Totally awesome experience we were in Hilo for a short stay & sightseeing, The Lyman museum of Hawaiian cultural, history and ocean biology was just the ticket. Great help by Cindy. She was the museum curator. Very funny & just a Lovely person, had a great time with the kids . Had a great time , clean and family, friendly highly recommend. read more

The museum is spectacular, and the house is so exciting and interesting to see. But the tour of the house, Bruce, was unbearably over-enthusiastic. He would rant and use voices imitating other previous guests (presumably?) and bounced from topic to topic, rushing us through the house so fast that you hardly get any time to look at anything. He opened our conversation by saying how, "contrary to popular belief, the natives are not heathens." What a great start... Though he was contradicting hateful sentiments, I felt the tour didn't need to be embellished with such commentary, and the history of the missionary relationship to the Kanaka Māoli as a colonial project of theft and religious pressure was glazed over.. read more

After experiencing the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens (please reference my review if interested), we made the 18 minute drive to Lyman Museum. I must admit, when Google Maps announced our arrival, I was skeptical of the museum based on the appearance of the building. However, that feeling dissipated when we entered the building and were greeted by a friendly employee at the front counter. After paying the very small admission fee, another friendly employee gave us a brief overview of how to navigate the exhibits. The first exhibit was centered on one of my favorite childhood interests...volcanoes! I was taking a walk down memory lane as I relearned the root cause of volcanic eruptions and the history of Hawaii's active volcanoes. Afterwards, we learned about the various habitat types, mammals, and birds. The next following exhibits were focused on Hawaii's complicated (in my opinion) history. Although all of the content was interesting to some capacity; the following three topics stood out: sugar plantations, the educational system, and the annexation of Hawaii by the United States. Although the information is presented in an unbiased form, it shaped my opinion of how native Hawaiians (along with other ethnic groups) were mistreated, the United States' role in attempting to completely sanitize the Hawaiian education system (i.e., being punished for speaking their native language in school), and the events that led to the Hawaiian government being overthrown by the United States. As most museums, I walked away with mixed feelings. I learned a lot about Hawaiian culture, but also felt torn in my decision to visit (support) a place that has been essentially cleansed of its true culture and taken over by Americans (yes I know that there are other places that have been similarly impacted). I highly recommend that visitors take the time out of their vacation to visit this museum and enlighten themselves with Hawaiian history. read more

Lyman Museum and Mission House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Been many years since visiting Lyman Museum and was happy to see the very modern display and very clean interior. This museum has probably on of the best mineral displays in the whole country. I was kind of shocked to see some minerals I've never ever heard of. The Hawaiian display was also good, with a brief history about the Hawaiian nation and how it came about. Also shows how the sugar plantation life and when immigrant workers started coming to Hawaii . A great place for locals to revisit and spend some time and energy to look back into the early days and the hard lives they lived. All staff were very friendly and very welcoming and informative when some questions were asked . A great place for visiting tourist to visit at a small cost to them. read more

Love this little museum. It was very clean and well arranged. I loved the minerals exhibit, as i love looking at beautiful rocks lol. The second floor was all about the history of Hawaii and its people and I learned a lot. It's worth a visit if you are on this side of the island, as I think it's important to learn about the history of places you travel, so you can be be more respectful to the native people and their environment. The employees were super sweet. The man at the desk when we entered was very soft-spoken and patient and kindly explained the museum to us. The lady we met at the end of the museum was also very kind and funny. 100 percent recommend read more

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10/15/2024 Lyman Museum 276 Haili St Hilo, HI 96720 Located at the corner of Haili and Kapiolani streets. There is a small gravel parking lot at the rear and street parking on Haili St. The docent was friendly and knowledgeable. The bottom floor has displays for Hawaiian geology, botany and zoology. The second floor, where I spent most of my time, is about a Hilo centric Hawaiian history with abstract panels and displays of artifacts in chronological organization. I was told that many of the artifacts were donated by local residents and later verified by the museum staff. Overall I thought everything was well done and interesting. A worthwhile visit, especially if you were/are a local. Also a good place to spend time after a hotel check out. read more

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The folks behind the front desk greeted us warmly. When we learned we had paid too much for admission, they initiated the process to reimburse the extra account to us. One of the docents gave us a one minute intro to the museum galleries, then freed us to explore at our leisure. The website describes the museum as offering a "self-guided tour". I'd say it was more of a "wander around and see what you see" tour. My Beautiful Bride and I found the displays to be exceptionally clear and well-lighted. There is a ton of information, but it is clear which parts were the most essential. We were especially impressed by the shell collections and the rocks and minerals displays. Just extraordinary in scope, quality, and presentation. Though we were supposed to finish after one hour, we barely finished in two. read more

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Our Docent Bruce was extremely engaging and knowledgeable. He brought the history of the Lyman family to life.

Don't miss this gem! From Hawaiian history, to amazing minerals and shells. Then top it off with the Lyman house, from an expert docent like Auntie Pat. She is knowledgeable and friendly!!! read more

This is the best museum. My family had a blast visiting. We have a 6 and 10 year old and we literally had to promise them shave ice to get them to leave. They love museums and learning, and this one was full of exhibits that kept their attention. From the volcano, to the gems, to the music history and then the make and take section - we loved it all. We recommend it to all families visiting the island. Their website mentions reservations for the museum so we almost didn't stop in, but the docents there said that is really for the tour of the house, not the museum. Please stop in and support this place. It is truly amazing and has such unique and interesting artifacts. read more

My wife and I visited here and found it a fascinating museum. First we got the tour of the Lyman Mission House which is the oldest standing wooden structure in Hawaii. The woman who gave us the tour provided an illuminating insight into the lives and mission of David and Sarah Lyman. The museum next door had an interesting rock collection but more importantly a great narrative of Hawaii's history on the second floor complete with some very unusual old Hawaiian items like a necklace made of human hair with a whale tooth; or another necklace made with dogs' teeth; and leis made of feathers. I learned alot and I thought the museum did a great job of helping me understand Hawaii's history. Well worth a visit! read more

Lyman Museum and Mission House - Lyman Mission House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

The overview of Hawaiian history is excellent. Highly recommended to anyone who visits Hawaii. a must see in Hilo.

It doesn't look like much but it has a lot of historical value to it. The Lyman Museum consists of the house of the Lyman family, the first missionaries in Hilo. Most of the prices are from the time period and not all of them belonged to the family but it's a pretty interesting house. The frame is made out of mostly either locally sourced ohia or koa built in the New England (?) style and the windows were brought over to Hawaii. The original rocking chairs were there along with the quilt that's 180+ years old! The house doesn't seem to have AC but the condition is amazing. It was also cut in half as the county had to build a road through the house and it had to be moved "out of the way". The guide is a local docent who just enjoys being there and can tell you most things that you have questions about. The image is a bit wonky as I used an app to make my husband disappear. You can't really see the solid koa door as my photoshop skills are lacking. read more

Lyman Museum and Mission House - Lyman House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Our visit to the Lyman Museum was really interesting. Bruce gave us a tour of the home and was full of interesting information and fun facts. We loved the lava exhibits as well as the minerals. The gift shop had a great book selection as well as so much more. Great stop if you are in Hilo! read more

Absolutely one of the best museums in Hawaii!! A fabulous tour of the Lyman house by a very knowledgeable and friendly docent, a beautifully designed and well laid out museum next door full of the history of the family and of Hilo and Hawaii, a museum full of aloha. Hilo and Hawaii are lucky to have this very special place that played such an important role in the history of Hawaii. Thank you for creating such a wonderful, beautiful museum! read more

Not only was it enjoyable, but the Lyman Museum was quite educational. It's a great way to learn about the islands...geography, flora, and fauna! The mineral collection is Gucci! read more

I actually didn't know anything about the Lyman family until I visited this museum. We were looking for things to do and saw this was a reasonably priced option in Hilo so off we headed! There is no dedicated parking lot so it's street parking only. We had no problem finding a spot nearby though. Regardless of one's views about the religious role missionaries play in visiting natives in foreign lands, it is part of Hawaiian history. From a historical perspective it was an interesting glimpse of how the first generation of Lymans lived in Hilo and how their descendants also impacted Hawaiian history. Our tour guide was very friendly and had a lot of in depth knowledge about the family and house. We were lucky and had gotten here right as a tour started so we were able to catch the house tour. The other part of the museum is the science portion which shows the different geological and biological aspects of Hawaii. If you are a geologist or an avid rock collector this is your place for they have an extensive collection of precious rocks. You might even scratch your head and think to yourself "O RLY?" as you see one of the rarest minerals named after Orlando Lyman, Orlymanite. No photos are allowed inside the museum, both in the house and the science center. There's a cute little gift shop where you can get some souvenirs too if you'd like. Details: Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00 am - 4:30 pm Admission: -Kama`āina: $8 adults, $6 seniors, $3 children (ages 6-17), $17 family -Out-of-State: $10 adults, $8 seniors, $3 children, $21 family -University Students: $5 Mission House Tours: 11:00 am and 2:00 pm -Tour times subject to change -Tours are limited to 10 guests read more

Lyman Museum and Mission House - Exterior of the Lyman house - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

What a great museum. One building covered the Hawaiian culture and one building was the actual mission building with a great tour guide. I could go again n again, there was so much to absorb. read more

If you're new to Hawaii and don't know much about the place, this is the place to come. The first floor teaches you about the land, it's geology, climate and wildlife, and the second about its human history. Hawaii is a fascinating place, and everyone who visits should make an effort to understand it. At present they are still limiting attendance and requiring advance reservations due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19, which I appreciate. It's easy to make reservations online or by phone. read more

Great museum! Good overview of flora and fauna and the history of Hawaii. Wasn't crowded at all when we went so it was a nice reprieve from the tourists and heat. Also went to the Mission House. Our docent Cindy was so friendly and knowledgeable! She was the highlight of the tour:) we covered both in 2 hours. So glad we went. read more

This is one of the most well done museums we've ever been to. It's not large but it's packed full of wonderful information. We go so often, taking guests there every time we can! Every time we learn more about the beautiful island we live on and its culture. The mo'olelo (storytelling) exhibit is fabulous! In the lava art is incredible! read more

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We were planning to come here just for the museum part but when we arrived we were informed that there was a tour in 15 mins if we wanted to join so of course we did. Tour was run by Cindy she is awesome funny as heck oh and very informative of the history of the Lyman ohana and hilo. She takes you up to the second floor, attic and outside balcony which felt like you were leaning. No touching. The museum itself was beautiful small but worth going. The minerals from all over the world is amazing. Bathrooms down stairs. Street parking in upper hilo town. Dont 4get to stop at the gift shop. read more

" Small Museum With Some Great Hawaiian History " We visited the Lyman Museum in Hilo Hawaii and had a nice educational tour of the Lyman Mission House and Museum. We had a guided tour as the lady gave us some great stories and facts about the old Mission House. We then moved to the Lyman Museum where we watch a historical movie and visited the many historical faxes and gems about the Hilo Island. This Museum is a must see when you take a trip around Hilo Hawaii. read more

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Decent small museum in Hilo, great for kids to understand volcanic activity and geology. The section with the Mission House was closed :( Really cute gift shop and very friendly staff. read more

This museum is great if you are into Marin biology or how the Hawaiian island were created, learned a lot as I never visited here in 4th grade and the people that wirk there are amazing sadly the upstairs cultural center was closed read more

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We love small museums and the Lyman Museum is a perfect example of one. There is something for everyone, adults, children, kamaaina and tourists. I was impressed with the new Island Heritage Gallery and always enjoy the sea shell and mineral collection. My husband really liked the tour of the Mission House. Our docent Bruce was very informative and entertaining. Although we have done the tour before we learned a few more things from Bruce. We were at the museum for about an hour and a half, I could have stayed longer. Definitely returning soon. For visitors, the museum is next to the Catholic church and walkable from downtown. If you have a car there is a small parking lot and also streetside parking. Oh, and the museum store has a great selections of books and locally made items! read more

This is a lovely museum. I learned so much from the tour. Bruce was so funny and knowledgeable. The exhibits were a great introduction to the island. Our trip was richer because we came here first. It has the perfect combination of geology and culture. It's important to understand the history of the island. read more

I love the Lyman museum!!! It was informative, interesting, and the staff was awesome!!! The maintenance was clean and well taken care of!! I viewed downstairs and the house, going back to visit upstairs!!! Thank you for the wonderful read more

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It was my second time visiting the big island, and I was really interested in learning some of the geographical and cultural history. This place has both!! It was a great time walking through the exhibits, and there is a ton of information. I also did the house tour, seeing Hawai'i's oldest wooden home and learning about the family that built it. The docent, Bruce was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic, it was a treat to learn from him. There is a great selection of books there for purchase as well. Overall it was a great, quiet and not crowded few hours. I learned a lot, and hope I can visit again someday. read more

Lyman Museum is an eclectic assortment of items from Hilo past. Old household items from Japanese and Korean homes. I found it interesting, but wondered exactly what it all had to do with Hilo - other than Japanese and Koreans lived there and left the stuff that's in the museum. The Korean exhibit depicted life in Korea. Everyone in the scenes are happy and wearing brightly colored clothes. The children were dancing and flying kites. The adults were having the time of their life working and watching the children with big smiles. Evidently life in Korea back then was idyllic back then. A from the 1800's has a darker view on life in Korea back then. ( https://goo.gl/qNbmLp page 27 ) Doesn't sound like those were the "good ole days". There is a rock collection from Lyman Junior which includes some very rare rocks. I'm not a rock hound, so most of them looked like ordinary rocks to me. Lyman Senior's house is next door, but was closed for viewing the day we were there. I would have very much liked to see the inside. Lyman Senior was a turn of the century missionary. I wondered what Lyman senior thought about Junior going off and collecting all these rocks. Well, Junior did put his heart into it. I've got to give him that compliment. Well done Junior. Lyman Museum is worth the time. I'd save it for a rainy day as I do not consider it a "must see" attraction. Allow yourself an hour or two to absorb this attraction. read more

Lyman Museum and Mission House - A different view of Korea in the 1800's from the book Korea and Her Neighbors, 1897, Isabella Bird Bishop - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

We had a great visit at the Lyman museum and mission house today. Thank you, Bruce, for giving us the tour of the mission house and all the staff at the museum. Everybody was very friendly and welcoming. The exhibits were informative, interesting, and engaging. Everything was perfect. We'll definitely be back. Mahalo nui loa. read more

Second visit for us, first for our Georgia based cousins. We toured Mission House first as there was an open time before our scheduled entrance reservation. Due to COVID we could not see entire house, but Bruce gave a great talk on the history of the Lyman family and Hawaii during the Missionary era. Fun to see how the house was constructed. The Museum is so well done showing how Hawaii came to be, from it's geologic history to the flora and Fauna, the cultures and Native History and on top of all that, there are FANTASTIC mineral and shell collections from all over the world. Easy to spend 2 hours here. Nice book and gift shop too. The people who work here are great! read more

This small, yet very interesting is loaded with lots of fascinating history facts and artifacts in Hilo. It also holds an incredible gem and mineral collection that even the Smithsonian complimented on. There is also a better collection of lava samples then at the Volcano National Park. This is a must see when visiting Hilo and won't take much of your time. Make sure you arrive in time to take a guided tour of the Lyman House. There are some amazing historical facts to be learned on this tour. There is a small charge, but well worth it. It is a hefty walk from Hilo Bay town, but a nice walk if the weather is nice. The view walking back into town is amazing. read more

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Wow! What a little gem! The exhibitions are great (sad the 2nd floor was closed, for renovation I imagine!) but the highlight were the staff. We were welcome with open arms, smiles, handwoven lei's and kisses!! Bruce was a wonder. Not only knowledgeable and on hand to offer reading suggestions to get the heads up on all things Hawaiian, but he could knock off a tour of the original Lyman House in record time, especially to accommodate an unruly 2 year old (mine! ) if they could have provided child care, I would have stayed all day!!! read more

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Closed due to Coronavirus. Hope they open soon. Disappointed. Maybe next time. Going to the beach instead even though they are closed we can still sneak in. Yeah! read more

This is a great museum. They have done a fabulous job on the displays and information. No one that comes to Hilo should miss. Very reasonable entrance fees and you should plan at least 2 hours or more. Great history of the island. read more

Great place to learn about the history of Hawaii. Both the missionary influence and the natural history of the islands. Fair admission prices. Good gift shop. And with Corona going about a number of places are closed. They helped me sort out what was open for a tour and what was closed due to Corona. The help they gave me was worth the cost of admission. And a great old house. Cool furniture. Wonderful wooden floors. Great info on the life of a salty New England woman in HI raising a family. Wonderful tour with a small group where every one wears a mask to stop the spread of Corona. The museum has a great collection of natural history items. Info on sea birds, sea shells, different island habitats, and even about volcanoes. Call the phone number on the sign by the front door and make a tour appointment. Well worth the money. read more

We had a fabulous tour of the house and then the museum. Both were well worth the time to learn about the Lymans and some of the Hilo history. Our tour was led by docent Pat who is a 5th generation Hawaiian and was a fountain of history. The museum, too, was terrific and filled with so much information about the islands and Hilo, too. I would highly recommend both to anyone visiting Hilo. read more

With only a few hours to visit Hilo, it was important for me to see the Lyman Museum. All of the exhibits are excellent. I lingered in the mineral collection, the Korean house replica, and the Hawaiian history section. Unfortunately, we couldn't take the mission house tour due to our timing; they offered us a rain check, which wasn't necessary. If we have the chance to return to Hilo, we'd gladly pay to enter the museum again. read more

An interesting rainy day back-up choice that is even better if you just read James Michener's "Hawaii", otherwise, the Mission House tour lacks the vibrancy the guide really should convey given the authentic state of the rooms and the story of a family with 15 kids! Time your visit around the tour because self-guiding in the house isn't an option. The natural history displays next door actually enticed my offspring to read more than at the Kilauea Visitors' Ctr. and Jaggar Museum - this is definitely it for the educational portion of your trip. However, the highlight for them was when an old guy farted in the attic, and they all had to try to suppress their laughter (their grandmother was crying). Plus a star for the gift shop offering reasonably priced trinkets (made in China, nothing to do with history) for kids, but minus one for the "Family" admission price being restricted to kids under 17. Seeing that I was desperate for a savings, the more senior worker allowed us the student price without IDs... too bad she couldn't have mentioned the 2fer coupon (from the tourist magazines) carefully stowed in my purse! read more