Hawaiian Hall Restoration Project
The Hawaiian Hall complex was built from 1888 to 1903. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has traditionally housed Bishop Museum’s most sacred and beloved artifacts, those closest to the ali‘i roots of the Museum. With its volcanic stone exterior and extensive use of native koa, Hawaiian Hall is considered a masterwork of late Victorian museum design.
However, a century of use took its toll on Hawaiian Hall. The historical interior had slowly deteriorated, and the Hall's use of natural light and ventilation was no longer compatible with contemporary conservation requirements.
In 2006, Bishop Museum decided to embark on an ambitious restoration and renovation project. The project's first priority was to restore Hawaiian Hall's original building features and bring the Hall up to modern conservation and accessibility standards. The restoration project also aims to modernize the Hall’s interpretation, bringing multiple voices and a Native Hawaiian perspective to bear on Bishop Museum’s treasures. With the physical restoration of Hawaiian Hall now complete, installation of exhibit cases is now underway, and the Hall is set to reopen to the public on August 8, 2009.
Interested in learning more about the project? Acquaint yourself with the three levels of the new Hawaiian Hall, view selected photos of the renovation in progress, browse our archive of media related to the project, or find out how you can support the restoration.
