Art Museum
Honolulu Museum of Art
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Honolulu Museum of Art is an art museum in Honolulu, United States.
About Honolulu Museum of Art
Overview & Identity
The Honolulu Museum of Art is recognized as a premier cultural institution, once described by a notable critic as 'the finest small museum in the United States.' It is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, a mark of its professional standing. The museum serves a diverse community in Honolulu, Hawaii, with a mission deeply rooted in education, aiming to provide an 'intimation of their own cultural legacy' to children of many nationalities. The institution operates 32 galleries and six courtyards, presenting a permanent collection that traces the history of art in Hawai'i while also featuring global works.
History & Founding
The museum traces its origins to the collection of Anna Rice Cooke and her family. As the Cookes' art collection outgrew their home and the homes of their children, Anna Rice Cooke, along with her daughter Alice Spalding and daughter-in-law Dagmar Cooke, decided to establish a public museum. In 1920, they donated their Beretania Street land along with an endowment of $25,000 to create the institution. Their home was subsequently torn down to make way for the museum building. The Honolulu Museum of Art officially opened on April 8, 1927, marked by a traditional Hawaiian blessing. The Research Library, which began with 500 books in 1927, was expanded in 1955 and named for a benefactor.
Building & Architecture
The museum occupies a 3.2-acre site in Honolulu. The original building, designed by New York architect Bertram Goodhue, is considered a masterpiece of its time. It was named 'Hawai'i's best building' by the Hawai'i Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture and is registered as both a National and State Historical site. In 1998, extensive renovations began, starting with the Asian wing. This was followed by the construction of the Henry R. Luce Pavilion Complex, designed by John Hara, which opened on May 13, 2001. The Luce Complex added 26,000 square feet of space, including a two-story exhibition structure, a cafe, and a museum shop. The complex was named for Henry R. Luce.
Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings
The museum's permanent collection is vast and varied, featuring a large collection of Asian art, which is a central focus. The Department of European and American Art houses paintings by renowned masters, and the collection also includes three-dimensional works by significant artists. The museum carries works by various international and local creators. A dedicated gallery explores the history of art in Hawai'i, featuring Hawaiian traditional arts, art by Hawai'i artists, and art of Hawai'i. The second floor gallery of the Henry R. Luce Wing specifically houses works from the museum's Arts of Hawai'i collection, including the John Dominis and Patches Damon Holt Gallery.
Significance & Educational Mission
Education has been at the core of the Honolulu Museum of Art's mission since its opening. The museum serves more than 40,000 children and adults annually through free school tours, classes, workshops, and outreach programs. It offers free lectures and special programming, including activity-filled free museum days. The Honolulu Museum of Art School, formerly the Academy Art Center at Linekona, opened in 1990 and serves thousands of children and adults each year. The museum also maintains a partnership with the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, allowing visitors to tour Shangri La, Doris Duke's Honolulu estate, which serves as a museum for learning about the global culture of Islamic art and design. In recent years, the museum has faced financial challenges, leading to the sale of the Spalding House property in 2019 to focus resources on the main campus.
Plan your visit
Honolulu Museum of Art
- Website
- honolulumuseum.org