Stewardship Circles
Join our Museum ‘ohana and support us in connecting Hawai‘i to the world and the world to Hawai‘i.
Bishop Museum is the largest museum in Hawaiʻi and the premier natural and cultural history institution in the Pacific, recognized worldwide for its cultural collections, scientific research, and public educational programming. Your gift of becoming a Stewardship Circles member will help support the Museum’s mission to inspire our community and visitors through the exploration, celebration, and perpetuation of the extraordinary history, culture, and environment of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.
The Museum houses some of the finest and rarest artifacts, natural specimens, and historical records from Hawaiʻi and other cultures across the Pacific. Your generous contribution is vital to continue the daily care of our precious collections for generations to come. Our Stewardship Circles supporters also help sustain the undertaking of groundbreaking scientific research, together with numerous educational programs which service over 200,000 visitors to the Museum every year.
To become a steward, please contact the Membership Department at 808.848.4180 or membership@bishopmuseum.org
All Stewardship Circles members enjoy the following benefits for 12 months:
- Free general admission and parking
- Deluxe membership cards and a complimentary eco-tote bag
- Free Watumull Planetarium matinee tickets and discounts on evening shows
- Free tickets to Members After Dark, an annual after-hours event
- Subscription to Ka ‘Elele, the Museum’s print journal and e-newsletter
- 20% discount on Bishop Museum Press titles online
- 10% discount in the Museum’s Shop Pacifica and Highway Inn café
Explorer Circle $1,000 $750 est. tax-deductible ($250 est. non-tax-deductible)
For one adult and an additional member OR guest*, plus up to six children under the age of 18**
- Deluxe membership cards
- Free general admission and parking during normal operating hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Sunday
- Free general admission during normal operating hours for two additional guests per visit per membership when accompanied by member
- Free daytime tickets and discounts on evening shows at the J. Watumull Planetarium
- Free or discounted admission to special exhibits, events, and programs including Bishop Museum After Hours
- Invitations to see-it-first Member Previews
- Subscription to Ka ‘Elele, the Museum’s print journal and e-newsletter
- 20% discount on Bishop Museum Press titles online
- 10% discount at the Bishop Museum Café by Highway Inn and Shop Pacifica
- Invitations to private exhibit receptions and previews
- Six one-time daily admission guest passes to the Museum ($150 value)
- 10% off facility rental at the Museum (up to a $400 value)
- Invitation for two to attend A Night Behind the Scenes, an annual Museum expert guided collections tour
- Invitation for two to attend the annual Chairman’s Reception
*Naming or removing an additional member is limited to once a year at the time of purchase or renewal
**Children must be accompanied by a card-carrying member to receive membership benefits
Preservation Circle $2,500 $2,150 est. tax-deductible ($350 est. non-tax-deductible)
For one adult and an additional member OR guest*, plus up to six children under the age of 18**
- Deluxe membership cards
- Free general admission and parking
- Free general admission for four additional guests per visit when accompanied by member (during normal operating hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Sunday)
- Free daytime tickets and discounts on evening shows at the J. Watumull Planetarium
- Free or discounted admission to special exhibits, events, and programs including Bishop Museum After Hours
- Invitations to see-it-first Member Previews
- Subscription to Ka ‘Elele, the Museum’s print journal and e-newsletter
- 20% discount on Bishop Museum Press titles online
- 10% discount at the Bishop Museum Café by Highway Inn and Shop Pacifica
- Invitations to private exhibit receptions and previews
- Eight one-time daily admission guest passes to the Museum ($200 value)
- 10% off facility rental at the Museum (up to a $400 value)
- Invitations for two to attend A Night Behind the Scenes, an annual Museum expert guided collections tour
- Invitations for two to attend the annual Chairman’s Reception
- Invitations for two to attend An Evening with DeSoto Brown, an annual gathering to discuss treasures from our Library & Archives
*Naming or removing an additional member is limited to once a year at the time of purchase or renewal
**Children must be accompanied by a card-carrying member to receive membership benefits
Charles Reed Bishop Circle $5,000 $4,440 est. tax-deductible ($560 est. non-tax-deductible)
For one adult and an additional member OR guest*, plus up to six children under the age of 18**
- Deluxe membership cards
- Free general admission and parking
- Free general admission for four additional guests per visit when accompanied by member (during normal operating hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Sunday)
- Free daytime tickets and discounts on evening shows at the J. Watumull Planetarium
- Free or discounted admission to special exhibits, events, and programs including Bishop Museum After Hours
- Invitations to see-it-first Member Previews
- Subscription to Ka ‘Elele, the Museum’s print journal and e-newsletter
- 20% discount on Bishop Museum Press titles online
- 10% discount at the Bishop Museum Café by Highway Inn and Shop Pacifica
- Invitations to private exhibit receptions and previews
- Eight one-time daily admission guest passes to the Museum ($200 value)
- 10% off facility rental at the Museum (up to a $400 value)
- Invitations for two to attend A Night Behind the Scenes, an annual Museum expert guided collections tour
- Invitations for two to attend the annual Chairman’s Reception
- Invitations for two to attend An Evening with DeSoto Brown, an annual gathering to discuss treasures from our Library & Archives
- One complimentary gift Patron level membership ($160 value)
- Opportunity to schedule a private docent-guided tour of one gallery of your choice for up to eight guests
*Naming or removing an additional member is limited to once a year at the time of purchase or renewal
**Children must be accompanied by a card-carrying member to receive membership benefits
Pauahi Circle $10,000 $9,340 est. tax-deductible ($660 est. non-tax-deductible)
For one adult and an additional member OR guest*, plus up to six children under the age of 18**
- Deluxe membership cards
- Free general admission and parking
- Free general admission for four additional guests per visit when accompanied by member (during normal operating hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Sunday)
- Free daytime tickets and discounts on evening shows at the J. Watumull Planetarium
- Free or discounted admission to special exhibits, events, and programs including Bishop Museum After Hours
- Invitations to see-it-first Member Previews
- Subscription to Ka ‘Elele, the Museum’s print journal and e-newsletter
- 20% discount on Bishop Museum Press titles online
- 10% discount at the Bishop Museum Café by Highway Inn and Shop Pacifica
- Invitations to private exhibit receptions and previews
- Eight one-time daily admission guest passes to the Museum ($200 value)
- 10% off facility rental at the Museum (up to a $400 value)
- Invitations for two to attend A Night Behind the Scenes, an annual Museum expert guided collections tour
- Invitations for two to attend the annual Chairman’s Reception
- Invitations for two to attend An Evening with DeSoto Brown, an annual gathering to discuss treasures from our Library & Archives
- One complimentary gift Patron level membership ($160 value)
- Opportunity to schedule a private docent-guided tour of one gallery of your choice for up to eight guests
- Opportunity to schedule a private Museum expert-guided collections tour for up to eight guests
*Naming or removing an additional member is limited to once a year at the time of purchase or renewal
**Children must be accompanied by a card-carrying member to receive membership benefits
Membership Policies
- Members must present their photo ID and membership card for Museum admission.
- Bishop Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Membership dues are considered a charitable donation and are fully or partially tax-deductible. Therefore, Bishop Museum memberships and benefits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- “Free guest” benefits associated with Patron, Benefactor, Visionary, and Stewardship Circle members are limited to admission to Bishop Museum during normal operating hours unless otherwise noted. Special events and programs require guests of members to pay the general admission/registration rate unless otherwise noted.
- A $5 fee will be incurred for replacement parking stickers.
- Student, Senior, Friend, and Dual/Family members receive a discount on special exhibit fees, while these fees are waived for Patron, Benefactor, Visionary, and Stewardship Circle members. Guests of Patron, Benefactor, Visionary, and Stewardship Circle members who are eligible for free admission are still required to pay any special exhibit fees at the discounted member rate. Special exhibit fees may vary by exhibit.
- Naming or removing an additional member is limited to once a year at the time of purchase or renewal.
Membership FAQ
Yes! General admission fees can be applied towards any membership level within seven days of the initial visit. Unfortunately, this offer cannot be redeemed online. Please bring your original order receipt to the Admissions Desk.
Please allow 7-10 business days for your welcome package to arrive to your primary mailing address via the United States Postal Service. If you have not received your cards within two weeks, please contact the Membership Department at 808.847.8296 or membership@bishopmuseum.org.
Each named adult within the membership receives a digital membership card. An email with the link to your digital membership cards is sent as soon as your transaction is completed. Student and Friend members receive one parking sticker, and all other membership levels receive two if there is a second named adult on the membership. If your parking sticker is lost or damaged, you can request a replacement parking sticker at the Admission Desk for a $5.00 fee.
Please display your parking sticker on the lower corner of the driver’s side of the front windshield.
To access all your member benefits, and to renew your membership, you will need to register your membership on our website. To register and create an account login, click here. Please fill in the primary member’s contact information. The email provided when initially creating your membership will become your username. Remember to write down your password so you don’t forget it! Once you’ve completed online registration, you will need to sign into your membership account any time you want to renew or gift a membership, or reserve event tickets online. This will ensure that your membership transactions are correctly processed, and any member discounts are applied to your order. Please note that any membership discounts associated with your purchase will not be applied until the final check out screen.
Some traveling and other special exhibits at Bishop Museum require an additional fee for entrance from both members and general admission, including guests of members. Fees may vary by exhibit. Student, Senior, Friend, and Dual/Family members receive a discount on special exhibit fees, while these fees are waived for Patron, Benefactor, Visionary, and Stewardship Circle members. Guests of Patron, Benefactor, Visionary, and Stewardship Circle members who are eligible for free admission are still required to pay any special exhibit fees at the discounted member rate.
Bishop Museum welcomes gifts of stock. To facilitate a smooth transaction, please contact the Development Department at 808.848.4188.
Annual Fund
Join a community of supporters committed to Bishop Museum’s collections, research, and education programs. The deeper your engagement, the more central you are to Bishop Museum’s core values and strengths—and the greater your impact on the issues you care most about.
Corporate Partnership
Support from Bishop Museum’s Corporate Partners helps to care for the Museum’s renowned permanent collection of over 24 million historical, natural and cultural treasures, and to bring distinguished exhibitions and high-quality programs and events to hundreds of thousands of children and adults in the community every year.
Be a Part of Our Story
Celebrate the extraordinary history, culture, and environment of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific with a gift to Bishop Museum. As a partner in the Museum’s work, you can help to sustain vital collections, research, and knowledge, and inspire exploration and discovery with a tax-deductible donation.
