LYMAN MUSEUM & MISSION HOUSE

Built in 1839 for missionaries David and Sarah Lyman, it is the oldest wooden building on the island of Hawai'i. They have hosted such illustrious guests as American author Mark Twain and the Hawaiian royal family. The Mission House has been restored and the visit allows visitors to imagine the daily life of the missionaries in the 19th century. Next door, the Lyman Museum, built in 1973, presents two recently renovated galleries, the first of which focuses on the history of the first inhabitants of the archipelago. Numerous objects and stories from the period allow visitors to relive the different stages of the arrival of the Europeans, from the gradual disappearance of Hawaiian culture to its return thanks to the king. The second exhibition is more interested in the natural history of the archipelago. Shells, fish and even sharks give an insight into marine life, while rocks, models and crystals inform about the formation of Big Island and its neighbors. Both sites can now be visited with two separate reservations, limited to 2 hours of visit each. The visit of the museum is done independently on the three available slots: 10am, 12:15pm or 2:30pm. It is possible to stay longer or to access the site without a reservation, subject to availability. The visit of the Mission House is done with a 20 minutes guided tour at 10:05 am, 12:20 pm or 2:35 pm. Only small bags are accepted. No photographs are allowed.