The Bishop Museum has seen "a slow decline" in student field trips over the past 10 years, said Hi'ilani Shibata, the museum's education operations manager.

Ten years ago, as many as 10 school groups might pass through each day, while today the museum is lucky to see more than one or two groups a day.

Shibata cited rising bus rates due to increased fuel costs as one of the main reasons behind the decline.

The special rate for school groups visiting the museum is $3 per student, which Shibata said is low compared to other O'ahu attractions.

"It's unfortunate because many times, the teachers are teaching the stories and when you come to the museum, you can see the actual things," she said. "They (teachers) are perpetuating the stories, but when you can actually touch and implement, learning comes alive."

Officials at the Waikiki Aquarium also said some school groups had canceled trips recently because of rising bus rates.