Founded in 1927, the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA) is one of the USA’s premier regional fine art museums, celebrated for its 50,000-piece collection connecting Eastern and Western art.
Key Takeaways
- Check the days: HoMA is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM (Fridays until 9:00 PM), and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Admission: Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for Hawaiʻi residents, and everyone 18 and under gets in free.
- Lunch without a ticket: The HoMA Café serves lunch Wednesday to Friday and brunch on weekends from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with no museum admission required.
- Cheap parking: The lot behind the HoMA School at 1111 Victoria Street costs $3 per hour or $8 for the day, credit card only.
Quick Verdict: Why Spend an Afternoon at HoMA?
It is an oasis of calm just 10 minutes from Waikiki. The museum features Mediterranean and Asian open-air courtyards with fountains, rare Japanese woodblock prints by Hokusai and Hiroshige, European masters (Van Gogh, Monet, Cézanne), and the award-winning HoMA Cafe.
| Museum Detail | HoMA Highlights |
|---|---|
| Location | 900 S Beretania St, Honolulu (10 mins from Waikiki by bus or rideshare) |
| Admission Cost | $25 adult ($15 Hawaiʻi residents) / Free for ages 18 and under |
| Renowned Collection | World-famous collection of Asian arts (Japanese ukiyo-e, Chinese jade, Southeast Asian textiles) |
| HoMA Cafe & Shop | Fine outdoor courtyard dining with fresh local ingredients & curated design shop |
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Honolulu Museum of Art Hours, Tickets and Parking
The Honolulu Museum of Art is at 900 South Beretania Street, between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu. Key details as of October 2026:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Hours | Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun 10 AM–6 PM; Fri 10 AM–9 PM; closed Mon–Tue |
| Holiday closures | New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas |
| Admission | $25 adults; $15 Hawaiʻi residents; free for ages 18 and under and members |
| Resident free days | Community Sunday (third Sunday of each month) and Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea on July 31 |
| Parking | HoMA School lot, 1111 Victoria St: $3/hour or $8/day, card only |
You do not need a car: TheBus Route 2 runs from Kūhiō Avenue in Waikiki to the museum, and the fare is $3.00 with a HOLO card or $3.25 in cash.
What to See in the Galleries
- Asian art: More than 20,000 works, with galleries devoted to Japan, China, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and the Philippines; it is one of the largest Asian collections in the United States.
- Japanese woodblock prints: More than 12,400 works, the third-largest holding in the country, built around the gift of novelist James A. Michener. The prints are light-sensitive, so the selection on view rotates.
- European and American masters: Paintings by Van Gogh, Monet, Gauguin, Matisse, Modigliani and Picasso, plus Italian Renaissance works from the Samuel H. Kress collection.
- The building itself: Architect Bertram Goodhue designed the 1927 museum around shaded, open-air courtyards that blend Hawaiian and Spanish Colonial Revival styles. Leave time to sit by the fountains.
HoMA Café and Coffee Bar
The café, set in a courtyard garden, is a destination of its own, and there is no museum charge to eat there. As of October 2026:
- Lunch: Wednesday to Friday, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM.
- Brunch: Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM.
- Friday evenings: 5:00–8:30 PM, with food served until 7:30 PM.
- Coffee Bar: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and 10:00 AM–8:00 PM on Friday.
Walk-ins are welcome, but the museum strongly recommends booking lunch and brunch in advance online, especially on weekends.
Tips for Planning Your Visit
- Add Shangri La: Thursday and Friday Shangri La tours depart from HoMA ($45) and include same-day museum admission, so book the estate and skip a separate ticket.
- Use Friday nights: With galleries open until 9:00 PM, Friday is the best day for an after-beach visit and café dinner, and on the first Friday of the month you can continue to the galleries of Chinatown’s First Friday.
- Families save: Free entry for anyone 18 and under makes HoMA one of the best-value cultural outings in Honolulu.
- Make it an art day: Pair the galleries with the street art of the Kakaʻako murals, a short drive toward the ocean.
Where to Stay Nearby
HoMA sits between Waikiki and downtown, so the ʻewa end of Waikiki and the Ala Moana area keep the bus or rideshare short, and both are close to Kakaʻako and Chinatown too. Our list of the best Waikiki hotels near Ala Moana Center covers the most convenient options, and the where to stay in Waikiki guide compares every neighborhood if you would rather be on the beach.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Honolulu Museum of Art free?
Not for most visitors: adult tickets cost $25 as of October 2026. Entry is free for everyone 18 and under and for members, Hawaiʻi residents pay $15 and get in free on the third Sunday of each month. The café and shop can be visited without a museum ticket.
How long do you need at the Honolulu Museum of Art?
Two to three hours is enough for the Asian galleries, the European masters and the courtyards. Add an hour for lunch at the HoMA Café, or about two hours more if you join a Shangri La tour, which leaves from the museum on Thursdays and Fridays.
What days is the Honolulu Museum of Art closed?
HoMA is closed every Monday and Tuesday, and on New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It opens at 10:00 AM from Wednesday to Sunday and stays open until 9:00 PM on Fridays, so plan a weekday visit for Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
What else is near the Honolulu Museum of Art?
Downtown is a few minutes away, so the museum pairs well with an ʻIolani Palace tour (Tuesday to Saturday, booked online in advance) and lunch in Chinatown. Kakaʻako, with its murals, cafés and breweries, is a short ride toward the ocean.
