Honolulu Museum of Art, Art museum in Honolulu, United States
The Honolulu Museum of Art occupies a long, single-storey building with a pale green facade and a wide hipped roof of small brown and grey tiles; the name "HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS" is inscribed along the top. Square green columns form a recessed portico, where two white stone lions flank the entrance steps. Its permanent collection is shown in 32 galleries and six courtyards.
Anna Rice Cooke founded the institution in 1922 and opened it in 1927 to present art from different cultures that shaped the heritage of the islands. The structure was built following a design by Bertram Goodhue and later expanded through several additions, including a pavilion for contemporary works.
The Asian wing displays Buddhist sculptures from several centuries alongside paintings from the Ming dynasty. Visitors can walk through six interior courtyards planted with tropical greenery between the exhibition rooms, experiencing the Mediterranean-style architecture.
The institution opens Wednesday through Sunday and offers free entry for members and children under 18. Guided walks take place during opening hours, and a courtyard café serves food between gallery visits.
The museum's first building, designed by Bertram Goodhue and completed by Hardie Phillip after Goodhue's death, was named one of Hawaii's finest structures by the Hawaii chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Anna Rice Cooke donated her Beretania Street land, her home, about 4,500 artworks and $1.2 million to found the museum.
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