Tripadvisor
1 / 30#30. Ho'oulu Community Farmers & Artisans Market
- Rating: 4.5/5 (53 reviews)
- City: Kailua Kona Island of
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Highest-rated museums in Hawaii by visitors
Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.
Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The world's first museum dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums started in 1471. America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history, opened in 1773.
Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can reduce depression and increase people's sense of belonging. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits can reduce stress. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.
No wonder they attract nearly 900 million visits a year.
With over 30,000 museums in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in Hawaii on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.
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2 / 30#29. Whale Center of the Pacific
- Rating: 4.6/5 (150 reviews)
- City: Lahaina Maui
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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3 / 30#28. Capitol Modern
- Rating: 4.4/5 (148 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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4 / 30#27. Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum
- Rating: 3.9/5 (268 reviews)
- City: Puunene Maui
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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5 / 30#26. Mauna Loa Observatory
- Rating: 4.5/5 (132 reviews)
- City: Hilo Island of
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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6 / 30#25. Mike Carroll Gallery
- Rating: 4.9/5 (427 reviews)
- City: Lanai City Lanai
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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7 / 30#24. Aloha Pearl Harbor Tours
- Rating: 4.1/5 (612 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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8 / 30#23. Grove Farm Sugar Plantation Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (155 reviews)
- City: Lihue Kauai
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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9 / 30#22. Pacific Tsunami Museum
- Rating: 4.3/5 (594 reviews)
- City: Hilo Island of
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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10 / 30#21. W.M. Keck Observatory
- Rating: 4.7/5 (47 reviews)
- City: Island of
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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11 / 30#20. Imiloa Astronomy Center
- Rating: 4.2/5 (351 reviews)
- City: Hilo Island of
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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12 / 30#19. Queen Emma Summer Palace
- Rating: 4.5/5 (385 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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13 / 30#18. Hawaii Plantation Village
- Rating: 4.4/5 (217 reviews)
- City: Waipahu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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14 / 30#17. Lyman Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (327 reviews)
- City: Hilo Island of
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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15 / 30#16. Makai Glass Maui
- Rating: 4.7/5 (213 reviews)
- City: Makawao Maui
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
16 / 30#15. Moana Glass by Ryan Staub
- Rating: 5.0/5 (161 reviews)
- City: Lahaina Maui
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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17 / 30#14. Mauna Kea Observatories
- Rating: 4.7/5 (116 reviews)
- City: Island of
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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18 / 30#13. Kona Coffee Living History Farm
- Rating: 4.8/5 (298 reviews)
- City: Captain Cook Island of
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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19 / 30#12. Kauai Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (793 reviews)
- City: Lihue Kauai
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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20 / 30#11. Hulihe'e Palace
- Rating: 4.4/5 (787 reviews)
- City: Kailua Kona Island of
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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21 / 30#10. Honolulu Museum of Art
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,315 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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22 / 30#9. Mauna Kea
- Rating: 4.6/5 (329 reviews)
- City: Island of
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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23 / 30#8. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,393 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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24 / 30#7. Shangri La
- Rating: 4.7/5 (956 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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25 / 30#6. US Army Museum of Hawaii
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,134 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
26 / 30#5. USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park
- Rating: 4.6/5 (4,007 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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27 / 30#4. Bishop Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,935 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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28 / 30#3. USS Arizona Memorial
- Rating: 4.7/5 (27,261 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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29 / 30#2. Iolani Palace
- Rating: 4.6/5 (8,526 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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30 / 30#1. Pearl Harbor National Memorial
- Rating: 4.7/5 (13,946 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
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