Things to do in Hawaii, United States: The Best Specialty Museums

GALERIE 103 seeks to bring together a broad cross-section of national and international artists and features significant works of high-quality art, including contemporary and modern art that reflects the island's unique environment past and present. The art at GALERIE 103 knows no boundaries, thereby challenging misconceptions about regionalism and ethnic origin. With the importance of global environmental issues, Hawai`i has become (as it should be) one of the centers of conceptual awareness and critical debate, especially about global environmental issues, but also about many other matters shaping human destiny. ART and ISSUES should and do meet here. GALERIE 103 thus seeks to expand general awareness and to correct any lingering idea that Hawaiian art is "merely" focused on the celebration of natural beauty.

The Hawaii Plantation Museum tells the story of the sugar industry on the Island of Hawaii,also known as the Big Island, from 1820 until 1996. The museum highlights how the sugar industry brought many immigrants to work for the sugar industry and transformed business and gave rise to Hawaii's multi-cultural heritage. Visit us today, and learn about this remarkable history. Located in the historic plantation town of Papaikou on the Hamakua Coast few miles outside the town of Hilo. Just past the 6 mile marker on the Mamalahoa Highway turn left ...At the stop sign turn right the and park in front of the gray building with the plantation mural.

Located in Waioli, this two-story restored house was built in 1837.

The original headquarters of nineteenth-century American Protestant missionaries, this museum explains the history of American missionaries in Hawaii.

Florence Marton's private collection of Barbie dolls. Admission is free but by appointment only.

Iolani Palace, the official residence of Hawaii’s monarchy, is a marvel of opulence, innovation and political intrigue. Meticulously restored to its former grandeur, this National Historic Landmark in downtown Honolulu tells of a time when their Majesties, King Kalakaua, who built the palace in 1882, and his sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani, walked its celebrated halls. Today, you can enjoy one of the most spectacular living restorations in all of Polynesia and immerse yourself in Hawaii’s royal heritage. E komo mai! Welcome!

Kona Historical Society is the non-profit organization that oversees the award-winning H.N. Greenwell Store Museum and the Kona Coffee Living History Farm. Come visit these living history experiences where you'll be immersed in a vivid and unforgettable story of Hawaii's colorful past. KHS also provides free lectures, community and members-only events, as well as jeep trips and other fun activities.

Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop in honor of his late wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha family. The Museum was established to house the extensive collection of Hawaiian artifacts and royal family heirlooms of the Princess, and has expanded to include millions of artifacts, documents and photographs about Hawai'i and other Pacific island cultures. Today, Bishop Museum is the largest museum in the state and the premier natural and cultural history institution in the Pacific, recognized throughout the world for its cultural collections, research projects, consulting services and public educational programs. It also has one of the largest natural history specimen collections in the world. Serving and representing the interests of Native Hawaiians is a primary purpose of the Museum.