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.
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Opening Hours
Monday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm. Closed on these holidays: Labor Day (September 7), Thanksgiving (November 26), Black Friday (November 27), Christmas Day and New Year’s 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.
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
Empowering Culture
Native Hawaiians thrived sustainably on Lāna‘i for centuries, living as part of the land within the ahupua‘a system, a more holistic relationship with the environment with land areas that typically run mountain to sea. Remnants such as heiau, sites of ceremonial and spiritual significance, and loko i‘a, fishponds, reflect this way of life. Western contact and subsequent commercial enterprises—including sugar and pineapple cultivation, ranching, and later tourism—reshaped the landscape and brought an end to traditional land management practices.
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.
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 2025
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 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.
