March 16, 2004 MEDIA CONTACT: Caroline Witherspoon Becker Communications (808) 533-4165 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BISHOP MUSEUM LAUNCHES NEW JAPANESE WEBSITE HONOLULU - Bishop Museum is just a click away for Japanese visitors with the launch of www.bishopmuseum.jp. Bishop Museum's new Japanese website offers a closer look at Hawai‘i's culture, history and natural science with information on current and upcoming exhibits, collections and cultural programming.

"We recognized there was a demand among our visitors for a bilingual Japanese website, and we were pleased to partner with Hawai‘i's own CuteWeb, Inc. on bringing it to life," said Janet Miyake, A/P Marketing Manager. "Eastbound visitors continue to be an important market for us and our website serves as an excellent tool in providing pre-arrival information on Bishop Museum's exhibits, facilities and education programs."

In conjunction with the launch of the new website, Bishop Museum is offering several promotions through April 30, 2004. These promotions include a downloadable coupon for 10% off the Museum's Ho 'Ike 'Ike and La Kule'a programs, two on-site cultural programs offering Japanese visitors a close-up look at Hawaiian history and culture. In addition, website browsers can enter to win a VIP Pauahi card with such benefits as a one-year subscription to Ka Elele, 5% discount on gift shop merchandise, and a discounted admission rate to Bishop Museum for the effective period.

Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop as a tribute to his wife Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha dynasty. Located at 1525 Bernice Street, the Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $14.95 for adults; 11.95 for youth 4-12 years, special rates for kama‘aina, seniors and military; children under 4 years and Bishop Museum Association members are free. For information, call 847-3511 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org.