Lyman Museum and Mission House

05/23/2026

The Lyman Museum participates in Blue Star Families!

FREE summer adventures for military families? Yes, really. 🖼️🦖✈️

Blue Star Families, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, brings Blue Star Museums back for another summer of exploration, connection, and family fun.

Through this nationwide initiative, eligible military families receive FREE admission to nearly 2,000 participating museums all summer long.

Whether your family loves dinosaurs, art, airplanes, science experiments, or hands-on exhibits, there’s something to explore near you — at no cost.

📍 Free admission is available through Labor Day.

Start planning your next adventure: https://bit.ly/2OGc5bt

04/16/2026

The Lyman Museum seeks a qualified Archivist (part-time). To apply, please see the position description and application process information, including the Application for Employment on our website.

https://lymanmuseum.org/about-us/employment/

11/05/2025

Join us for E Kukala: Lyman Museum's Inaugural Auction of Our Stories, Our Art, Our Lives

The auction is LIVE NOW! November 3 - November 24, 2025

In addition to bidding on items at our auction https://lymanauction.cbo.io here are four more ways to join us in making this auction a success:

1) Make a cash donation: https://cbo.io/app/public/bidapp/lymanauction/donate
2) Become a Sponsor: https://cbo.io/lymanauction/tix
3) Sign up for auction email notifications: https://lymanmuseum.org/2025-auction/
4) Share this auction information with your family and friends!

If you see something you like, please click on the Details button for a complete description and additional photos of the item!

Bidders wishing to inspect an item may do so by appointment only during the auction period (November 3 through 24, 2025). Please contact Liz Ambrose at [email protected] to make an appointment during the Museum’s business hours, Monday through Friday, 10:00AM—04:30PM.

Successful Hawaiʻi Island bidders have the option of collecting their item/s in person at the Museum at the end of the auction, by appointment. Please contact Liz Ambrose at [email protected] for a pick-up appointment!
If an item can be shipped, shipping and handling charges will include insurance for the value of the item, and will be invoiced prior to shipping.

For any questions you may have, please contact Liz Ambrose at the Lyman Museum via Phone: (808) 935-5021 or via Email: [email protected].

10/13/2025

Four hundred years ago, Portugal was among the most powerful and wealthy nations of the world … so why did large segments of its population leave to seek better lives elsewhere? And why did entire families brave treacherous, five-month-long sea voyages to travel halfway across the globe to Hawai‘i? Was what they found here worth the sacrifice? The Portuguese are recognized as having made valuable contributions to Hawaiʻi’s society: strong family values and work ethic, loyalty to their adopted home—and of course the ukulele, Portuguese sausage, and malasadas! Local historian and teacher Tom Goltz presents this compelling program with colorful insights into a prominent segment of Hawaiʻi’s population, on two occasions: Monday evening, October 13, and the following afternoon, October 14.

09/18/2025

Did you know that “healthy aging”—together with many of the chronic diseases of aging—actually begin when we are young, in the families and communities that raise us? The locally produced film “Restoring Lōkahi” promotes the integration of Traditional and Western medicine to improve health by focusing on outcomes that are meaningful to patients. Inspired by the wisdom of elders, caregivers, and other community members across the United States, and brought to life by those in Hawaiʻi, this film is being presented by Dr. Karen Pellegrin of the UH-Hilo College of Pharmacy and videographer/director Daniel Emhof—followed by a Q&A session—on two occasions: Monday evening, September 22, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. and Tuesday afternoon, September 23, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Seating is limited; first come, first seated. Admission is free for Museum members, $3 for nonmembers. For more information, call the Museum at 808-935-5021.

04/29/2025

https://conta.cc/3YnnP97
RE-SCHEDULED FROM AN EARLIER DATE: On Tuesday afternoon, May 6, discover the captivating world of Pacific barkcloth as we examine the dynamic traditions of kapa from Hawaiʻi, ngatu from Tonga, siapo from Sāmoa, and tapa/masi from Fiji. Follow the fascinating processes by which tree bark is transformed into cloth, from the tools and techniques unique to each island group to the vibrant natural dyes that bring designs to life. We explore the shared cultural heritage and deep symbolic meanings embedded in these textiles, while at the same time appreciating the distinct artistic expressions and traditional uses—ranging from clothing to ceremonial attire to contemporary art forms—that define the barkcloth of each nation. UH-Hilo student Puakea Forester follows last month’s Part 1 focus on Hawaiian kapa with this afternoon’s Part 2 presentation: a unique opportunity to compare and contrast these “cloth without weaving” traditions and to gain a deeper understanding of the diverse cultural landscapes of the Pacific Islands. $3; free to Museum members. For details: (808) 935-5021 or www.lymanmuseum.org.

Email from Lyman Museum May 6 - RE-SCHEDULED FROM AN EARLIER DATE: Saigo - Part 2: Comparing Barkcloth Traditions in Hawaiʻi, Tonga, Sāmoa, and Fiji PATRICIA E. SAIGO PUBLIC PROGRAM SERIES PRESENTS: R

04/26/2025

https://conta.cc/4iw5bTx
In celebration of Lei Day (and beyond), the Lyman Museum invites you to experience an artistic tradition unique to Hawai‘i with a very special exhibition and demonstrations of featherwork by Lei Hulu o Hilo, from April 28 through May 9.

Lei Hulu o Hilo was founded by the late, beloved Aunty Doreen Henderson, a Hilo native who dedicated her life to the preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian featherwork, and who practiced and taught the art for several decades prior to her passing. She studied under Master Kumu Mary Kahihilani Kovitch, a student of Aunty Mary Lou Kekuewa who is considered one of the foremost featherwork teachers in Hawai‘i. Aunty Doreen’s rigorous teaching standards and love of the art form produced a number of teachers in their own right, two of whom are bringing this new exhibit to the Hilo community—by popular demand! For two weeks, Lei Hulu o Hilo students and teachers will dazzle visitors to the Museum with an extraordinary, colorful array of finished pieces. Visitors can also watch new creations being made by Lei Hulu o Hilo artists, and may learn how to make a feather flower to keep.

The nationally accredited and Smithsonian-affiliated Lyman Museum showcases the natural and cultural history of Hawai‘i to tell the story of its islands and people. Located in historic downtown Hilo at 276 Haili Street, the Museum is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For additional information on this special exhibit and Museum admission, call (808) 935-5021 or visit www.lymanmuseum.org. E komo mai!

Email from Lyman Museum Monday, April 28 through Friday, May 9, 2025 Traditional Hawaiian Featherwork: A Special Exhibit by Lei Hulu o Hilo Monday, April 28 through Friday, May 9, 2025 Share this emai

04/17/2025

Looks like an interesting demonstration!

04/15/2025

The April 15 presentation of "The Evolution of Hawaiian Kapa and Comparing Barkcloth Traditions- Part 2: Comparing Barkcloth Traditions in Hawai‘i, Tonga, Sāmoa, and Fiji" has had to be CANCELED, due to the illness of it's presenter.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to those who hoped to attend.

Email from Lyman Museum April 15 - CANCELED - Saigo - The Evolution of Hawaiian Kapa and Comparing Barkcloth Traditions PATRICIA E. SAIGO PUBLIC PROGRAM SERIES PRESENTS: CANCELED: Part 2: Comparing Ba

04/09/2025

Join us for the Patricia E. Saigo Public Program Series! Discover the evolution of Hawaiian kapa on April 14 and compare barkcloth traditions of the Pacific Islands on April 15. This is a unique opportunity to engage with rich cultural heritages and understand the artistry behind these traditional textiles. Don’t miss out on this insightful experience!

https://conta.cc/4ieyCcO

Email from Lyman Museum April 14 & 15 - Saigo - The Evolution of Hawaiian Kapa and Comparing Barkcloth Traditions PATRICIA E. SAIGO PUBLIC PROGRAM SERIES PRESENTS: Part 1: The Evolution of Hawaiian Ka