Bishop Museum June 2025 Exhibitions, Public Programs, and Events

Bishop Museum, the State of Hawaiʻi Museum of Natural and Cultural History, shares its June 2025 exhibitions, public programs, and events. A full and continually updated listing can be found on the Museum's website, BishopMuseum.org.

June sees a wide range of programming and events, including a special Museum After Hours, presented in partnership with Mālama Honua Public Charter School, as well as an exciting kōnane program in honor of King Kamehameha ʻEkahi, a legendary strategist and kōnane player. Plus, enjoy our newest exhibit Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep, along with a new show in the J. Watumull Planetarium, Face to Face Encounters with resident dinosaur Moʻonui, and an evening of good food and dinos at the Kaiwiʻula Night Market x Dino Night!

• Ongoing | ExhibitExpedition Dinosaur: Into the DeepCastle Memorial BuildingIncluded with Museum admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members Patron level and above; discounted fee of $3 for all other Membership levels and for guests of Members.Dinosaurs are returning to Kaiwiʻula! For the first time on Oʻahu, guests will be able to experience, up close and personal, oceanic and aquatic reptiles from the Jurassic period — along with favorites like the T-Rex and Stegosaurus. Designed by Stage 9 Exhibits, Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep features lifelike animatronic dinosaurs with realistic movement and sound.
• Opening May 31, 2025 | ExhibitCoral ReefRichard T. Mamiya Science Adventure CenterThis new exhibit in Bishop Museum's Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center 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 | ExhibitWayfinders: He Waʻa He Moku, He Moku He Waʻa, We Are One and the SameJabulka 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 | ExhibitionKū a Lanakila! Expressions of Sovereignty in Early Territorial Hawaiʻi, 1900-1920J. M. Long GalleryIncluded with Museum admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.Kū a Lanakila! Expressions of Sovereignty in Early Territorial Hawaiʻi, 1900-1920 delves into the ways Kānaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian people) asserted their presence and sovereignty during Hawaiʻi's early territorial period through cultural and political expressions. Featuring a stunning array of artifacts, including ʻahu ʻula (capes), lei hulu (feather lei), banners, and political ephemera, the exhibit highlights how Native Hawaiians engaged in public ceremony, competitive sports, and political activism to maintain their identity and agency in a time of profound change.
• Ongoing | ExhibitLele o Nā Manu: The Splendor and Loss of Hawaiʻi's BirdsScience Adventure CenterIncluded 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.The opening of Lele o Nā Manu coincided with Ka Makahiki o nā Manu Nahele, the Year of the Forest Birds, a campaign to celebrate and raise awareness around Hawaiʻi's native forest birds.
• Ongoing | InstallationFaith and Philanthropy: Queen Emma Kaleleonālani in EnglandHawaiian HallIncluded with Museum admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.Between 1865-1866, Queen Emma Kaleleonālani departed Hawaiʻi for a year-long journey to England, her first and only international voyage. Her journey had a specific mission: fundraising for the construction of St. Andrew's Cathedral, the seat of the Anglican Church in the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. Faith and Philanthropy: Queen Emma Kaleleonālani in England highlights research identifying items associated with Queen Emma's travel and fundraising strategies, utilizing objects from multiple Bishop Museum collections to demonstrate not only the richness of Emma's journey, but also the social, religious, and political spaces she navigated as a Hawaiian royal.
• Ongoing | InstallationsCampus MuralsThroughout 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-TuesdaysPlanetarium ShowsJ. Watumull Planetarium$3 with General Admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.Join us in the J. Watumull Planetarium at Bishop Museum to connect with the environment and peoples of the Pacific region, the expanse of our universe, and the stories we pass on from generation to generation.2025 Summer Planetarium Shows:
  • "T. REX"
  • "The Hawaiian Sky Tonight"
  • "Wayfinders: Waves, Winds, and Stars"
  • "3-2-1 Liftoff!"
• June 2025 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.
• Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. | ProgramFace to Face EncounterCastle Memorial BuildingIncluded with Museum Admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.Meet Moʻonui, Kaiwiʻula's resident prehistoric superstar, during the run of our newest exhibit, Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep. Explore the exhibit to experience, up close and personal, oceanic and aquatic reptiles from the Jurassic period, and come say hello to Moʻonui!
• Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 10:10 a.m. - 12 p.m. | ProgramHawaiian Garden TourNā Ulu o Kaiwiʻula Native Hawaiian Garden and throughout the Museum campusThis program is coordinated and executed in the Japanese language. Limited capacity. Pre-registration 3 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.
• Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | ProgramLā Kūleʻa: ʻAuanaHawaiian Hall and Pākī 2This program is coordinated and executed in the Japanese language. 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, June 11, 2025, 5:30-8:30 p.m.Kōnane at Bishop MuseumHawaiian Hall Atrium$15 General Admission, $10 Bishop Museum Members.Join kōnane experts on Kamehameha Day (June 11) to learn the history, moʻolelo, strategies, and philosophical perspectives of kōnane in honor King Kamehameha ʻEkahi, a legendary strategist and kōnane player.All ages and playing abilities are welcome to join, but adults and intermediate to advanced players are especially encouraged to participate! ʻAʻole hilahila, everyone is welcome!Kōnane is a Hawaiian game of strategy, critical thinking, and resource management. Early foreign visitors to Hawai'i wrote of the popularity of kōnane among all of Hawaiʻi's people, but none were more talented than Kamehameha. He would sit for hours playing with his chiefs, giving an occasional smile, but without uttering a word. While much of the nuance of kōnane has been lost over the years, a dedicated team of players is uncovering Hawai'i's own heritage game and wants to share their cutting-edge research with you.The program is led by Uncle John Kaʻohelauliʻi, author of the Black Book of Kōnane, Wallace Akau of Akau Boards, and Kapena Baptista of Kō Kākou Nane.
• Friday, June 13, 2025, 5-9 p.m. | Public ProgramMuseum After Hours: Mālama Honua Mauka to MakaiThroughout the Museum campus.$10 pre-sale, $15 at the door for General Admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.Presented in partnership with Mālama Honua Public Charter School, join us for a special evening of celebration, reflection, and connection at Museum After Hours! Set against the backdrop of Bishop Museum's rich cultural and scientific exhibits, the evening will highlight the Mālama Honua Public Charter School's mission to cultivate a generation of learners grounded in Native Hawaiian values and committed to a sustainable future.Mālama Honua Public Charter School (MHPCS) is a free public charter school in Waimānalo, Hawaiʻi dedicated to serving the families of Waimānalo and surrounding communities by providing a rigorous learning environment guided by Hawaiian cultural values. Inspired by Polynesian voyaging and founded by Nainoa Thompson and Robert Witt in 2014, Mālama Honua Public Charter School was envisioned to create leaders who embodied the attributes of the Mind of the Navigator and the values embodied by the Worldwide Voyage — mālama honua, to care for the earth.
• Saturday, June 14, 2025, 10-11 a.m. | Public ProgramKanikapila ma KaiwiʻulaNā Ulu o Kaiwiʻula Native Hawaiian GardenIncluded 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, June 17, 2025, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | ProgramLā Kūleʻa: ʻAuanaHawaiian Hall and Pākī 2This program is coordinated and executed in the Japanese language. 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, June 18, 2025, 5-8 p.m. | EventKaiwiʻula Night Market x Dino NightCastle Memorial Building and Visitor Parking 2Admission to the Dino Night portion of the event is $10 Adults, $7 Youth pre-sale online; $15 Adult, $10 Youth at the door; and $7 Adult, $5 Youth for Bishop Museum Members. Free admission to the Kaiwiʻula Night Market.Get ready — the dinos are taking over the night! Join us for a fun night with the ʻohana in our newest exhibit, Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep. There will be giant animatronic dinosaurs, cool deep-sea creatures, themed activities, and the vibrant Kaiwiʻula Night Market featuring delicious local eats and vendors. You'll even be able to meet our dino friend, Moʻonui!It's dinos, deep-sea vibes, and night market fun, all rolled into one.
• Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 4:30-8 p.m. | EventKaiwiʻula Night MarketVisitor Parking 2Free admission.Join us every third Wednesday for the Kaiwiʻula Night Market! It's a new monthly opportunity for our shared community to gather at Bishop Museum. Come enjoy good eats and amazing crafts from our rotating list of local vendors.At June's Night Market, explore the world of dinosaurs with this exciting collaboration between the Kaiwiʻula Night Market and Bishop Museum's newest exhibit, Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep. Dinos are taking over the night with Kaiwiʻula Night Market x Dino Night! Get access to Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep, enjoy themed activities, meet our dino friend Moʻonui, and enjoy delicious local eats and vendors at the Night Market.The Kaiwiʻula Night Market also acts as the Oʻahu pickup site for Grow Aloha. Every month in 2025, reserve a plant online and drop by the Kaiwiʻula Night Market to adopt a native plant for free.
• Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 5-8 p.m. | Public ProgramGrow Aloha: Plant PickupVisitor Parking 2Free with online reservation.Grow Aloha is a hui of plant adoption partners working together to restore Hawaiian plants and our relationships with them in urban areas. Bishop Museum is a proud partner and plant adoption site on Oʻahu. Every month in 2025, reserve a plant online and drop by the Grow Aloha tent at the Kaiwiʻula Night Market to adopt a native plant for free.The Kaiwiʻula Night Market is held at Bishop Museum every third Wednesday of the month.
• Friday, June 20, 2025, 6:15-7:15 and 7:30-8:30 p.m. | EventThe Stars Tonight: Trivia DomeJ. Watumull PlanetariumCapacity 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! For June's program, enter our Trivia Dome and test yourself with quiz questions spanning topics such as astronomy, natural sciences, and pop culture.Stargazing on the Great Lawn with the Hawaiian Astronomical Society after each show, weather permitting.
• Saturday, June 28, 2025, 10 a.m. - noon | ProgramNānā i ke Kumu Series: Ua lehulehu a manomano ka ʻikena a ka HawaiʻiAtherton HālauReduced $15 for Kamaʻāina and Military. Included with Museum admission. Free for Bishop Museum Members.Bishop Museum invites you to join us for a panel discussion presented in partnership with the Mary Kawena Pukui Cultural Preservation Society, featuring distinguished scholars and caretakers of Mary Kawena Pukui's ethnographic collections. Panelists to include Dr. Larry Kimura, Kepā Maly, and DeSoto Brown, with moderator Pelehonuamea Harman, director of native Hawaiian engagement, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.Our esteemed panel will share insights into research methods from a Hawaiian perspective and discuss the lasting impact of Mrs. Pukui's work. Each panelist had the privilege of knowing and working closely with Mrs. Pukui and her daughter Patience Nāmaka Bacon, offering a rare and personal perspective on her legacy.

Non-Museum Events

The following are facility rentals on Museum grounds, provided here for public knowledge.

• Saturday, June 21, 2025, 5-9 p.m. | EventHawaii Beer Fest 2025Great Lawn

Looking past June, Bishop Museum is also excited to preview the following upcoming exhibits and public programs in 2025:

• July 11, 2025 | Mele After Hours Concert
• July 31, 2025 | Welo Ka Hae Hawaiʻi, Celebrating Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea
• August 2025 | E Ulu A Paʻa Online Auction
• Aug. 24, 2025 | New Exhibition – Explore EXCORE

Bishop Museum also holds Daily Programs for all guests, as well as in-person J. Watumull Planetarium shows. Its Signature Galleries include Hawaiian Hall, Pacific Hall, Picture Gallery, Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kāhili Room, Nā Ulu o Kaiwiʻula Native Hawaiian Garden, Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center, and Campus Murals. For more information, please visit BishopMuseum.org.