Honolulu, HI - Bishop Museum is planning a weekend -long celebration Aug. 8 and 9 to commemorate the reopening of the newly restored Hawaiian Hall.

The renovations are the first to Hawaiian Hall since it was established in 1889, museum officials said. The restoration team included Honolulu architect Glen Mason of Mason Architects to restore the structure of the great hall; Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA), a world renowned museum design firm; and incorporated the expertise of Hawaiian scholars, cultural practitioners, and artists.
“The Hawaiian Hall of today showcases the continuity of the Hawaiian culture,” said Timothy Johns, museum president & CEO. “It not only honors the past, but people who visit will see that many of Native Hawaiian practices of the past continue today.”
According to a museum news release:

• Hawaiian Hall will offer visitors deeper insights into Hawaiian culture and access to a record number of the museum’s treasured collections, together with Hawaiian interpretation and perspectives. Artifacts are displayed in ways that pay tribute to and respect their inherent power. Over time, these artifacts will be rotated to ensure its proper care and display.

• Each of the three floors in Hawaiian Hall will take visitors on a journey into a different realm. The first floor is the realm of Kai kea which represents the Hawaiian gods, legends, beliefs, and the world of pre-contact Hawai‘i. The second floor, Wao Kanaka, represents the realm where people live and work; focusing on the importance of the land and nature in daily life. The third floor, Wao Lani, is the realm inhabited by the gods; here, visitors will meet the ali‘i through their own words, and learn about key moments in Hawaiian history.

For updates on the reopening weekend schedule of events or for more information, visit www.bishopmuseum.org <http://www.bishopmuseum.org/> or call 847-3511.