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Bishop Museum

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As a VENUE: Host your event…

Bishop Museum’s buildings and grounds are open for special events, which offers a new dimension to the guest experience and allows for the opportunity to explore our treasures. With over eight unique venue spaces and three conference rooms, the Museum is an ideal setting for * private or corporate functions, from sit-down * dinners and * wedding receptions to * cocktail parties * incentive galas * lectures * workshops, and * campus-wide events. Eight distinctive spaces are available:

  • Atherton Hālau & Bowman Hālau Wa’a: One of our most popular spaces, Atherton Hālau is designed in the style of an ancient Hawaiian ventilated hālau, or open-air long house. It is a versatile venue built to take advantage of the ʻŌlauniu winds that circulate through this unique indoor/outdoor space. It has a welcoming grass area in front that is large enough to accommodate a tent space, and its back doors open onto a lānai that overlooks a private garden. Audiovisual equipment allows presentations for larger groups. Atherton Hālau provides the perfect setting to celebrate with family and friends or business associates. The neighboring Bowman Hālau Wa‘a can be rented along with Atherton Hālau to provide additional event space. Capacity: 130 (theater-style); 180 (reception-style); 120 seated.
  • Bowman Hālau Wa’a: This traditional A-framed building with a high-peaked ceiling was originally built to shelter the Hawaiʻiloa, the voyaging canoe that sailed alongside Hōkūleʻa. With a moveable 16 x 10-foot stage that lends itself to entertainment opportunities, the covered outdoor venue can be transformed for parties, weddings, or meetings. It can also be combined with the neighboring Atherton Hālau for additional space. Capacity: 200  (theater-style); 200 (reception-style); 150 seated.
  • Gallery Lawns: The Gallery Lawns are the spaces on either side of the front walk of historic Hawaiian Hall. With a backdrop of the city lights of downtown Honolulu, it is a perfect balance of modern day and times past. This treasured space is a versatile event venue that can be as informal or formal as you wish. Capacity: 350 (reception-style); 250 (seated).
  • The Great Lawn: Our signature event venue, the Great Lawn encompasses three acres of grass-covered lawn and features sweeping views of downtown Honolulu as well as majestic Hawaiian Hall. There is ample space for large weddings, events , festivals, and concerts, and the space’s versatility allows for endless possibilities. Capacity: 5,000 (concert or festival-style); 1,000 (seated).
  • Hawaiian Courtyard & Gulab & Indru Watumull Atrium: For an intimate, outdoor experience, the Hawaiian Hall Courtyard provides a tranquil setting with a strong sense of place. Surrounded by lush native plants and festooned with pre-hung lantern lighting, the space provides for a captivating experience. The Portico is a covered area perfect for food and beverage service and spacious enough for a dance floor, making this a turn-key setting. Incorporate Hawaiian Hall Atrium with this space to create an indoor-outdoor venue. Capacity: 200 (reception-style); 100 (seated).
  • Gulab & Indru Watumull Atrium: Part of the historic Hawaiian Hall Complex, this is a stunning site for entertaining guests. The Atrium boasts a floor-to-ceiling glass wall that looks out onto the Hawaiian Hall Courtyard and is the only place within Bishop Museum’s exhibit halls where food and beverages can be served. The awe-inspiring stone walls paired with koa wood paneling make for an impressive interior that, when combined with the Courtyard, creates a beautiful blend of indoor and outdoor space. Capacity: 200 (reception-style); 100 (seated).
  • Muriel Flanders Lawn: Named after a patron of Bishop Museum, this lawn setting is situated in a quiet pocket of the Museum’s campus. The Muriel Flanders Lawn features a historic kiawe tree and is bordered by lush tropical foliage peppered with unique Hawaiian stone artifacts. Situated next to Bishop Hall, the original schoolhouse of the Kamehameha School for Boys, this lawn is the perfect setting for wedding ceremonies, receptions, and smaller gatherings. Capacity: 200 (reception-style); 100 (ceremony seating); 80 (seated dinner).
  • Hale Ikehu: Hale Ikehu is a plantation-style pavilion set at the edge of our Native Hawaiian Garden, which has native coastal and dry-forest habitats, as well as an array of canoe plants. Featuring energy-efficient lighting and ventilation, this open-air structure is perfect for birthday parties or baby showers. The garden setting creates a unique meeting location or a perfect location to host a lunch. Capacity: 40 (reception-style); 30 (seated).
  • Pākī Conference Rooms I, II & III: Three private, air-conditioned conference rooms are located on the first floor of the Pākī Building, on either side of the hallway of the Hawai‘i Sports Hall of Fame, and just steps from the upper parking lot. Each room features full meeting capabilities with access to restrooms, Wi-Fi, and audiovisual equipment as needed. These rooms can also be used as bridal suites, green rooms, or event storage.
    • Pākī I – Capacity: 40 (theater-style); 30 (classroom-style); 25 (conference-table seating).
    • Pākī II – Capacity: 40 (theater-style); 30 (classroom); 25 (conference-table).
    • Pākī III – Capacity: 10 (conference-table seating). This executive conference room is furnished with a fixed conference table, business-class chairs, TV monitor with laptop hookup capabilities, and conference speaker phone.
  • Campus-Wide Event: Situated on 14 acres in Honolulu within the ahupuaʻa of Kapālama, a storied historical district, Bishop Museum and its grounds can host up to 5,000 guests for an experience unlike any other on Oʻahu. Bishop Museum today boasts world-renowned collections of both Hawaiian and Pacific cultural items as well as fourteen natural science disciplines. Your guests will be able to discover our hidden treasures by exploring exhibit spaces and various venue spaces across our lush campus.

Support Bishop Museum… simply book your next special occasion here:

As a SHOP: Discover unique Gifts…

Shop Pacifica: A premier collection of Hawaiian and Pacific apparel, gifts, and cultural items. Explore beyond our galleries. Purchase unique gifts for yourself or your loved ones that will last a lifetime.

The Bishop Museum Press, Hawai‘i’s oldest book publisher and one of the first scholarly publishers in the Western Hemisphere. Since its founding in 1892, Bishop Museum Press has published many books about the natural and cultural history of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. 130 years later, Bishop Museum Press continues its legacy of excellence and service to Hawai‘i and the world, having published over 1,200 titles and distributed over 1,000,000 books in 72 countries worldwide. Speciality gifts include notecards, posters, art prints, and gift cards.

Support Bishop Museum… by simply purchasing your speciality merchandise here:

here:https://www.bishopmuseum.org/shop/

As an Eatery: Food for thought…

The Bishop Museum Café by Highway Inn is a kama‘āina favorite! A limited menu of Hawaiian plates, poke bowls, sandwiches, and snacks are available from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Take a break from your Museum adventure to savor a variety of Hawaiian specialties.

The Bishop Museum Café is located at the Museum entrance near the Planetarium and Shop Pacifica. Museum admission is not required to enjoy the Café. Need a blanket for your picnic lunch? We’ve got you covered! Visit the Hoʻokipa Desk to check out a picnic mat. All mats are sanitized after each use.

As a DONOR: Show that you care…

Membership:

Members support Bishop Museum in our mission to care for our collections, engage in meaningful research, and make our work accessible. In return, Bishop Museum Members enjoy an array of benefits including free general admission, discounts on select public programs, and exclusive invitations. Be a Part of Our Story. Membership at specified levels are offered: * Student * Senior * Friend * Dual/Family *  Patron *  Benefactor, and  * Visionary.

Stewardship Circles: Circles at specified levels are offered: * Explorer Circle * Preservation Circle * Charles Reed Bishop Circle and * Pauahi Circle.

Donations:
  • If you’re ready to make an impact right away, skip the details and donate now. Your support helps Bishop Museum continue its mission of celebrating Hawaiʻi’s rich history, culture, and environment. Donations at any amounts are welcomed. Recurring gifts are encouraged. You may identify and underwrite efforts of your choice. (Your quick donation helps Bishop Museum address immediate and critical requirements, ensuring our collections, programs, and facilities receive the support they need when it matters most. This flexible funding allows us to allocate resources where they can make the biggest impact, from preserving priceless artifacts to enhancing visitor experiences and supporting vital educational initiatives. By contributing to this fund, you play a crucial role in maintaining the museum’s excellence and responsiveness to evolving challenges.)
  • Wills & Bequests: If you’re looking for a way to make a significant gift to help further our mission, a bequest (a gift made through your will or trust) is one of the most popular and flexible ways to support our cause.
  • Donor Advised Funds: You fund a DAF and make charitable gift recommendations during your lifetime. When you pass away, your children can carry on your legacy of giving. A donor advised fund (or DAF) might be a great solution for you. You can use a DAF to distribute gifts to numerous charities. With a DAF, you can make gifts to charity during your lifetime, and when you pass away, your children can carry on your legacy of giving.
  • Gifts of Securities: Gift of appreciated securities — stocks, bonds, and mutual funds — can be a wonderful way to make a gift to the Museum’s Annual Fund and provide significant tax benefits at the same time,,.
  • The Mary Kawena Pukui Society: Our Legacy Society recognizes and honors donors who support Bishop Museum through a bequest or other planned giving method. The Mary Kawena Pukui Society is open by invitation to those who remember Bishop Museum in their estate plans. The Society meets each year to gather like-minded supporters of the Museum and give them an opportunity to enjoy Bishop Museum and to learn of current work and future plans of the Museum. If you have already included Bishop Museum in your estate plans or are considering such an inclusion, please contact our Development office.
  • Matching Gifts: Does your employer sponsor a matching gift program to increase the impact of charitable gifts made by its employees? If so, kindly provide your company’s matching gifts form when you make your donation and we’ll take care of the rest.
  • Honor and Memorial Gifts: What better way to celebrate a special moment in the life of a friend or family member than by making a meaningful gift in his or her name? You may also make a Memorial Gift in memory of a loved one with a gift to the Annual Fund.
Corporate Giving:

Corporate support enables us to care for the Museum’s invaluable collections of over 25 million natural and cultural treasures, present dynamic exhibitions and engaging educational programs to over 200,000 children and families every year. Corporate Partnerships are vital to the growth of the Museum— whether it’s providing critical support for our irreplaceable collection, sustaining ongoing scientific research or inspiring community through our engaging exhibits and educational programs.

  • Corporate Partner. Through collaborative partnership and employee engagement, corporations of all sizes can contribute to the growth of the Museum. Our Corporate Partnership Program offers your employees, clients and executives behind-the-scenes, complimentary Museum admission, and more.
  • Sponsorship: Over 250,000 guests visit our campus and engage in our digital platforms each year, making our exhibitions and events our most high-profile programs. As a sponsor, you can align your brand with Bishop Museum’s world-class collections, cutting-edge research, and sustainability initiatives. 
  • Collections and Research: Bishop Museum’s collection of cultural treasures and biological research serves as a unique resource to better understand the history of Hawai‘i and the Pacific. Your support helps us address the opportunities and challenges to improve the health of the communities we serve. 
  • Education and Access: We’re committed to sharing the history, culture, and natural sciences of Hawai‘i and the Pacific with learners of all ages and backgrounds. Your support will help us provide the next generation of artists, explorers, and innovators with the resources and tools they need to build a more sustainable future.
  • Ongoing annual operating initiatives: In-kind donations allow the Museum to direct our resources toward annual operating initiatives. Your support helps us maintain our grounds, build our exhibitions and keep the lights on.

Support Bishop Museum… by simply joining, giving, and volunteering here:

https://www.bishopmuseum.org/donate/

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Jabulka Pavilion & Planetarium, 1525 Bernice St, Honolulu, HI 96817, USA

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