On Land
Inside, you'll find a sophisticated collection of exhibits. They follow Hawaiian maritime history from its earliest known beginnings in Polynesia, progressing through the whaling industry, the rise of canoeing and then surfing, World War II, the arrival of the cruise ships, up to today's extreme wakeboarders. The exhibits make full use of multimedia, life-sized dioramas, and audiovisual effects to make almost every subject exciting and compelling. We had only intended to spend an hour there, and only managed to tear ourselves away because after two hours, we could hear our bellies growling for lunch! The cruise ship exhibit deserves special mention for both its interactive accessibility and the content of its displays. You enter by climbing up a ramp that is painted to look like a real boarding ramp. Above you, a mannequin waves from a railing as if the ship is about to set sail. A ship's horn sounds deafeningly overhead. You are immersed in the excitement and drama of "boat day", when one big ship left, another arrived, and hotel staffs scurried like maniacs to clean all their rooms in time for the next flotilla of guests to arrive. Inside the exhibit is a flabbergasting array of memorabilia from the luxury liners. Pay special attention to the fancy dinner menus - they are hilarious!

On Water
In the water outside float two historic vessels. One is the Hokule'a, a reproduction of an ancient Polynesian sailing canoe. This is no green fiberglass Old Town special, but a working replica of the same kind of double-hulled voyaging canoe that carried Hawaii's early settlers through the South Pacific, using only the current and the stars to guide their way. In 1976, National Geographic shocked the world by airing a special documenting Hokule'a's sail from Hawaii to Tahiti. This proved once and for all that ancient Polynesians were making ocean passages with no sophisticated navigational tools centuries before the Vikings.

The other boat in the harbor is the Falls of Clyde, the last remaining four-masted square rigger afloat in the world. Built in 1889, this beautifully restored boat is a floating museum and well worth a visit to stroll its decks and below-decks. The museum's observation tower offers a nice aerial view of the Clyde. The Aloha Tower next door is a good place to grab lunch before or after your visit. Built in 1926, it's now the centerpiece of the Aloha Tower Marketplace, a shopping and dining complex which includes Don Ho's Island Grill.

Getting There The Waikiki trolley stops nearby, as do city buses 19 and 20.