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The Contemporary Museum
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Tue-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
20 reviews for The Contemporary Museum
I grew up literally 5 doors down from this place. Close to round top, the museum is set on Makiki Heights Drive, which for ten years was my personal playground. I knew this road and this museum grounds like the back of my hand. My friend and I used to sneak in by jumping over the hedges and roam around the gardens all day and play hide and seek.
This museum and gardens was like wonderland for hide and seek. We'd always bring a little picnic or snacks and eat at the bottom of the gardens where its cooler and a little damp.
The museum itself never seems to change its artwork. I've been there several times over the last 15 years and they always seem to keep the same pieces up. I used to love the room with the weird pink worm shapes, and the neon lights flashing.
Usually on weekends they have some events where you can see art shows or music and theatre. Pretty cool place for any ages.
"Furlough Friday Specials at The Contemporary Museum
Join us on Furlough Fridays:
Show your Government ID for free admission."
I like this and can do this.
This review is for the Yoshino Suda Exhibition running through Oct. 18, 2009.
Describe this installation using the same number of words as pieces.
That's it.
So, when you go, expect the installation to be sparse, and that's an understatement. Suda's delicate plant life carved entirely from wood is so life-like, we actually walked past the first installation, thinking it was real. There are many surprises within the installation, and many understatements.
The artist's goal is said to be to make you consider space differently, and when you move through the museum playing the game of "hide and seek" of his work, it definitely gives you a chance to see the museum in new ways - even if you have been there many times before. You'll find yourself peeking around corners and bending down in ways that one rarely does in museums.
I won't ruin the surprises for you by describing the exhibition gallery by gallery, I'll simply remind you to keep your eyes and mind open to the experience of what a visit to the museum should be.
Another note, as of our visit today, the Hockney installation remains closed due to water damage. The grounds were as always, beautiful.
There was an additional mixed-media installation outside in the tree that was also engaging and unique, but I am sorry, I don't recall the artist. He was using miniature "tents" placed throughout the tree and "ropes" from the ground to the "tents". The tents were of many colors and appeared on the tree almost like giant bugs (parasites?).
This museum is set half in a hilly, residential area of Honolulu. If you continue up the mountain, past the museum you are in for a real treat and great views of both jungle and city.The museum itself is easy to find and offers free parking. Military and the dependents are always free at TCM which is nice. The artwork rotates so check to the website before you go. Most of the pieces on display the day I visited were interesting and thought provoking, although I will admit there were some, in my humble opinion, that looked more like chicken scratches then "art" but it is all about perspective. The building and gardens are beautiful and worth the drive. A good way to spend about an hour.
The beautiful grounds of this museum at the end of that windy drive is like an Oasis OF CULTURE. You feel like you are on another planet, or at least in another city! Great and unique place to chill and have a bit o lunch as well....:)
The contemp is BEAUTIFUL. As a museum it's much smaller than you expect it to be... but the grounds are just amazing.
I recommend ordering a picnic (you can call ahead to let them know) or just sit in the cafe and enjoy the day. The food is good, healthy, lots of vegetarian options. I LOVE it.
I love the cafe... I've had:
the tomato soup and swiss cheese sandwich (4 stars)
the hummus (2.5 stars)
the crostini, changes daily (4 stars)
the tuna sandwich (4 stars)
I knew I'd love this place as soon as I walked in and saw the huge Fendi Be@rbrick....
and so i FINALLY made it up to the Contemporary Museum! It took us a while, as we got lost on the drive up Tantalus, but it was well worth the gas.
The exhibit we saw was "20 Going On 21: Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, Looking to the Future--An Exhibition of Hawaii Artists." Great pieces...not only paintings and photos, but lots of interesting mixed media stuff, sculptures, and also a few installation pieces.
The museum grounds are so beautiful! A mini botanical garden with interesting sculptures and landscape design throughout. There's also a pool with a beautiful floral collage painted on the wall, making for great photos.
I didn't get to try the cafe there, but I hear it's great. Cute (but angry-looking) panda mural on the cafe walls.
Sigh, must come back again with my SLR camera! Will be coming again soon!
The Contemporary Museum is an absolute gem. The location is tops (lol), with beautifully landscaped grounds and a simplicity that marries well with the exhibits. The gift shop has a fun and eclectic collection of goodies that venture outside the usual coasters and postcards that you can get at any museum. The cafe is quaint. The food is quite good - the deviled eggs are yummy - and getting to sit outside is a treat.
They are having their annual art auction fundraiser next month. Check it out.
I love the Contemporary Museum; there's nothing not to like about it (except maybe the really dismal and overpriced cafe)
Great location, great views, great exhibits, and great place to have a picnic or stroll around the grounds.
Definitely recommend it for visitors or locals
We got there as soon as it opened, ready to show our student IDs for a lower rate, but the lady at the front desk said admission was free today and the third Thursday or every month. Score. Just saved us $3 a head.
Its located on Makiki Heights Drive, before you hit all the windy roads.
The crappy thing was that the exhibitions were being swapped out so the gallery was closed. So ... check the website for exhibit info before hand.
The best part about this place is the gardens. Meticulously maintained, beautiful, endless. The museum is nestled in tight, surrounded by houses. When we were walking the gardens, the neighboring house was playing "Stairway to Heaven" quite loud. You know when you play Stairway in reverse ...
Makiki can be a really wet place. Humid, but cool. Like Kaneohe.
I wouldn't recommend walking here or bussing it here. The road leading up to it is really windy (like Initial D downhill sprint) and narrow and steep. Although I do see joggers occasionally. And the buses take a while.
Anyways, the gardens made the trip worth it. Lots of photo ops. Lots of outside sculpture.
I ate at the cafe once a while ago and thought the food was good. Pricey, but for a museum cafe, pretty standard.
Since the gallery was closed, it only took us like a half our to wander all the grounds. On our way out, dude at the front desk stopped us and asked if we wanted to take a survey. While I'm filling it out, he says I get a gift for filling out the survey. I was expecting a bottle opener or a pencil or something. It was a hardcover book of works. Nice.
We took three busses over a period of THREE HOURS to get here. If you don't have a car, you're seriously BUMMED. The Hawaii busses are NOT on time, and do NOT always show up on the route to this particular museum You have been warned!
But eventually, we got there. We walked in, got our educational discount, and walked around the grounds for a bit before venturing into the special showings in a building outside of the main gallery.
Being ME, I fell asleep in the David Hockney set design exhibit room. It was dark, cool, and colorful. I sat down for two seconds and passed out from exhaustion. When I woke up, a small Asian kid with Bruce Lee hair was standing over me, a dollop of green snot dangling dangerously from his runny nose.
ME: (waking up) Oh! Hi there, lil' fella!
GREEN BOOGER KID: (nothing)
ME: Uh...where's your mommy? Do you have a tissue? Could you stop leaning over me? Do you need a Kleenex? Do you speak?
GREEN BOOGER KID: (sniffle)
ME: HEL-LO?! Does this kid belong to anyone?! DOES ANYONE HAVE A TISSUE!?
I guess he though I was part of the installation, because he kept staring at me. I excused myself when his parents quickly grabbed him away from the "scary sweat-soaked homeless lady." Yeah, tha'd be me.
I ate at the museum cafe, too, which was surprisingly good! The smoothie I had saved my life. Or at least it prevented some massive heat stroke. It must have been 99 degrees that summer day.
The garden was beautiful, and was well labeled, so every species of plant was named and explained. The canopy of trees kept me cool for a spell. It was quiet, tranquil, and peaceful, even with dozens of tourists running amok on the spacious, lush grass.
So the advice I give you is...visit the museum equipped with a car, don't fall asleep in the exhibit room, wear sunscreen and bug spray, and avoid all snot nosed kids with bowl hair cuts. Or carry a box of Kleenex with you at all time. Your choice.
Nestled up in Makiki Heights, the Contemporary Museum is one of Honolulu's jewels. The beautiful grounds are a destination in themself to visit and wander, but bring mosquito repellent if you want to visit the extensive garden. Otherwise, you'll be eaten alive!
The museum itself is small which is works in its favor. I'm often overwhelmed when I visit the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art because it's so big that I feel like I'm wandering forever, from one exhibit to another. TCM on the other hand, focuses your attention on the works presented precisely because the galleries are small. I love the intimate feeling of seeing the art in the often quiet and cool space making up the galleries.
If you're a member, you'll get a cash discount in the gift shop and cafe. The cafe is also part of the charm of visiting TCM. Small menu, but well prepared food, I've often spent a hour and a half, chatting with friends, while we looked at the art within the cafe.
I'm an out-of-state member now. For $20 a year, it's a steal as the notices for exhibits are rich and in color. I'm always reminded of the many good times I've had visiting TCM and make sure I see it when I go to Honolulu.
This is an awesome museum, less stodgy then the Academy but smaller. I am no longer a member, but I loved the annual party downtown at the bank. Do they still do those?
Why is it that in the reviews I've read on this website, tourists always slam local establishments for various reasons? That one person down there complains about having to catch 3 busses, why not catch a taxi? The remoteness of the museum (Tantalus Heights) helps to make this a scenic and beautiful place. Its about a 15 minute car ride from downtown. You could probably walk there in an hour.
While its unfortunate to pass out in a museum, I would expect to be stared at by someone, weither it was an asian kid with an unfortunate haircut and a mucus problem or some stuck up artsy fartsy people. What Kristina didnt know was that the kid was playing the loogie game while she was asleep. And lost. =)
Love the contemporary Museum. I volunteered there for years in collections, so I spent a lot of time there eating almost daily. I loved it. The chef was fearless, the food was clean, fresh and healthy. Great place to go for lunch and lovely atmosphere. Well worth the trip.
Beautiful spot to come for a variety of reasons.
The location of the museum is quiet surreal. I can't remember when I first came here. I think it may have been an art opening for my uncle. Maybe, it was a function for my art school. I remember I was very impressed by the location of the museum. It takes up the historic Spalding House, and made into the Contemporary Museum by the Honolulu Advertiser's Twigg-Smith family. The views from this spot on Tantalus are absolutely gorgeous. The garden is quite a marvel to wander through.
The art space is nice and open, and is easily explored. The museum space is pretty small, and can be covered pretty quickly. However, the space is beautiful. The lay-out does successfully invoke and promote roaming deliberations of the art displayed.
There also is a cafe to grab a quick lunch. You can either dine indoors or outdoors. However, given the beautiful surroundings, you most surely should choose having your meal outside.
Definitely worth coming to for truly enjoying both a sunny day and some art.
I've been here several times and while there are a few good installations, but the museum is tiny. You can cover everything in 30 minutes.
The museum courtyard is nice, but avoid the museum cafe at all costs. Overpriced and the food is terrible.
This place used to be someones house, complete with pool, tennis court and gardens. A must see for a museum. Their exhibits are edgey and quite good. The tennis court is now an exhibit also, but you can still play a game, so maybe bring your racket and be art. Free admission third thursday of the month, but if you think you'll want to stop in their cafe that day, make reservations.
love the gardens. love the cafe. love the gallery. sometimes love the exhibits. love the purchased works situated throughout.
love the downtown locale at first hawaiian bank too. is that on here?
This is a museum built on a former estate, with the exhibits running through the home, the pool house, and outdoors on the expansive lawn. It's beautiful, with a view and great landscaping. The cafe here is fantastic, if Noreen is still the head chef there, the food rocks. They have very limited hours, and the Museum is well tucked away in Maikiki Heights...but it's worth the visit!
Lovely very intimate (it did used to be a residence, after all) museum. When I was there they were hosting a Yoshitomo Nara exhibit, whom I really just can't help but love. The cafe is very good, too; lighter fare than typical Hawaiian plate lunch-style. It's the perfect stop after a little hike around lush Makiki.
