Asian and Pacific Islanders in Historic Preservation
Tours & places of interest
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Support appropriate visitation, sensitive sharing, and good stewardship!
Many of Hawai'i’s archaeological sites, historic buildings, or other cultural resources are fragile and susceptible to damage. Please be careful and thoughtful when visiting, whether it is a cultural site or a historic building. When visiting historic or cultural sites, please be respectful and considerate. Some guidelines for good visitations include:
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Learn before you go. Read up on Hawaiian culture and history before you visit. Many sites do not have interpretive signs or brochures. Learning about their importance will give you a greater appreciation and deeper connection to them.
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Visit from the outside. This is especially true for places with rock walls. Don’t climb on or over the walls. The stacked rocks are unstable and may collapse.
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Don’t take anything. It’s unlawful to take from, excavate, destroy or alter any historic site.
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Don’t leave anything. It’s not appropriate to leave offerings at historic and cultural sites. The best way to honor a site is to leave it unchanged.
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Heed signs and be aware that historic residences are private property. Do not trespass, and try not to loiter or display suspicious behavior around private homes or property.
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Be quiet. It’s important to be respectful, and that can mean just being quiet and taking it all in. Many places are sacred to those affiliated with the sites, whether they are Native Hawaiians at cultural sites, veterans at war memorials, or congregations at historic churches or temples. Many people are seeking to learn or be inspired by these places.
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Do not litter, leave items behind, or damage the historic buildings, sites, landscapes, or archaeological sites. Restrict eating and smoking only to designated areas.
Courtesy of Historic Hawai'i Foundation. You can check out guided and self-guided tours like these on the island of O'ahu.
Featured Guided Tours
Honouliuli National Historic Site
Presented by Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i
Join the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i and the National Park Service for a visit to the Honouliuli National Historic Site, Hawai'i’s largest and longest operating World War II detention camp. Walk the site, visit landmarks and learn the personal stories of Japanese American prisoners and their families.
Additionally, the Honouliuli Education Center, located in the JCCH Community Gallery in Mō'ili'ili, is open Monday through Saturday and is free to the public. The Honouliuli Education Center showcases photos of Honouliuli Internment Camp, artifacts from the internees, oral history videos and virtual tours of the Honouliuli National Historic Site. For those who cannot visit in person, JCCH also has an online, searchable directory of the internees from Hawai'i.
More details provided to Forum registrants upon registration. Visit this website here for more information. UPDATE (Jaunary 30, 2020): These tours are FULL.
Guided Tours (by reservation)
Chinatown Food, History, and Culture Walking Tours
Presented by Hawaii Heritage Center
1040 Smith St
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808)521- 2497
Visit their website here for more information.
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Every Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 am. No reservations needed, but call 9 am to 1:30 pm Monday - Friday for location, parking and public transportation options. All tours start at the HHC gallery and begin with a brief talk about Chinatown and its history.
Hawaiian Mission Houses
553 S. King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813 (808) 447-3910
Visit their website here for more information.
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Guided house tours on Tuesday - Saturday
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History Buff tour on Fridays at 3pm
He'eia Fishpond
Managed by Paepae o He'eia
46-077 Ipuka Street
Kaneohe, HI 96744
Visit their website here for more information.
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Advanced reservations required (online form or call (808)236-6278)
'Iolani Palace
364 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Visit their website here for more information.
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Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday: 9:00 am - 10:00am
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Friday: 9:00 am - 11:15 am
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Tours begin every 15 minutes and reservations are highly recommended.
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Self-guided audio tours available.
Mānoa Heritage Center
2856 O‘ahu Avenue
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96822
Visit their website here for more information.
Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture, and Design
4055 Papu Circle
Honolulu, HI 96816
Visit their website here for more information.
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NOTE: Access to Shangri La is by reservation or business appointment only.
Washington Place
320 S Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 586-0248 (Tour Reservations)
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Public tours are held on Thursdays at 10am. For online tour reservations, visit here.
Self-Guided Tours
East-West Center
1601 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI USA 96848-1601
Maps of this tour will be provided at Registration.
Hawai'i Capital District Walking Tour
Visit here for the interactive map.
Hawai'i State Capitol Building
415 S Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Visit here for the PDF map.
Historic Downtown Honolulu
Created by Historic Hawai'i Foundation
Visit here for the PDF map.
King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center
417 S King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Visit their website here for more information.
Maunawila
Hauula Homestead Road
Hauula, HI 96717
Visit their website here for more information.
University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
Created by Docomomo US/Hawai'i chapter
Visit here for the PDF map.
Waikīkī Modern
Created by Docomomo US/Hawai'i chapter
Visit here for the PDF map.
Places of Interest
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Visit their website here for more information.
Hawai'i’s Plantation Village
94-695 Waipahu Street
Waipahu, HI 96797
Visit their website here for more information.
Mānoa Falls Trail
Na Ala Hele
Honolulu, HI 96822
Visit here for more information.
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
1845 Wasp Blvd. Bldg. 176
Honolulu, HI 96818
Visit their website here for more information.
Polynesian Cultural Center
55-370 Kamehameha Hwy
Laie, HI 96762
Visit their website here for more information.