Mission

Bishop Museum's mission since founding has been to study, preserve and tell the stories of the cultures and natural history of Hawai'i and the Pacific

Philosophy

Within this mission, serving and representing the interests of Native Hawaiians is a primary purpose of the Museum. The Museum gives priority generally to activities associated with the collections., and we favor activities that integrate culture and natural history (or the environment) rather than approaching them separately. Current thematic priorities are:

Protecting Our Collections and Making Them More Accessible
Advancing Native Hawaiian Culture and Education
Strengthening Connections to Hawai'i 's Schools
Conserving Cultures and the Environment in the Pacific
Opening a Science Center at Kalihi
Renovating Our Historic Buildings
Strengthening Our Neighbor Island and Polynesian Presence