identification, is discounted to $5 per person. I have suggested that these hours be modified to accommodate visitors who may be away from the resort during these peak daytime hours.
The Bishop Museum Collection is a partnership between the Bishop Museum and the Hilton Hawaiian Village®. The Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop, in memory of his wife Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha dynasty. The Center occupies 8,560 square feet. The Collection tells the story of life in Waikiki for both commoners and the Ali'i (nobility), and displays priceless artifacts from the Museum's collections and showcases.
Inside, guests will find a replica of a thatched-roof hale (Hawaiian house), as well as priceless bird feather cloaks, Princess Ruth’s carriage, a detailed geneological chart of Hawaii's royalty and portraits of Hawaii’s monarchs. The islands’ evolution from a monarchy to modern-day destination is detailed through dozens of priceless photos and items including a surfboard and surf outfit of Hawaii’s original waterman and Olympic champion, Duke Kahanamoku.
This exhibit showcases finely crafted wooden bowls, utensils and stone implements used during pre- and post-European contact periods. Also featured are the fabrics (tapa) created from the bark of the mulberry tree, historic surfboards, exquisite feather lei and capes belonging to Hawaiian nobility, as well as personal artifacts from Hawaii's Victorian monarchs.
The story of the Hawaiian Culture is told beginning with the bold Polynesian migration to the Islands that began about in A.D. 400, and continues with an exhibit of artifacts related to the daily life of the Hawaiian people and their Ali'i (nobility), including fishing, farming and recreational implements.
A showcase of artifacts and memorabilia allows an intimate view of the Hawaiian Monarchy from 1795 through 1893. A special section is dedicated to the visionary King David Kalakaua whose ambition was to bring modern technology and ideas to his tiny island kingdom. Kalakaua was the first monarch from any nation to travel around the world.
The exhibit culminates with a look at the fascinating more modern recent history of world-renowned Waikiki.
While nothing can replace a visit to the Bishop Museum at 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, the fact is that most visitors do not have the time or the desire to devote an entire day to exploring the museum. The idea to gather selected items -especially those relevant to the culture and history of Waikiki - at a location in Waikiki was brilliant.
I remember seeing many of these items on display at the main museum on past visits, so it can be fairly said that neither the Bishop Museum nor the Hilton Hawaiian Village were reluctant to add some of the musuem's best items to this collection.
For what amounts to the cost of a drink at once of Waikiki's hotels or resorts, visitors can get a wonderful overview of the culture and history of Hawaii. A visit to the Bishop Museum Collection will take about an hour or less depending on how much of the exhibit details you wish to read.
An exhibit pamphlet detailing the highlights of the exhibit and useful in viewing the exhibit was out-of-print on my visit. Hopefully this omission will be corrected in the near future.
Because it's a bit hard to find, the hours are somewhat inconvenient and because I'd really like to see either a printed pamphlet or a docent available inside the collection to answer questions, I'll give the Bishop Museum Collection at the Hilton Hawaiian Village just 3½ stars out of 5. If the deficiencies I've noted could be corrected, I'd gladly give the Collection a 5 star rating.
