Today the museum had a talk on the reintroduction of the nearly extinct Hawaiian crow (Alala) very interesting and wonderfully done .

Very good mission house tour by guide Greg (2nd floor of museum was closed for renovations)

This is a small but very interesting museum. The mission house is very interesting and has a lot of historical information to absorb as well as amazing furnishing from the past. The main museum is small, but has one of the best gemstones and geological collections I have seen outside of the Smithsonian. The seashell collection is also amazing. So many different and exotic specimens to look at. Another interesting feature are the different lava displays. There is no better collection of examples of different lava anywhere. The staff are very friendly and almost bed over backwards to show their “Aloha Spirit” as well as being very informative. It is a hefty but enjoyable walk from the center of Hilo town, but worth the view walking back into town when you have completed your tour of the museum and mission house.

The mineral exhibit is missing an entire crystal system: triclinic. Also, there is no olivine, which is one of the only minerals one can actually find on this island.

Great tour of the mission house - docent was well-informed and humorous. Museum had a few interesting exhibits related to Hawaii geologic history, and a lovely mineral display. One star off since only museum main floor was open, upper levels were under renovation... and we didnt know this until after we bought tickets.

Another little gem in Hilo, definitely worth catching the tour if able to.. Well done exhibits, should be even better when renovations are finished.

Interesting tour of the Mission House, outstanding mineral connection, friendly staff. Good basic islands natural history with more being constructed on second floor. Well worth it.

Really impressively modeled exhibits of shells, minerals, and Hawaiis natural history and ecology. Hope to come back when the cultural history floor is reopened this summer.

Small museum full of interesting displays and help friendly staff. Went here too late to do the tour of the Mission House but still spent over an hour wandering around all the displays which are very well done. The Volcanic National Park is closed because of Kilauea erupting - so the Museum display about volcanoes was very topical. They are doing renovations to the 2nd floor and prepared a video about the old displays prior to the work starting. This covered the history of the different people who now live in the Hilo community from the time of the first arrivals.Nice gift shop too!

I live on Island and had to visit the Lyman Museum for a project for University. It was a very interesting and really cool actually self-guided tour through the museum and then a guided tour through the Lyman house. The museum does charging entry fee what is well worth it

A very nice museum with exhibits describing lava and the formation of the Hawaiian Islands with its unique wildlife, a lovely collection of sea shells, a personal collection of crystals and minerals; and a nice special exhibit on a Korean home to supplement historical accounts of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese immigrants. Be sure to catch the house tour and you will find the history of a missionary family preserved in their home. Was the only visitor and the guide was outstanding in helping me to understand the 200 year history of this home and the Lyman family.

Spent 2 hours there on my day off with my wife and kids. 1st hour and a half was spent looking at volcanoes, plants and animals, and a mineral/gemstone collection. The last half hour was touring the oldest building in all of Big Island the Lyman House . The gift shop was also cool. Some gemstones were only $1. Cool place for the kids. For my Kamaaina family of 4 we paid $17. In 2019, the 2nd floor is projected to be finished, which will include kids activities and many more.

The gallery wasnt that great compared to some museums weve been to, but the guided tour of the house was very nice. The tour guide seemed to know her stuff, and she offered plenty of chances to ask questions along the way. The house was very beautiful inside and out, and she gave plenty of time to look through every room we entered.

Love this place, great learning tools. Cute gift store.

Excellent museum with great curators. Lyman house is not in original condition or position but well preserved :)A large part of the museum was closed during my visit for renovations so they didnt rate a 5/5

Lyman house and tour were the best part. Interestng to learn about how the other cultures got to the island

I had a great visit here. I definitely recommend taking the tour of the Mission House. My tour guide, Bruce, has lived in Hawaii since before statehood. He was very knowledgeable on both local and colonial history. What I learned on the tour put the museum displays in proper context. This is a perfect way to spend 2 hours in Hilo, for any history buff.

Its a decent museum. I took away just one star because the LYMAN Museum doesnt actually have anything about the life and times of BG LYMAN, which Id hoped would give me insight as to why the road into the main gate at Schofield Barracks is named LYMAN Road. Thank you. UPDATE: At the Airport about to go back to Oahu where Schofield Barracks is. Saw the BG Lyman exhibit and found out he did die (although of a heart attack) during WWII. This is the kind of stuff that the LYMAN Museum really ought to be able to tell their guests about.

Like it very much all people very helpful and good.

It was definitely more than I expected to meet my eyes.

Partially closed until Nov. 2018 (upper floor is under construction). Cool mineral collection!

Great staff, museum focuses on Hawaii history.

Great place to visit on a rainy Hilo day

A must visit Hilo museum with local legacy

It is boring if you are from hawaii.

Awesome!