Stories of our cultural roots, told through the artifacts of our past.
Exhibits at Hale Hōʻikeʻike
Take a journey through Maui’s history as you explore the various exhibits here at Hale Hōʻikeʻike. The museum features an extensive collection of artifacts dating as far back to pre-recorded times and displays the finely honed and sophisticated culture of pre-contact Hawaiʻi.
Keōpūolani Room
This room houses the largest public collection of Hawaiian artifacts in Maui county. The Keōpūolani Room is the best exhibit of Hawaiian antiquities to be found anywhere on the island of Maui and includes the best preserved and most rare artifacts from Hawaiʻi’s pre-western contact era. Artifacts you will find in exhibit includes: fine kapa (paper used as clothing and bedding), koʻi (adze), lei hulu (feather lei), lei niho palaoa (whale tooth and human hair, a sign of high breeding), a temple image of Kamapuaʻa (the prankster pig demigod), and so much more.
Kawānanakoa Room
The Kawānanakoa Room pays homage to our Nā Mōʻī Hawaiʻi and is named after David Kawananakoa, one of Hawaiʻi’s most celebrated aristocrats. In this room you will find: The Complete History of Nā Mōʻī Hawaiʻi (The Hawaiian Monarchy), a finely carved and inlaid Table that is thought to have belonged to Queen Liliʻuokalani, a gift from her husband, John Dominis, a souvenir print of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in Westminster Abbey showing Queen Kapiolani and Princess Liliʻuokalani and many more artifacts.
Kepoʻikai Room
Pictures of the Missionary families, staff and school hang above a Lyre Bench. A free standing China cabinet holds dishes from the original Bailey family as well as others; a koa, 4-poster trundle bed; a spinning wheel originally used at the school to teach the girls as part of their coursework. All are included in this exhibit.
Kahekili Room
Edward Bailey began painting in 1865 after a visit to Maui by American artist Enoch Wood Perry. He painted perhaps 100 oils, 26 of which are in the MHS collection. His style of painting was that of the Hudson River School. There is no record that Mr. Bailey had any training as an artist, but as soon as he arrived on Maui, he was making “dozens” of sketches for students at Lahainaluna to engrave.
Keoni Room
The first building built on the property, the Keoni Room is the oldest Western structure on Maui. Here is displayed one of the most complete collections in the world of rare Hawaiian Land Snails, and a beautiful quilt of the Haʻaheo Aloha (My Beautiful Flag) pattern, a common quilt design meant as a subtle means of protest after the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani.
Hālau Waʻa (Canoe House)
Housing Hōnaunau, a 100+ year old canoe, and the last example of a fishing canoe carved of one koa log and was made on the island of Hawaiʻi at the turn of the 19th century. Above the canoe hangs Duke Kahanamoku’s redwood plank surfboard, ten feet long, 23¾ inches wide by 1¾ inches thick. Surfing as we know it today began in the spirit and beneath the feet of Duke Kahanamoku.
Kawika Room
The Kawika Room (dining hall) was the last building built for the Wailuku Female Seminary. It is now used for changing exhibits and events. Check our listings for scheduled events.