August sees the return of Bishop Museum’s beloved summer concert Mele After Hours to the Great Lawn, celebrating the richness of Hawaiʻi’s musical heritage with live performances under the Honolulu sky. Plus, Bishop Museum’s popular online auction, E Ulu A Paʻa, returns with dozens of one-of-a-kind treasures and unique Bishop Museum experiences up for bid.

• Ongoing | Exhibition
  Ea Mai ʻEiwa: Patterns of Practice
  M. Long Gallery

  Included with Museum admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.

  Ea Mai ʻEiwa: Patterns of Practice is a powerful exhibition featuring the work of Nālani Kanakaʻole (1946-2026), Sig Zane, and Kūhaʻoʻīmaikalani Zane — a Hilo-based family of artists whose creative practices are deeply rooted in hula ʻaihaʻa.

  As dedicated members of Hālau o Kekuhi in Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi, their work across visual and performing arts is continually charged and sustained by hula. From Nālani Kanakaʻole’s art direction and choreography to Sig Zane’s photography and textile design, and Kūhaʻoʻīmaikalani Zane’s graphic design and immersive installations, each artist channels ‘ike (knowledge) carried through generations.

  Bringing together new and existing works alongside botanical specimens and cultural treasures from Bishop Museum’s collections, Ea Mai ʻEiwa weaves together themes of migration, community resilience, and environmental stewardship.

  Ea Mai ʻEiwa: Patterns of Practice is presented with the generous support of Hawaiian Airlines, First Hawaiian Bank, Matson, Mellon Foundation, Servco Pacific Inc., Min Plastics, OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels, and Shibby Stylee.

• Ongoing | Exhibition
  Aloha Bricks ’26: Stories of Hawaiʻi
  Castle Memorial Building

  Included with Museum admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.

  Aloha Bricks ’26: Stories of Hawaiʻi shares a look at our islands through the vivid and creative presentation of bricks! Engaging for the whole family, this new exhibition is a celebration of the people, places, plants, animals, and stories that shape Hawaiʻi.

  Created in partnership with the Hawaii LEGO® Users Group (HILUG), Aloha Bricks ’26 features jaw-dropping, detailed builds, from beloved landmarks to native species and legendary tales. In addition, guests can explore the Middle School Mascot Mosaic Gallery representing 50 schools statewide; 2D mosaics inspired by the flora and fauna researched by Museum scientists; a massive 10-foot wave made entirely of bricks; and, the Free Play Zone that invite visitors of all ages to tap into their imaginations and build.

  Aloha Bricks ’26: Stories of Hawaiʻi is presented with support from Hawaiian Telcom, First Insurance Company of Hawaii, Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts, Pasha Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, and AIA Hawaii.

• Ongoing | Exhibit
  Wayfinders: He Waʻa He Moku, He Moku He Waʻa, We Are One and the Same
  Jabulka Pavilion Rotunda (J. Watumull Planetarium lobby)

  Wayfinders: He Waʻa He Moku, He Moku He Waʻa, We Are One and the Same celebrates the resurgence of wayfinding across Hawaiʻi and the wider Moananuiākea. This exhibit showcases the growing family of voyaging canoes and crew members, reflecting on environmental and cultural stewardship for future generations. Meet inspirational leaders in the Hall of Teachers interactive by Arizona State University, and practice using kūkuluokalani, the Hawaiian star compass, and nā lālani hōkū, the four Hawaiian star lines, to navigate.

• Ongoing | Installation
  Mary Kawena Pukui: Knowledge is Life
  Hawaiian Hall (3rd floor Treasure Case)

  Included with Museum admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.

  Mary Kawena Pukui: Knowledge is Life celebrates the work and enduring legacy of Mary Kawena Pukui, honoring her many teachers and recognizing Pukui as the leading source of Hawaiian language and cultural study today. This installation acknowledges Pukui’s ties to her own sources of knowledge, and how these teachings prepared her for her role as a kumu hula, composer, writer, researcher, and expert English-Hawaiian translator.

• Ongoing | Exhibit
  Lele o Nā Manu: The Splendor and Loss of Hawaiʻi’s Birds
  Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center

  Included with Museum admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.

  Lele o Nā Manu: The Splendor and Loss of Hawaiʻi’s Birds features 47 exquisite carvings of endemic manu nahele by master craftsman, Haruo Uchiyama. The complete set of historically known Hawaiian honeycreepers are displayed atop an original mural painted by local artist, Patrick Ching. The exhibit also includes a mural by Dr. Julian Hume depicting prehistoric Kīpahulu Valley, Maui; fossils of extinct Hawaiian bird species; and an interactive game.

• Ongoing | Exhibit
  ʻAʻaʻā o Hawaiʻi: Cave Bugs of Hawaiʻi
  Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center

  Included with Museum admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.

  Explore ʻaʻaʻā (lava tube) with ʻAʻaʻā o Hawaiʻi: Cave Bugs of Hawaiʻi, featuring an updated lava tube “caving” experience that highlights Hawaiian underground biodiversity, the scientific process of finding and naming new species, as well as a collaboration with members of Papahānaumokuākea Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group Nomenclature Hui to develop Hawaiian names for species found only in Hawaiian lava tubes.

• Ongoing | Exhibit
  Ke Kai Pōwehiwehi: The Twilight Zone
  Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center

  Included with Museum admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.

  Ke Kai Pōwehiwehi: The Twilight Zone showcases the rich biodiversity in our islands’ coral reefs, presented as two distinct sections: shallow sunlit reef systems and deeper mesophotic coral reefs.

On the ground level of the Science Adventure Center, the exhibit features the shallow sunlit reef systems that most of us are familiar with, highlighting some of the native corals that make up our reefs in Hawaiʻi.

The lower, second level of the exhibit highlights the deeper and less familiar mesophotic coral reefs, often referred to as the “twilight zone” of the ocean, where light barely penetrates. Deep sea fish and other mysterious creatures are represented here, giving guests a close-up look into the darker environment being explored by Bishop Museum scientists.

• Ongoing | Installations
  Campus Murals
  Throughout the Museum campus.

  Included with Museum admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.

  Bishop Museum’s outdoor murals provide an immersive art experience that bridges traditional culture, creative expression, and indigenous perspectives. The initial round of murals was completed in 2021 in conjunction with the special exhibit POW! WOW! The First Decade: From Hawaiʻi to the World, and was expanded in May 2023 during the Hawaiʻi Walls Mural Festival in Kalihi. The additional murals were inspired by the Kalihi community, local histories, and Bishop Museum’s cultural and scientific collections and resources.

• Thursdays–Tuesdays
  Planetarium Shows
  Watumull Planetarium

  $3 with General Admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.

  Join us in the J. Watumull Planetarium to connect with the environment and people of the Pacific region, the expanse of our universe, and the stories we pass on from generation to generation.

  2026 Early Fall Planetarium Shows:
  – “The Hawaiian Sky Tonight”
  – “Wayfinders: Waves, Winds, and Stars”
  – “T. REX”
  – “Ocean Paradise”

• August 2026 Sky Map | Online Resource (also attached to this release)

  Free downloads for personal use.

  You and your ʻohana can try your hand at backyard astronomy! The monthly Sky Maps from our J. Watumull Planetarium show the sky above Hawaiʻi from about 8-10 p.m. HST. Hold the Sky Map above your head to align all four directions and discover which stars and constellations are visible this month.

• Weekdays, 10:10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Program
  Hawaiian Garden Tour
  Nā Ulu o Kaiwiʻula Native Hawaiian Garden and throughout the Museum campus

  This program is coordinated and presented in Japanese. Limited capacity. Pre-registration three days prior is required. $56 for General Admission. Museum Members receive a 10% discount.

  Leisurely explore the grounds of Bishop Museum with our Asia Pacific Educators and learn about the plants of Hawaiʻi! These tours are open to all Japanese-language speakers and include a hands-on kukui lei making workshop.

• Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, 5:30-6:30 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. | Event
  REX: Extended Cut Screenings
  Watumull Planetarium

  Capacity is limited, and online registration is required. $5 General Admission. Children 2 and under are free but will be expected to share a seat with an adult or guardian. Free for Bishop Museum Members with online registration.

Missing dinosaurs in your life? Come experience the extended cut of “T. REX,” a planetarium show favorite!

Chronicling the true story of three boys’ discovery of a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex fossil in July 2022, “T. REX” takes you through the life and times of this iconic dinosaur. Be transported back in time to explore prehistoric Earth with Cretaceous creatures through a blend of documentary and CGI artistry.

“T. REX” was produced by Giant Screen Films, narrated by beloved “Jurassic Park” actor Sam Neill.

• Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, 10-11 a.m. | Public Program
  Kanikapila ma Kaiwiʻula
  Bowman Hālau Waʻa

  Included with Museum admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.

  E hoʻokani pila kākou! Join members of the ʻUkulele Guild of Hawaiʻi in our Nā Ulu o Kaiwiʻula Native Hawaiian Garden. Bring your ʻukulele or borrow one. Learn new techniques, share moʻolelo, or just enjoy the music as ʻUkulele Guild of Hawaiʻi leads guests through selections from “He Mele Aloha: A Hawaiian Songbook.”

• Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Program
  Lā Kūleʻa: ʻAuana
  Hawaiian Hall and Pākī 2

  This program is coordinated and presented in Japanese. Limited capacity. Pre-registration two days prior is required. $100 for General Admission. Museum Members receive a 10% discount.

  Lā Kūleʻa: ʻAuana provides guests with a multi-faceted experience at the Museum. Open to all Japanese-language speakers, this culture program includes a hula ʻauana (contemporary hula) experience, a private guided tour of Hawaiian Hall with an Asia Pacific Educator, as well as a hands-on ti leaf lei-making workshop.

• 13-23, 2026 | Fundraiser
  E Ulu A Paʻa
  Online Auction

  We’re pleased to once again present E Ulu A Paʻa, an 11-day online auction supporting the mission, staff, and work of Bishop Museum, the designated Hawaiʻi State Museum of Natural and Cultural History. The 2026 auction will feature exclusive Museum experiences, from private tours of the Museum’s vast Natural Science collections to a private viewing of our upcoming World Wide Walls exhibition Under/Ground, or a planetarium pizza party for the whole ʻohana!

• Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, 5-9 p.m. | Public Program
  Mele After Hours
  Campuswide

$20 pre-sale General Admission. Free for children 13 and under. $15 for Bishop Museum Members. Walk-in purchase on the day of the event increase by $5.

Experience the magic of Hawaiian music under the stars at Bishop Museum’s Mele After Hours on our Great Lawn. This special evening celebrates the richness of Hawaiʻi’s musical heritage with a stellar lineup featuring legendary island band Kapena along with the beautiful hula of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, the dynamic sounds of ʻUheʻuhene, Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winners Ei Nei, and acclaimed husband-and-wife duo Kalaʻe and Kalena Parish. Beloved local radio personality Mele Apana returns as host, guiding the evening’s festivities with her signature warmth and aloha.

Bring your ʻohana and enjoy live performances beneath the Honolulu sky, surrounded by the historic beauty of Bishop Museum. Food and drink will be available for purchase from local vendors at the Kaiwiʻula Night Market.

Museum After Hours programming is generously supported by Kona Brewing Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian Telcom, Waiākea, and ProService Hawaii.

• Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, 5:30-6:30 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. | Event
  REX: Extended Cut Screenings
  Watumull Planetarium

  Capacity is limited, and online registration is required. $5 General Admission. Children 2 and under are free but will be expected to share a seat with an adult or guardian. Free for Bishop Museum Members with online registration.

Missing dinosaurs in your life? Come experience the extended cut of “T. REX,” a planetarium show favorite!

Chronicling the true story of three boys’ discovery of a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex fossil in July 2022, “T. REX” takes you through the life and times of this iconic dinosaur. Be transported back in time to explore prehistoric Earth with Cretaceous creatures through a blend of documentary and CGI artistry.

“T. REX” was produced by Giant Screen Films, narrated by beloved “Jurassic Park” actor Sam Neill.

• Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Program
  Lā Kūleʻa: ʻAuana
  Hawaiian Hall and Pākī 2

  This program is coordinated and presented in Japanese. Limited capacity. Pre-registration two days prior is required. $100 for General Admission. Museum Members receive a 10% discount.

  Lā Kūleʻa: ʻAuana provides guests with a multi-faceted experience at the Museum. Open to all Japanese-language speakers, this culture program includes a hula ʻauana (contemporary hula) experience, a private guided tour of Hawaiian Hall with an Asia Pacific Educator, as well as a hands-on ti leaf lei-making workshop.

• Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, 7-8 p.m. | Event
  Navigating by the Stars
  Watumull Planetarium

  Capacity is limited, and registration is required. $10 General Adult, $7 General Youth. Children 3 and under are free but will be expected to share a seat with an adult or guardian. 50% discount for Bishop Museum Members.

  Join Bishop Museum Planetarium educators and Hōkūleʻa navigator and Honolulu Community College Hoʻokele Instructor Kaʻiulani Murphy for Navigating by the Stars! Each talk includes an introduction to the night sky and celestial navigation. The August presentation features the Hawaiian star line most prominent this month, Mānaiakalani.

• Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, 7-8 p.m. | Event
  The Stars Tonight
  J. Watumull Planetarium

  Capacity is limited, and registration is required. $10 General Adult, $7 General Youth. Children 3 and under are free but will be expected to share a seat with an adult or guardian. 50% discount for Bishop Museum Members.

  Come study the stars, travel across the Earth and into our solar system, and share stories with us in our J. Watumull Planetarium! Stargazing on the Great Lawn with the Hawaiian Astronomical Society after the show, weather permitting.