There are your traditional museums showcasing art, history, science, and culture; then there are some more obscure museums. Here are eight of Hawaii’s “odd” museums, featuring everything from snails and astronomy to paper airplanes and teddy bears.
- Bailey House Museum, Maui
Smart Destinations/Flickr This historic 19th century house museum features artifacts of Hawaiian history and art – and also a collection of land snails.
- Teddy Bear World, Oahu
Teddy Bear World Hawaii More than 800 animatronic bears occupy this 20,000 square foot museum, described as “the only teddy bear animatronic museum attraction in North America.”
- Hale Pa’ahao, Maui
Lahaina Restoration Foundation This museum is part of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, and once operated as a prison in the 1850s.
- Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii, Big Island
Yoshi Canopus/Wikipedia Located in Hilo, this museum combines Hawaiian culture and history with astronomy – focusing particularly on the Mauna Kea Observatories.
- Hawaii Plantation Village, Oahu
Shihmei Barger/Flickr This site showcases the history and culture of the state’s former sugar plantatations. Surprisingly, there are many similar historic sites and museums across Hawaii.
- Jaggar Museum, Big Island
Rosa Say/Flickr A geological museum dedicated to volcanology and seismology in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This museum obviously makes sense, though it does speak to a very small population of enthusiasts.
- Shangria La, Oahu
Frank Farm/Flickr The historic Doris Duke mansion showcases Islamic art, furnishings and decorative art. While this isn’t a weird museum, it does seem like Hawaii is an odd place for it.
- Paper Airplane Museum, Maui
Pen Waggener/Flickr Though closed for more than a decade, the museum featured more than 2,000 models from the size of a postage stamp to wingspans of more than six feet.
Which of these museums would you like to visit? Share your answer in the comments below!
Smart Destinations/Flickr
This historic 19th century house museum features artifacts of Hawaiian history and art – and also a collection of land snails.
Teddy Bear World Hawaii
More than 800 animatronic bears occupy this 20,000 square foot museum, described as “the only teddy bear animatronic museum attraction in North America.”
Lahaina Restoration Foundation
This museum is part of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, and once operated as a prison in the 1850s.
Yoshi Canopus/Wikipedia
Located in Hilo, this museum combines Hawaiian culture and history with astronomy – focusing particularly on the Mauna Kea Observatories.
Shihmei Barger/Flickr
This site showcases the history and culture of the state’s former sugar plantatations. Surprisingly, there are many similar historic sites and museums across Hawaii.
Rosa Say/Flickr
A geological museum dedicated to volcanology and seismology in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This museum obviously makes sense, though it does speak to a very small population of enthusiasts.
Frank Farm/Flickr
The historic Doris Duke mansion showcases Islamic art, furnishings and decorative art. While this isn’t a weird museum, it does seem like Hawaii is an odd place for it.
Pen Waggener/Flickr
Though closed for more than a decade, the museum featured more than 2,000 models from the size of a postage stamp to wingspans of more than six feet.
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