Past Exhibits
2008
WHALES: WONDERS OF THE OCEAN
May 17, 2008 through September 21, 2008Castle Memorial Building
Download the schedule for our summer Whales Lecture Series.
Learn all about the gentle giants of the sea in this robotic traveling exhibition from WonderWorks. This exhibit tells their 54-million-year-old story, from early life on land to their journey back to the sea. Life-size robotic whales illustrate the major categories of whale origins, adaptions and behavior from feeding and reproduction to swimming, vocalization, respiration, and diving. The exhibit will feature full-sized robotic versions of a Baby Gray whale, a Humpback whale and an Orca, and animated heads of a Northern Right whale and a Sperm whale.
Whales are the descendants of land living mammals of the Artiodactyl order. Whales are the closest living relatives of hippos! They both evolved from a common ancestor at around 54 million years ago. Whales entered the water roughly 50 million years ago. These cetaceans are divided into two suborders: Baleen whales which have a sieve-like structure in the upper jaw made of keratin that is used to filter plankton; and toothed whales which have teeth and prey on fish and squid.
Like all mammals, whales breathe air into lungs,
are warm-blooded, and feed their young milk from
mammary glands, and have some hair. Whales breathe
through blowholes located on the top of the head
so the animal can remain submerged. Baleen whales
have two blowholes, while toothed whales only have
one. Whales have a unique respiratory system that
lets them stay underwater for long periods of time
without taking in oxygen. Sperm whales are known
to stay underwater for up to two hours holding a
single breath!
Whales live from 40 to 200 years, depending on their species, but it is rare to find one that lives over a century. Whale flukes are often used to identify whales and they communicate with each other using lyrical sounds. Being so large and powerful, whales sounds are extremely loud and can be heard for many miles.
The exhibit features several participatory stations where visitors can learn to identify whales the way scientists do; by their songs, their markings, their fins and tails, and their behavior. The six large motorized creatures on exhibit operate on air pressure and were constructed in Los Angeles. Andrewsarchus will be the first motorized creature to greet visitors as they enter the show.
This hairy, ugly, land-dwelling
mammal with a snout is included in the exhibit
because it belongs to a group of primitive carnivorous
land mammals dating back 50 million years, which
scientists believe may have been the predecessors
of whales. The subsequent displays feature a tail-waving
orca, a lanky basilosaurus, and the gray whale with
a calf, among others. Inside each creature is an
aluminum and steel robotic skeleton.
The movements of the robotic whales are controlled by a computer mounted in the creature’s base. The computer regulates the flow of compressed air through a series of air lines and valves to various cylinders. As air is forced through the system, it causes the piston inside each cylinder to move in and out. Large cylinders are used for tail and flipper movements, while small cylinders are used for the eye and mouth movements. A sound system, controlled by the same computer, is mounted in the base and is used to create life-like whale sounds. The skin is made from thick foam with a flexible elastimer coating that shows all the bumps and folds of the full-size clay sculpture. The whales’ creators have gone to great lengths to make the exhibit as authentic as possible, including putting lice and barnacles on some of the whales and even the sounds of the thumping whale heartbeat.
Mahalo to our sponsors:
And the Wodehouse Trust
Created and Produced by WonderWorks
MAMo AWARDS 2008: CELEBRATING OUR MASTERS
April 19 through July TBA, 2008Joseph M. Long Gallery
Bishop Museum will begin the third annual Maoli Arts Month (MAMo) by honoring a select number of Native Hawaiian master artists with the exhibition, MAMo Awards 2008: Celebrating our Masters in the Joseph M. Long Gallery.
Coordinated by Bishop Museum’s Noelle Kahanu, MAMo Awards 2008: Celebrating our Masters honors six Hawaiian master artists who have tirelessly championed the cause of Native Hawaiian arts. The exhibition celebrates these artists through the presentation of artworks that attest to their lifetime achievements.
The art exhibition is part of MAMo, a month-long community-based event in May celebrating Native Hawaiian art, artists, and cultural practitioners with a host of activities and events at a variety of venues throughout Honolulu, including the Hawai‘i State Art Museum, Chinatown Arts District, The Arts and Marks Garage, as well as Bishop Museum.
MAMo organizers include Bishop Museum, PA‘I Foundation, Keomailanai Hanapi Foundation, Hale Naua III, Maoli Arts Alliance, as well as other Native Hawaiian artists and organizations, and the City and County of Honolulu, Mayor’s Office for Culture and the Arts.
ANIMAL GROSSOLOGY
February 9 through April 20, 2008
Castle
Memorial Building, First Floor 
Gross Out! Get the scoop on poop! When was the last time you were really en-GROSS-ed? Welcome to Animal Grossology, the interactive exhibition that takes a slightly different view of Fluffy, Fido, and the rest of the animal kingdom. Prepare to meet frogs that give birth by belching.
You may think leeches are pretty disgusting, but did you know that they’re used after some surgeries to assist in the healing process? Play Tranfusion Confusion to discover which animals have what color blood. This is the slimiest, stinkiest, and downright yuckiest creatures on Earth—you’re gonna love it! Come learn why a cat’s anatomy is the reason why it spits up hairballs. Discover the mystery of the incredible tapeworm.
Eeeuwwww… Animal Grossology is a sequel to the popular exhibit Grossology, which Bishop Museum presented in the summer of 2006. Animal Grossology is an exhibition created and produced by Advanced Exhibits, a division of Advanced Animations L.L.C. Books published by Price Stern Sloan, A member of Penguin (USA) Inc.
Made possible by Horizon Lines & 7 Eleven
Created and produced by Advanced Exhibits
Brain: The World Inside Your Head
October 13, 2007 through January 20, 2008
What did Abraham Lincoln, Thomas A. Edison and Albert Einstein have in common? Besides being great minds, they all suffered from disabling and debilitating brain disorders. Both Einstein and Edison were dyslexic, and Lincoln suffered from severe depression. Bishop Museum will present a multi-million dollar interactive exhibition that will help make brain-related disorders easier to understand. The groundbreaking traveling exhibition is made possible by Pfizer Inc and was produced by Evergreen Exhibitions, in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In Honolulu, the exhibition is sponsored by Horizon Lines.
2007
Speed
June 2, 2007 through September 3, 2007
Speed
engages guests in the scientific and human qualities
of going fast using examples from race cars, roller
coasters to cutting-edge research. At the heart of
each experience is the physical reality of speed,
illustrating the math and physics of acceleration,
horsepower, and friction.
SPEED exhibit was created by COSI Columbus with support from the National Science Foundation and collaboration with the Science Museum Exhibit Collaborative.
Lost Maritime Cultures:
China and the Pacific
February 24, 2007 through April 15, 2007
Castle Memorial Building, First Floor
The extraordinary archaeological discoveries in Southeast China and the shared history between prehistoric China and the Pacific will be revealed in this exhibition. The maritime civilizations that flourished from 7000-3000 years ago finally came to light when modern archaeology started in China about half a century ago.
Visitors will discover the rare artifacts from the Hemudu Culture and other prehistoric seafaring societies in modern Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces, and experience the splendor of the Liangzhu Culture and the Bronze Age cultures of Southeast China. It is believed that some of these “lost” maritime civilizations are the ultimate ancestral cultures of the Austronesians whose descendants eventually colonized most of the Pacific islands, reaching as far as Hawai‘i, New Zealand, and Easter Island around 1000 years ago.
Click the arrows on the control panels below for a two-part introduction to the exhibit.
Part 1
Part 2
This exhibit is sponsored by The Freeman Foundation.
Pa`a Ka La`a: Animism and Totemism
Open through April 22, 2007
J. M. Long Gallery
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Hale Naua. This group of artists, each linked by blood to the kanaka maoli, is dedicated to the restoration and perpetuation of the culture and traditions of Hawai‘i Nei. Now, Directors Rocky and Lucia Jensen, have reached across the Pacific to foster a union between the kanaka maoli and the Inupiaq Tribe.
With this exhibition, Hale Naua begins a new journey into the world of traditional and conceptual contemporary art forms. Pa‘a Ka La‘a will showcase the work of over two-dozen native artists, including Native Hawaiians. The exhibit powerfully illustrates the influence that Animism and Totemism-fundamental beliefs of all First Nation People- have on artistic expression. Interspersed throughout the exhibit will be rare ‘aumakua images from the Museum’s collection
2006
Dinosaurs Alive!
December 10, 2006 through January 28, 2007
Nā Hulu Ali’i: Royal Feathers
September 2, 2006
through January 8, 2007
Sentenaryo: 100 years of Filipinos in Hawai`i
September 30 through November 26, 2006
Ho’okahi Kapa: Layers of Life
July 22 - October
22, 2006
Sesame Street Presents: THE BODY
January 7, 2006 – April 2, 2006
Celebrating Chinese Women: Qing Dynasty to Hawai‘i
– April 22-May 21, 2006
Grossology
June 11 – August 28, 2006
2005
Hawai‘i, A Sense of Place: Island Interior Design
September 10, 2005 – November 27, 2005
Ho‘ohuli, To Turn Around
December 10, 2005 – March 12, 2006
Baby Dinosaurs (Wonderworks) - October 8 – Dec 11, 2005
Archipelago: Portraits of Life in the World’s Most Remote Island Sanctuary
Reptiles: Real and Robotic
May 28, 2005 through September 11, 2005
Come face-to-face with a 23-foot long Nile Crocodile or a 36-foot long Western Diamondback Rattlesnake without having to risk life or limb at Bishop Museum's newest traveling exhibit, Reptiles: Real and Robotic!
Visitors can experience a close encounter with these monstrous reptiles and learn about their cold-blooded nature, biological diversity and durable adaptability. Highlighting the four major reptile groups - lizards, snakes, turtles, and crocodiles, Reptiles: Real and Robotic aims to capture the imagination of the whole family while educating visitors on common misconceptions of reptiles. The exhibit dispels many myths that have lead to these creatures being sources of fear rather than awe at their amazing evolution.
Other exhibit highlights include larger-than-life robotic models of an Alligator Snapping Turtle and a Jackson Chameleon, a "Let's Eat" section looking at a reptile diet, and an exploration of Snakes and Venom.
Reptiles: Real and Robotic is an exhibit from Kokoro. This exhibit is sponsored by Horizon Lines, Kraft@ Foods and Papa John's Hawai'i.
Nature's Numbers
A Forest Journey
Sierpinski Pyramid
January 29, 2005 through May 8, 2005
Nature's Numbers. From the exquisite pattern of a butterfly wing to the ruggedness of a coastline, our physical word is filled with intricate patterns, shapes, and symmetry; all of which involve math. Bishop Museum's upcoming exhibit Nature's Numbers challenges visitors to discover the nature of math.
Test the Kiddie Kaleidoscope and see the fascinating reflections it makes, or play with the Tetrahedron Topple and build amazing structures. Four activity stations filled with these hands-on activities and much more are guaranteed to take you on a mind-boggling exploration.
A Forest Journey. This rich interactive exhibit takes a look at the history of the use of wood throughout the world. Interactive components will teach visitors about the greenhouse effect, tree life cycles and evolution, types of forests and much more! If its related to trees, this exhibit will take you there and beyond!
Nature's Numbers and A Forest Journey are exhibits developed by The Franklin Institute Science Museum.
These exhibits were supported by Horizon Lines.
Mathematical Masterpiece on Display. Enter the wacky world of the Sierpinski Pyramid to find out how 4,096 little triangles, 10,000 coffee stir sticks, and 250 rolls of tape come together to form an amazing 20-foot tall structure. Mathematics in its various forms are put to the test from January to May, as this intriguing pyramid is built before your eyes by Jon Bromberg's geometry students from Damien Memorial School.
Catch geometry in motion, as various hands-on activities will also be available throughout the duration of this project.
2004
If These Walls Could Talk
October 2, 2004 through January 4, 2005
From classical physics to new findings in environmental science, from deeply held cultural beliefs to spectacular feats of engineering, buildings reveal fascinating stories of human ingenuity and science. This exhibit about constructing buildings features 20 interactive components. Produced by the Science Museum of Minnesota, and made possibe with support from the National Science Foundation.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
Scream Machines
June 5, 2004 through August 29, 2004
The traveling exhibit from the Ontario Science Centre features interactive exhibits for thrill-seekers. The exhibits, artifacts and images encourage visitors to experience the physics of roller coasters and to learn about the physiology and psychology of thrill-seeking. Visitors can ride the G-Force and experience the gravitational forces astronauts must endure. They can step into the Revolver or test their resistance to motion sickness. Simulation and immersion experiences are part of the exhibit.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
What In The World Is It?
May 1 , 2004 through June 30, 2004
This high energy, walk-through exhibit about animal identification features five mystery stations hidden in a giant maze. Visitors listen to sounds and other clues and figure out What in the World Is It. The experience includes a colorful world map game card, which is a take home piece. The exhibit, from Minotaur Maze Exhibits, is specifically designed for families with children.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
Remains of a Rainbow
January 17, 2004 through April 11, 2004
As the rainbow remains a hallmark in the Hawaiian Islands, so do the pristine waters, colorful wildlife, and exquisite native plants. Offering visitors the chance to see Hawai'i 's native species through the lenses of two world-famous photographers, Remains of a Rainbow runs from Saturday, January 17, 2004 through April 11, 2004 upstairs in the Castle Building.
Savage Ancient Seas
February 7, 2004 through April 18, 2004
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
2003
Chocolate
October 18, 2003 through December 28, 2003
A traveling exhibit being developed by the Field Museum of Chicago - the same folks who brought us Sue T.Rex! The exhibit takes a look at the relationship between human culture and this rain forest treasure. It talks about history, cultures, and industry, and includes interactive experiences. In-house components will be developed related to the chocolate industry in Hawai‘i. The exhibit provides a great opportunity to include programs on tasting, cooking, and baking (not to mention merchandise!).
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
Robotics
June 14, 2003 through September 2, 2003
Find out why robots make great basketball players, learn how to fool a motion detector, and hold a conversation with an android when Robotics opens Saturday, June 14, 2003 at Bishop Museum. The national traveling exhibition from the Carnegie Science Center on display at Castle Memorial Building, features twenty hands-on activities that demonstrate the similarities between humans and robots.
Using thematic areas such as sensing, thinking, and acting, Robotics offers exciting, interactive activities that provide a unique look at what robots are, how they work, and how they are changing the future. Visitors can program a seven-foot-high industrial robotic arm to shoot hoops with “ABB Basketball Arm;” learn why robots cannot perform simple human tasks at “Tie Your Shoes;” build and operate a motorized robot; talk to an android; meet two famous robot explorers; and outwit a robot in a race against the clock. In addition, visitors can investigate the ways robots are increasing productivity, creating a safer workplace, providing higher-end career opportunities, and enriching our lives.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
2002
Genetics!
October 5, 2002 through January 5, 2003
A traveling exhibit from the Pacific Science Center, Genetics! will introduce visitors to one of the most exciting areas of scientific research. Using fun and inventive interactives, Genetics! will help provide visitors with an informed basis for understanding the scientific and ethical issues we see in our world every day. Topics include DNA, cell function, inheritance, genetic engineering and cloning, ethical issues, an introduction to some of the people behind important discoveries in the field of genetics, and an exploration of genetics-related careers.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
Jurassic Park: The Life and Death of Dinosaurs
June 26, 2002 through September 15, 2002
A traveling exhibit from Dinosaur Productions, featuring real skeletons from China, Argentina, U.S., Mongolia, Canada, Germany, modeled dinosaurs, large landscape murals, and the SUV from the movie Lost Worlds. Based on the Steven Speilberg films, the exhibit is interactive, explores the behavior of dinosaurs, and their extinction.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
Hui Panala‘au: Hawaiian Colonists, American Citizens
May 25, 2002 through June 16, 2002
An in-house traveling exhibit telling the story of how 60 young Hawaiian men were sent to occupy remote deserted islands in equatorial Pacific from 1935 to 1942. The exhibit will include oral histories, photographs, objects and programs celebrating the achievements of these young Hawaiian students.
2001
Life Through Time: From T.Rex to Sabretooth
February 15, 2001 through May 19, 2002
A traveling exhibit from Kokoro, featuring animated models of various dinosaurs and ice age mammals, including saber toothed tigers and woolly mammoths, through various ages of life. The exhibit talks about the evolution of life on Earth.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
Color Play
September 15, 2001 through February 3, 2002
Learn the information about how colors are created, and how they effect you.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
Robot Zoo
June 9, 2001 through September 3, 2001
This exhibit inspires wide-eyed wonderment as 8 complex animated robots, including a chameleon, rhinoceros, grasshhopper, giraffe, and a housefly with a 10-foot wingspan imitate the functions and inner workings of the animal world. Discover how a squid propels itself, a chameleon changes color, or a fly walks on ceilings through some of its many interactives.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
X-treme Science!
Exploring Oceans, Volcanoes, & Outer Space
January 27, 2001 through May 28, 2001
Some of the most exciting and important scientific research in the world is going on right here in Hawai'i . And it's being done by scientists who explore places most of us never have a chance to visit--the deep ocean, volcanoes, and outer space.
Come explore in "X-treme Science! Exploring Oceans, Volcanoes, and Outer Space," a fun, hands-on exhibit full of adventure. Crawl into a submarine on an undersea volcano, witness a tsunami, walk across an active lava flow, steer a rover over the surface of Mars, and much more. Find out about the scientists themselves and what methods they use to make their exciting discoveries! "X-treme Science" is the largest exhibit ever developed entirely in-house at the Bishop Museum. It is funded by NASA. The purpose of this exhibit is to introduce to the public some of the explorers and scientists right here in Hawai'i who are doing eye-popping, cutting edge scientific research in the fields of planetary science, earth science, and ocean science.
Visit the Xtreme Science Website!
2000
Engineer It
November 4, 2000 through January 1, 2001
Bishop Museum's great new exhibit, Engineer It, explores the enjoyable and creative sides of engineering by showing participants how you go about designing boats, bridges, windmills and airplanes, then testing performance in water tanks, shake tumbles and wind tunnels.
There are three major testing areas in the exhibit that provide opportunities for visitors to investigate the design and engineering process: Water, Structures and Wind. Experiment with gears and pulleys, operate a cargo crane, experience an earthquake, or strap on some wings and step into a wind tunnel. The open-ended discovery process is fun for all ages.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
Sue T. Rex
July 15, 2000 through October 15, 2000
A life-sized cast of Sue, the largest, best preserved and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered, will star at the Bishop Museum this year from July 15 through October 15, 2000. The exhibit is sponsored by McDonald's Corporation and was developed by Chicago's Field Museum, where the actual fossil will be unveiled this May. The 45-foot-long replica of Sue promises to fill the first floor of the Castle Memorial Building and will be accompanied by interactive exhibits, video footage, touchable casts of bones, and colorful graphics.
Only 21 other T. rex skeletons have been found, and those were less than 60 percent complete. Sue T. Rex is more that 90 percent complete and extremely well preserved, making it one of the most important fossil finds ever.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
To Mars!
May 20, 2000 through December 3, 2000
Mars! Come explore our facinating neighboring planet.
Aloha From Waikiki
February 26, 2000 through July 4, 2000
Learn about the history and elegance of this area of O'ahu.
To Honor and Comfort: Native Quilting Traditions
February 12, 2000 through May 7, 2000
A traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Museum that highlights the history and uniqueness of Quilts.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
1999
Backyard Aliens: A Close Encounter
March 20, 1999 through February 6, 2000
Backyard Aliens: A Close Encounter has been developed in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration- NASA- as part of its Earth Sciences mission. The exhibit and its programs provide opportunities for you to expand your understanding of our changing environment on Earth, and in particular Hawai'i .
Alien introductions are causing significant changes to our Island environment. Explore the changes happening in your backyard and you will understand the massive global changes that are happening all over the world.
As partners with NASA we are committed to excellence in education. We provide lifelong learners with information and experiences in science, mathematics, technology, and geography.
By stimulating a better understanding of the complex issues that face our planet, we hope to insure the sustainable development of our environment while improving the quality of life on Earth.
1998
Celebrating the Achievements of Filipino-Americans in Hawai'ip
October 3, 1998 through February 28, 1999
Filipinos have played a major role in the history of 20th century Hawai'i . Since the first groups of Filipino immigrants arrived in Hawai'i , Filipino-Americans have made significant contributions to the cultural, social and economic growth of Hawai'i . Yet their achievements are not as well known as they should be. The exhibit will celebrate these achievements, as well as explore cultural and social values, contributions of World War II veterans to the allied victory in Europe and the Pacific, and Filipino-American role models in science, education, medicine, community service, and music and entertainment. The exhibit includes interactive displays, photographs, objects, headphones, graphic panels, maps and a timeline.
Animal SuperSenses
September 26, 1998 through March 8, 1999
We live in a world of sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures, and use our five senses to figure it out. Like other animals, senses help us to survive. Senses help animals communicate, gather information, locate mates, food and danger, and navigate by land, sea and air. Recent research shows that many animals see, hear, smell and sense far more than we humans do. In Animal SuperSenses, visitors find out what it is like to see for miles, detect invisible rays, hear an insect's footsteps, and find their homes from thousands of miles away. The exhibition has three basic sections, devoted to Hearing, Vision and Other Senses. Specific activities include The Sound Spectrum, Echolocation, Night Vision, Infrared Sense, Compound Eyes, Tactile Sense, and Electrical Sense. Animal SuperSenses was developed by The Witte Museum, San Antonio, Texas.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
Bishop Museum's Hawai'i in Space Exhibit
May 23, 1998 through September 7, 1998
On Saturday, May 23rd, Bishop Museum "blasted off" into space with an exciting new exhibit created in partnership with NASA. The theme of Bishop Museum's Hawai'i in Space Exhibit is exploration into the unknown -- by astronauts creating a International Space Station, by astronomers and other scientists here in Hawai'i , and even by crewmembers exploring the Pacific aboard the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokule`a . You'll learn the important role Hawai'i has played in our nation's space program through the years, from tracking stations and capsule recovery to Apollo astronaut training on the "lunar" landscape" of Kilauea Iki volcano.
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
In the Dark!
January 31, 1998 through May 3, 1998
Soar through a forest at night. Become a jellyfish balancing in the darkness of the deep sea. Crawl inside a giant bat head. You'll be amazed at what you find In The Dark. It's a totally wild, totally touchy, feely way to explore the fantastic and unique ways that animals and plants live in darkness!
This exhibit was supported by Horizon Lines.
1997
From Bento to Mixed Plate:
Americans of Japanese Ancestry in Multicultural Hawai'i
October 25, 1997 through January 5, 1998
This exhibit was organized by the Japanese American National Museum and its Hawai'i Advisory Council in cooperation with the Bishop Museum. Collaborating partners are Hawai'i Okinawa Center, Japan American Society, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i , State Department of Education and Tokai University. Funding for the exhibition was provided in part by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Japan Foundation, Center for Global Partnership and the generous support of many other businesses and individuals.
Ocean Planet: A Multi-media exploration into the wonders of the sea 
May 24, 1997 through October 5, 1997
We may call it Earth, but ours is truly an Ocean Planet. Approximately 75 percent of our planet is covered by ocean. These vast waters blanket mountain ranges higher than the Himalayas, valleys deeper than the Grand Canyon, plains as wide as the Serengeti, and millions of plant and animal species that have yet to be discovered. Beginning Saturday, May 24, Bishop Museum will offer a spectacular exploration of this largely unknown aquatic territory with " Ocean Planet," a major interactive traveling exhibition developed by the Smithsonian Institution.
Ocean Planet is organized by the Smithsonian Institution's Environmental Awareness Program and the National Museum of Natural History, and circulated by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. Major support for the exhibit is provided by the National Science Foundation, Times Mirror Magazines, and The Pew Charitable Trusts. Ocean Planet at Bishop Museum is sponsored as a community service by Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. Additional support is provided by GTE Hawaiian Tel and the Bis hop Museum Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program. The exhibit was brought to Hawai'i by Sea Land Service, Inc.
Na Mea Makamae: Treasures of Hawai'i
January 25, 1997 through May 4, 1997
Bishop Museum's world-renowned collection of cultural objects and natural science specimens comes to life in Na Mea Makamae: Treasures of Hawai'i , an engaging, interactive exhibition of many of the most rare and rarely seen artifacts, objects, and specimens preserved over the past five centuries. The exhibition, on display through May 4, 1997, is sponsored by Bank of Hawai'i with additional support by the Bishop Museum Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program.
1996
SPIDERS!
Sept. 21, 1996 through January 1, 1997
Sponsored as a community service by PrimeCo Personal Communications
with additional support provided by Roberts Hawai'i.
Brought to Hawai'i by Sea-Land Service, Inc.
Visitors to Bishop Museum will be able to catch SPIDERS!, a new traveling exhibition, beginning Sept. 21. This interactive exhibition, produced by the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, introduces visitors to the delightfully creepy, endlessly fascinating world of these eight-legged creatures. Visitors will come face to face with live native Hawaiian and introduced species, including the Happyface, Cave, and Cane spiders, and learn all about spider life and the importance of arachnids in folklore and legend. Opening day festivities on Sept. 21 will feature native Hawaiian spider feedings, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum's entomology lab, spider prize giveaways, entertainment by local celebrities, an appearance by "Spider Bruddah," and fun children's activities. Brought to Hawai'i by Sea-Land Service, Inc.
Sport
June 1 through Sept. 2, 1996
Sponsored by Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.
Brought to Hawai'i by Sea-Land Service, Inc.
In the summer of 1996, Bishop Museum opened Sport the world's largest and most interactive exhibition devoted entirely to the science Sport features dozens of "body-on" activities from rock-climbing to virtual bobsledding. Visitors can take a walk on a 10 cm-wide competition balance beam, sit in an Olympic bobsled and rocket down a video track, participate in a wheelchair race, clock their pitching speed and experience motion without moving an inch. Sport combines science and physical activity into a fun and educational experience for visitors of all ages.
Kaho`olawe
Jan. 20, 1996 through May 19, 1996
Stories and history come alive in this unique exhibition on Kaho`olawe. Come to understand the island and the Hawaiian principle of aloha `aina, or appreciating and caring for land and sea, through the wahi pana, the stories of the land. Visitors will be immersed in the images and voices of the island through photographs, artifacts, dioramas, and interactive displays which follow the island's history from its beginnings to current efforts to protect and restore the island.
The exhibit will include recent photographs of Kaho`olawe, as well as historic photographs, maps, and documents from the Bishop Museum Archives, and artifacts and natural history specimens from the Museum's collections. Color and black-and-white photographs of Kaho`olawe taken by three of Hawai'i 's most acclaimed photographers, Wayne Levin, Franco Salmoiraghi, David Ulrich, and archaeologist/writer Rowland Reeve will be featured. Historic photographs taken during Bishop Museum's archaeological expeditions to the island in 1913 and in the 1930s will also be included. A portion of the exhibit will travel to the Neighbor Islands.
Faces of Papua New Guinea
Feb. 2, 1996 through May 19, 1996
Discover the "faces" of the people of Papua New Guinea in an exhibition exploring three "bigmen" cultures. Visitors will see sacred masks, shields, houses, and other rare objects used in daily life and in special ceremonies. Drawings, photographs, and many different artifacts will be on display, giving an excellent view and understanding of present day New Guinea lifestyles. The collection represents ten years of field work by Ruth E. and Wallace M. Ruff, and is considered one of the best collections in the world of New Guinea's cultures.
1995
The Kona Coffee Story: Along The Hawai'i Belt Road
Dec. 15, 1995 through May 12, 1996
The Kona Coffee Story: Along The Hawai'i Belt Road presents a unique look at Hawai'i 's coffee growing industry from the arrival of the first coffee plants in 1828 to the poignant stories of the Japanese American coffee pioneers living today. Throu gh displays, panels and photographs, learn about the establishment of family-run farms at the turn of the century, the farmers' relationships with the powerful coffee mills and their "company stores," and the intercultural relationships that mar ked this frontier life. Visitors can also explore the cycle of coffee production, from the flowering of "Kona Snow" blossoms to the roasting and grinding of the green coffee.
What About Aids
September 30, 1995 through January 2, 1996
In the U.S., AIDS is the leading cause of death among adults ages 25 to 44. Currently, the only vaccine is education. In response to this crisis, Bishop Museum presents What About AIDS? the first national traveling exhibition on the science of HIV and AIDS.
Opening Sept. 30 on the second floor of the Museum's Castle Building, the exhibit is designed to educate people of all ages, particularly youth and teens ages 10 to 17. It features large colorful panels, hands-on displays, interactive videos and compellin g personal stories of people infected with this deadly virus.
Science in Toyland 
October 5, 1995 through January 7, 1996
Everyone loves toys. They're not only fun but they ignite imagination, stimulate creativity and spark the desire to learn more about the world around us.
An exhibition on how toys and play can introduce children to science opens Oct. 5 at Bishop Museum. A collection of hands-on displays, demonstrations and workshops, Science in Toyland challenges youngsters to discover basic scientific principles for themselves and demonstrates that science and fun go hand in hand.
Dinosaurs
June 17, 1995 through September 17, 1995
This exhibition and accompanying educational program will provide visitors with a better idea of how living dinosaurs looked and behaved in their natural habitats millions of years ago. Eighteen life-sized robotic dinosaurs and dozens of interactive di splays will be part of the exhibition.
Hawaiiloa
January 14, 1995 through June 4, 1995
Celebrate the proud heritage and share the triumphs of Native Hawaiian voyagers, past and present. This exhibit coincides with the three-month voyage of the Hawai`iloa and Hokule`a canoes as they travel from Hawai'i to Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands and back, navigating by traditional methods.
1994
Nature's Fury!
September 17, 1994 through January 2, 1995
Experience some of earth's more violent forces like volcanoes, earthquakes, tornados, floods and tsunamis, all without even a scratch. Four major topic areas that are explored are plate tectonics, tsunami, water and erosion, and atmospheric phenomenon. Learn ways to prepare yourself for Hawai'i 's natural disasters.
Need to know what some of our earlier exhibits were? Here's a listing of all of the Castle Building exhibits earlier than these.
