Lyman Museum and Mission House

Days and Hours: Mon-Sat 10AM-4:30PM. Guided tours of the Mission House at 11AM & 2PM, subject to change, minimum 4 persons. Closed Sundays, Jan. 1, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Dec. 25.

Description:

Natural and cultural history of Hawai`i. Our mission is to tell the story of Hawai`i, its islands and its people.

General admission: Adult $10; Senior (60+) $8; Child (6-17yo) $3, under 6yo free; Family $21. Senior (60+) groups $6/person. Kama`aina (resident) rates available with ID.

Pre-K thru grade 12: $3 per student. Required chaperones are 1 per 10 students (for grades 1--12) and 1 per 5 students (for preschool--K), at no charge. Additional adults are $7 each. University/College Classes: $5 per student, $7 per accompanying adult.

Both all-inclusive and more focused school tours are aligned to Hawai`i State curricula and standards in Science and Social Studies, and may include either the Museum or the Mission House or both. Offered by arrangement are hands-on educational workshops for students on a variety of topics relating to the Museum's exhibits, often conducted in tandem with a focused tour. E-mail the Museum for further information.

Grade Levels:
Pre-K
K-5
6-8
9-12

Exhibits: In the Earth Heritage Gallery, walk through a lava tube and learn how Hawai`i came to be and how its unique volcanoes work. Experience island climate zones, from alpine snow to open ocean, in the "Habitats of Hawai`i" exhibit. View full-size models of sea life found in Hawaiian waters, including a 10-ft. tiger shark. See the world's only display of the bones of 2 flightless birds unique to Hawai`i, the Hawaiian Rail and a flightless goose. View renowned collections of shells, minerals, and gems, considered among the world's finest. The Island Heritage Gallery explores the ethnically diverse world of Hawai`i, beginning with the early native Hawaiians and including the 5 major immigrant groups that came to the islands in the 19th century. The Shipman Collection of Chinese Art contains art and artifacts, some of which are 3000 years old. Grandfather's House features a full-scale replica of a 1930s Korean village home in an immersive exhibit, allowing visitors to step back in time to life in rural Korea in the early 20th century. The Lyman Mission House, adjacent to the Museum, was built in the late 1800s as a home for missionary-educators David and Sarah Lyman. It is the oldest frame house on the Big Island and includes many original furnishings and household items. Guided interpretive tours convey a sense of what daily life was like in 19th-century Hilo for the Lymans and their students, visitors, and community. Additional, shorter-term museum exhibits of a specialized nature are presented year round.

Additional Information:

Group tours for a maximum of 75 persons at one time, to be divided into smaller groups for docent-led tours.  All group tours by arrangement and confirmed reservation only.  Please book at least one month in advance, or longer if possible.