Layoffs at Hawaii Museums

The Hawaii Maritime Center is shutting down, and the Bishop Museum will close one day a week as the recession hits Honolulu nonprofits.

An undisclosed number of layoffs and furloughs will affect the museums’ staff of about 215.

The Maritime Center is closing May 1st due to a lack of public interest. Two full-time personnel will lose their jobs. The center will still be rented out for special events and private functions, and will reopen to the public possibly in 12-18 months.

The Bishop Museum will close every Tuesday. Since 1903, the museum has been open seven days a week.