Bishop Museum is the premier natural and cultural history institution in the Pacific, serving as the State Museum of Natural and Cultural History of Hawaiʻi. Founded in 1889, its mission is to inspire the community and visitors through the exploration, celebration, and perpetuation of the extraordinary history, culture, and environment of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. The museum houses extensive collections of Hawaiian objects, royal family heirlooms, and millions of documents and photographs related to Pacific island cultures. It is recognized globally for its cultural collections, research, consulting services, and educational programs, and holds one of the world's largest natural history specimen collections. Serving and representing the interests of Native Hawaiians is a primary purpose of the museum.