The Mission Houses Museum said Tuesday that it has been re-accredited by the American Association of Museums.

"The re-accreditation of the Mission Houses Museum is significant for a number of reasons," said AAM president Ford W. Bell in a statement. "First, the entire accreditation program is self-motivated, and is therefore indicative of a museum's commitment to excellence in all that it does, and to self-improvement. Second, the process itself is arduous and painstakingly detailed, with every facet of a museum's operations thoroughly examined by its staff and by an objective peer. Yet, perhaps most important, it means the people of Hawai'i can take great pride in the fact that they have in their midst one of America's best museums."

"Every aspect of our operations was scrutinized, including financing, governance, visitor satisfaction surveys, staffing, public outreach, and especially the preservation and conservation standards we use for our invaluable collections," said HMCS board member and immediate past president Robert L. Becker III, who spearheaded the accreditation process.

The other three museums in Hawai'i with AAM accreditation are the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Bishop Museum and the Lyman House Memorial Museum. Re-accreditation is required every 10 years.