Lyman Museum

A must visit. A brief history of everything. Very well curated. The staff were also super friendly. First floor has very detailed volcano exhibit. It’s very thorough, esp during the time museum/exhibits in the national park were not available. Very interesting native animals demonstration and also some stones, shells, minerals. Second floor told a story of how Hawaii native people, how ppl came to this island. More importantly, how it became the 50th state of US. The history behind all the hotels and tourism now, which was quite impressive. I’ll never see Hawaii the way I used to.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Downstairs is about volcanoes, ecosystems, animals, shells and crystals. Upstairs is the human history of Hawaii that is incredibly fascinating and I feel like a must to learn about to really be able to experience the island by knowing about its history. There was so much great information, beautiful artifacts, engaging exhibits and hands on cultural appreciation! We spent about 2 hours there.

Excellent museum! We spent an enjoyable couple of hours here learning the history of Hawaii and being amazed by the quality of the minerals and seashell collections. The employees and docents were friendly and helpful, and the overall experience was highly memorable.

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.

An absolute must when in Hilo. We felt the warmth of Hawaii from the minute we were greeted into the museum. History, geology so beautifully explained and displayed. Knowing makes a difference. Learn about these islands. Thank you

Excellent museum with a collection that includes an extensive collection of shells from around the world. There is very good geology information with a mineral collection that they claim is rated in the top 10 of the world. One of the mineral specimens [a manganese silicate called Orlymanite] is the only one anywhere. The cultural exhibits on the second floor are also excellent. You can also for a small fee take a tour of the Mission House next to the museum. It dates from 1839, it is the oldest wood frame building on the island.

LOVE this museum! So much wonderful information and interesting displays. Very rich experience to learn more about Hawai'i, from geology to culture. Definitely a must-see for any age. The house is also a very cool experience although we just did the museum as that takes at least a couple hours to get through.

All Hawaiian museums are better thought out with care than most, but this one goes above & beyond in its fair but revealing presentations of Hawaiian geography, nature, culture, and history!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

What an illuminating experience it was viewing the Lyman Museum! From the outside, the museum almost looks like a well-maintained Bank of Hawai'i! Inside, we were greeted by just the friendliest folks! Entry fee was nominal (60 qualifies as "Senior"! Lol!! 7 or 8-bucks, from what I recall). Both main floor and second floor docents were full of information, giving us brief descriptions of what to expect from the exhibitions; both ladies were full of warm Aloha!! The numerous exhibits were fascinating refreshers for me, having taken Polynesian and Hawaiian history back in my school days (I was born/raised in Hawaii). What a terrific collection, displaying the geological makings of the islands, to the first settlers, through to the reigns of the islands' monarchial rulings, its dismantling, and onto the present. It was a really fine experience that we'd certainly do again, and recommend to others with an interest in Hawaiiana. There was a beautiful rock/mineral collection, which was (to me) a bit of an adjunct exhibition (perhaps?) displaying Mr. Lyman's extensive collection. (I didn't get the connection to Hawaii's history.) Fortunately, I love rocks, so this collection was Wow!! :D

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

" 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!!!

This is a "must" on your list of activities for Hilo! Buy both the mission house and Lyman museum pass - trust me, it's worth it. We bought our tickets a few hours ahead of time - we practically had the place to ourselves, it was awesome. If you are lucky, Bruce will be your tour guide. This guy is amazing - a wealth of knowledge, he really paints the picture of Hawaiin history [from volcanos, to the first and second wave of the first Hawaiins, through modern time]. You could easily spend all day here - but we felt we did a decent job covering our favorites in about 2.5 hours. If we ever visit Hilo again,, we will most definitely return!

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.

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.

Great place to be introduced to the cultural and natural history of Hawaii. We liked the size of the museum--big enough to provide some depth of information but not so big as to be overwhelming. The staff was excellent! Jan gave us an excellent tour of the Mission House; she knew her subject and presented it with enthusiasm. Cindy was extremely friendly and helpful in the gift shop, where we purchased "Daughters of Fire." This page-turning novel by Tom Peek reveals the "cultural tensions of contemporary Hawaii" that are largely overlooked by tourists.

We enjoyed a lovely tour of the Lyman Mission House and Museum in the afternoon on our way to the Volcano. It was Socially distanced. Since Mission House tour group was small and Tour guide spoke clearly, we could hear her very well even thru her mask. In the Museum part the lava exhibit was extra fascinating, all the various shapes and textures. Great place to visit before you hit the Volcano for the evening glow show.

Better than expected , a nice , educational visit to learn of Hawaii's past starting from how the islands were formed , the geology , biology , and then the cultural history.

The Lyman Museum and Lyman House were a highlight of our visit to Hilo. The museum is small and yet we were able to spend hours there learning about the history of Hawaii and about the land. The museum is beautiful and fun. Great place for kids as well.

Very informative with love interaction items. Immensely helpful to understand the natural and cultural history of Hawaii. This museum will answer a lot of questions you can have about Hawaii as an outsider. We loved it!

Newly renovated! A compelling way to experience the geologic and cultural history of Hawaii. Excellent displays using all the senses. I particularly enjoyed hearing music samples by decade and watching the volcano videos.

This is a nice museum. Just the right mixture of Hawaii history and natural history. The Lyman house tour was disappointing due to being limited to just the first floor due to Covid modifications. The docent was very knowledgeable and informed. Just the right size since you don't want to lose too much beach time.

House tour is part of admissions, great history if you are into that. Lots of period furniture,again if you are in to that. Getting ready to tour the museum, self guided so it should be good.

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!

New offerings at the Lyman: to finish out March look for events that celebrate Women's History Month; in April 2010 there will be a Lei workshop, and programs related to Earth Day; May see the Lei Hulu o Hilo with demonstrations on how to make feather leis. And once again, for history buffs, the journal of Sarah Joiner Lyman is back in print and available. The Lyman is a treasure, and if you are in Hilo, make sure you go by to see the exhibits.

Don't bring your kids here. They will not appreciate it. Sincerely, Me, as a kid Seriously though, it's kind of a bore unless you're somehow invested in the history behind this home or are really into mission history. However, I'm more of an art museum kind of person, so this place didn't really suit my fancy. I do give props to the guides for being incredibly knowledgeable and for the upkeep of the place. Their jobs are quite well done.

This is a great place to get all kinds of history without rwading a book. Bruce our tour guide knows his stuff! Dates facts history and a little humor. The tour of the house is extensive be ready to stand for the majority of the tour. There is a small book store where an assortment of other nick nacks can be purchased. Upstairs are some interesting displays of Hawaiian culture. The museum down stairs has some description of the Volcano and of the different climate zones of the island as well as some cool models of some of the wild life. Do forget to check out the rocks and the glowing ones around the corner.

Such a cool little museum! We took the house tour with Bruce and that was definitely the highlight of the museum. It's at no extra cost so I absolutely recommend doing it. He knew so much about the history not only of the family that lived there but Hawaiian history as well. The museum itself is a little small but definitely interesting and informative.

Fantastic museum to visit in Hilo. I have never seen so many different shells or for that matter different rocks in one place. The Mission house visit is extraordinary - it brings to life the amazing accomplishments of Sarah Joiner Lyman.

We visited this museum in April. It was incredible and very enjoyable. We love history and learning about Hawaii. The Lyman house tour was so well done and informative. The Koa and other wood is beautiful throughout the house as well as the decor. I bought Sara Lyman's Journal and am reading it now, love it!

This is a great place to spend a couple of hours getting to know some missionary history. Even if you're not into missionaries, the guided tour of the Lyman house is pretty interesting. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, charming and friendly. The tour of the 3 story house takes about 45 minutes and it's well presented. Before or after the tour you can walk around the separate museum. There are impressive displays on seashells and minerals on the first floor. There are also interactive displays on volcanoes and lava rock and Hawaiian flora and fauna - geared more to the kids. The top floor has displays on Hawaiian fishing hooks & netting, poi pounders, early books, textiles, etc. There are displays for the various immigrants to Hawaii - The Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Filipinos, etc. Off to the side there was a more detailed display of an early Korean-style dwelling that you could walk through. Another room had a display of Chinese pottery. Back on the first floor there is a mini-theater where you can watch various films ranging from the destruction of Kalapana Gardens from lava flow to famous historic Hawaiians. There is also a well-stocked gift shop and clean restrooms. :-) Overall, the museum displays are very nicely done and the museum itself is clean and comfortable with ample places to sit and relax.

Sort of interesting but since we didn't want to wait to take the guided tour we didn't get to see the most intriguing offering this museum has, which is the house from 1824. I would have liked to see the furniture, the cooking area and the art. Happy to support a local treasure but would have appreciated being told that we couldn't tour the house without a docent before we paid.