E komo mai

Lāna‘i’s story is the legacy we keep,
this moment we share and a future we embrace

Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center invites all to immerse in the cultural tapestry and rich and storied history of the island. The museum is a gateway to the islands’ diverse heritage. Visitors can gain insights into Hawaiian culture, the island’s artistic expression and more deeply understand its historical context and the influences that carved Lāna‘i’s place in Hawai‘i’s history.

The museum inspires people to be informed, thoughtful and active stewards of heritage. Its collections represent the largest archive of Lāna‘i-focused materials, ranging from traditional artifacts to historic plantation objects.

Opening Hours

Monday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm. Closed on these holidays: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Presidents’ Day (February 17), King Kamehameha Day (June 11), Fourth of July, Labor Day (September 1), Thanksgiving (November 27), Black Friday (November 28), Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Lāna‘i is a land feared by gods and was once a refuge to Hawaii’s kings. It’s rich, red earth once produced 70 percent of the world’s pineapples.

Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center invites all to immerse in the cultural tapestry and history of the island. Its unique, storied past and present has enabled it to grow more sustainably and remain largely unscarred by modern life.

The museum is a gateway to the islands’ diverse heritage. Visitors can gain insights into Hawaiian culture, the island’s artistic expression and more deeply understand its historical context and the influences that carved Lāna‘i’s place in Hawaii’s history.

The museum inspires people to be informed, thoughtful and active stewards of heritage.

The museum’s collections represent the largest archive of Lāna‘i-focused materials, ranging from traditional artifacts to historic plantation objects.

Opening Hours

Monday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm. Closed on major holidays.

Lanai Cultural & Heritage Center Museum video.

Private Tours

Custom curated tours may be arranged on weekdays with at least two-week advance notice if staff is available. Contact us to schedule.

Rates for Private Tours

  • Free for Lāna‘i student groups
  • $5 per person for off-island, in-state student/youth groups and Lāna‘i residents
  • $10 per person for off-island, in-state non-profit groups
  • $20 per person for visitor/out-of-state groups

1,000 Years of Island Life

Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center museum opened in January 2010 with a showcase of native artifacts. It also includes a plantation heritage room that transports guests back in time when immigrants and industrialists came together to pursue a shared dream of prosperity.

Black and white photo of the last thatched house in Palawai, Lanai, taken in 1912. The traditional structure is surrounded by natural landscape, with its thatched roof standing out against the backdrop of the rugged terrain.
Photo of a man sitting and using a traditional poi pounder. He is focused on the task, with the poi pounder in a large wooden bowl, engaged in the cultural practice of preparing poi.

Empowering Culture

Native Hawaiians, who thrived on Lāna‘i sustainably for centuries were experts at living within the wealth and limitation of their natural environment. While remnants of heiau or sites of ceremonial and spiritual significance and loko i‘a, which are fishponds, can be found, the majority of impacts to the landscape came with Western contact.

Black and white photo of the last thatched house in Palawai, Lanai, taken in 1912. The traditional structure is surrounded by natural landscape, with its thatched roof standing out against the backdrop of the rugged terrain.

1,000 Years of Island Life

Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center museum opened in January 2010 with a showcase of native artifacts from cooking implements and cultural items. It also includes a plantation heritage room that transports guests back in time when immigrants and industrialists came together to fulfill a shared dream of prosperity.

Photo of a man sitting and using a traditional poi pounder. He is focused on the task, with the poi pounder in a large wooden bowl, engaged in the cultural practice of preparing poi.

Empowering Culture

Native Hawaiians, who thrived on Lāna‘i sustainably for hundreds of years, were experts at living within the wealth and limitation of their natural environment. While some of their physical impact on the landscape remain visible today with heiau (sites of ceremonial and spiritual significance) and loko i‘a (fishponds), the majority of landscape changes occurred post-Western contact in Hawai‘i.

A few ways we made an impact in 2024
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students participated in Aloha ‘Āina programs
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people volunteer at events
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ungulates removed by hunters

Important Information For Your Arrival

Your health and safety are priority. Exposure to COVID-19 or other illnesses is possible in any public setting. COVID-19 vaccination and masks are not required for entry. Clothing, including cover-ups for those in swim wear, is required. Visitors may occasionally be asked to remove their footwear prior to entry. We reserve the right to refuse entry for individuals – especially those who endanger staff, visitors, artifacts or any Lāna‘i CHC property. Those who engage in verbal or physical harassment, discriminatory or threatening behavior or otherwise interfere with the experience of others will be denied entry.