Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 12, 1 December 1986 — Have Fun at Completely Rebuilt Hall of Discovery Exhibit Units [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Have Fun at Completely Rebuilt Hall of Discovery Exhibit Units

Bishop Museum's completely rebuilt "hands-on" fun room for children has reopened to rave reviews by visitors of all ages. The new Hall of Discovery features exhibit units that invite young people to have fun discovering, touching and experimenting. It is dedicated to providing opportunities for youngsters to discover the unique aspects of the cultural and natural history of Hawai'i.

The new participatory exhibits and programs draw on and reflect Bishop Museum's collections and research activities. They encourage learning through direct experience and examination. The new Hall is one of several major new exhibits opening between July, 1986, and March, 1987, making that the most active exhibit period in the Museum's nearly 100-year history.

Changes are aimed at making the institution more open to the public. The Hall of Discovery plays a central role in this effort by offering engaging and exciting exhibit experiences that expose the youngsters to the workings of the museum. Categories of exhibit units in the new Hall of Discovery are:

• Discovery boxes. Self-contained units with exciting activities included. • Specimen drawers. Drawers full of specimens to touch and examine as our scientists do. • Theme drawers. Similar to specimen drawers; arranged around a eommon theme, such as plants brought by immigrant groups. • Computer programs. Interactive computer activities designed to introduce new concepts.

• Stumpers. Interesting objects that catch your attention and stimulate curiosity. • Equipment-directed activities. Microscopes and microfiche readers are set up for close examination of specimens.

• Free-standing exhibits. Interactive exhibit units highlighting Hawaii's cultural and natural history. The Bishop Museum education staff has several goals in mind for the new Hall of Discovery. Those include providing opportunities for the children to discover: • The significance and impact of Hawaii's geographic isolation. • Hawaii' s physical, cultural and biological changes. • Inter-relationships between plants, animals, man and the environment. • How the Hawaiians solved practical problems of

daily life with limited physical resources. • The best of ancient Hawaiian culture. • The variety of ethnic traditions contributing to the development of modern Hawai'i society. • Resources and functions of Bishop Museum.

Planning for renovation of the Hall began several months ago. Actual construction began in June, though the Hall remained partially open most days so visitors could enjoy old units and help test prototypes of new units. The Hall of Discovery, whieh opened nearly seven years ago, has a unique and important role among the Museum's galleries. Its "hands-on" character eompliments the formality of most other exhibits, where objects are in showcases and unavailable to touch.

These people attending the Hui 'Ana celebrations wait their turn to enter the Hall of Discovery, Bishop Museum's complete!y rebuilt "hands-on" fun room "where we ask you to please touch." Youngsters especially welcomed the exhibit.