Savvy visitors to Hawaii soon discover that the dramatic landscapes of Kīlauea are just one side of the Big Island’s story. When staying at our bed and breakfast on the Big Island, guests have the perfect opportunity to experience both the raw nature of the volcano in Volcanoes National Park and the rich, resilient soul of Hilo.
A Deeper Dive into History: The Lyman Museum
For those wishing to delve even deeper into the island’s history and past, the Lyman Museum in Hilo offers a comprehensive and fascinating journey through the natural and cultural history of Hawaiʻi.
As a Smithsonian-affiliated museum, it boasts a world-class collection presented in an engaging way that appeals to both children and adults. The institution is unique in that it comprises two distinct experiences: the historic Lyman Mission House and a modern museum building.
A guided tour of the Mission House, built in 1839, transports visitors back to the 19th century. As the oldest surviving wood-framed building on the island, it provides a rare glimpse into the lives of the New England missionaries David and Sarah Lyman and the profound cultural shifts of that era. Note that the stairs in the Mission House are very steep, and there is no elevator.
In the main building, the exhibits are wonderfully curated. The ground floor is dedicated to Earth Heritage, with stunning displays on volcanology and an impressive mineral and gem collection that glows in the dark. The upper level focuses on Island Heritage, tracing the history of Hawaiian culture from the first Polynesian navigators through the diverse waves of immigration that created the modern, multicultural fabric of the islands.
Lyman Museum, Hilo by W Nowicki licensed under CC BY 3.0
The Island Heritage Gallery
The Island Heritage Gallery, on the second floor, offers a compelling journey through the vibrant tapestry of Hawaiian history. Your stroll through time begins with the ingenuity of the first Polynesian settlers, showcasing the masterfully crafted tools, containers, and clothing they created from native materials to thrive in their new home.
The gallery then thoughtfully navigates the era of profound transformation brought by Western “Agents of Change,” exploring the impacts of explorers, traders, and missionaries on the islands’ governance, economy, and culture. From there, the story continues with the arrival of immigrants from Japan, China, Portugal, and beyond, who came to work the sugar plantations and, in turn, wove their own foods, customs, and languages into the rich, multicultural identity we now call “local.”
The narrative culminates with Hawaiʻi’s political evolution and the vital renaissance of traditional arts championed by King Kalākaua, the “Merrie Monarch.” This historical path leads to the Kīpuka, a wonderful interactive space where visitors can connect with the culture firsthand through hands-on activities like kapa design and cordage making, ensuring the traditions of the past remain alive and tangible today.
The Earth Heritage Gallery
The Earth Heritage Gallery, on the ground floor, plunges visitors into the dramatic natural forces and unique ecology that define the Hawaiian Islands. The experience is immediately immersive as you step into a walk-through lava tube, feeling the volcanic origins of the land around you.
The gallery’s centerpiece, the “Habitats of Hawaiʻi” exhibition, transports you across the islands’ diverse climate zones in just a few steps, from the cold alpine summits to the warm waters of the open ocean, where full-size models of majestic sea life, including a formidable 10-foot tiger shark, swim overhead. This gallery holds unique treasures found nowhere else, including the only display in the world of two extinct, flightless native birds.
Beyond these impressive displays, you can marvel at a stunning sea-shell collection and the world-renowned mineral collection, which features Orlymanite, the only known specimen of this rare mineral, poignantly named for the great-grandson of the museum’s founders, connecting the island’s deep earth history directly to its human story.
A visit to the Lyman Museum is an educational experience that provides essential context for everything one sees on the Big Island.
Lyman Museum Admission:
(as of this post, check the website for the most recent fees.)
Kamaāina: $5 adults, $3 seniors, $2 children (ages 6 – 17)
Out-of-State: $7 adults, $5 seniors, $2 children
University Students: $3
Mission House Tours:
Kamaāina and Out-of-State:
$3 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children (ages 6 – 17)
University Students: $2
Reservations are recommended for museum entry and mission house tours. You can book online or give them a call to make the reservations. The museum and Mission House have set tour times along with a maximum number of visitors allowed on each tour or admission at any time. Phone: 808-935-5021
A Powerful Beginning: The Pacific Tsunami Museum
Any cultural exploration of Hilo should also include a visit to the Pacific Tsunami Museum. More than just a collection of exhibits, this institution is a powerful testament to the history and resilience of the Hilo community. It is located in a former bank building that, through its own story of survival, stands as a fitting home for these memories. The devastating tsunamis of 1946 and 1960 did not just reshape the coastline; they forged the character of the town.
The Complete Big Island Experience
A trip to Hawaiʻi is often defined by the majestic presence of its volcanoes, and rightly so. But a stay at Volcano Village Estates reveals that a truly complete Big Island experience marries the awe of nature with an appreciation for the island’s deep cultural roots. By serving as a luxurious and tranquil base for exploring both the fiery spectacle of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and the historic, soulful streets of Hilo, the Estates offers its guests a richer, more nuanced adventure. It is an invitation to not just see the island, but to understand it, creating a journey filled with connection, discovery, and memories that will last a lifetime.