Honolulu, HI

My wife and I took a trip to the Waikiki Aquarium lately. We live in Waikiki, and sometimes when you live in a place you don’t do the more “touristy” things, but we decided that since we are scuba divers and like fish, and that the aquarium is right by where we live, that we should go see it. Plus, the aquarium offers a “kama’aina discount” to those who live in Hawaii, including students and military, so it was less than the general price of admission, which is $7 for adults, $3.50 for kids 13-17, and free for the 12-and-under set. Overall, we found the aquarium to be a terrific bargain.

As soon as we passed through the main entrance we were given a brochure/map and an “Audio Tour Wand,” which is device with pre-recorded messages that give you information about each exhibit, if you follow the self-guided tour outlined on the map in the brochure they give you. So we started out at the indoor tank exhibits, and as we walked up to each tank, the audio wand would deliver a little spiel about each one, which I thought was pretty cool. My wife, however, found it to be annoying after a little while and stopped using hers, preferring instead to just read the interpretative signage and view the exhibits at her own pace. There was a giant tank full of a huge school of neon tetras that we both liked a lot, probably because we have our own small fish tank at home with some neon tetras in it. Also inside were some Hawaiian culture artifacts on display that were connected in some way to the sea. I really liked the shark skin drum.

After checking out the indoor exhibits, we headed outside where the aquarium’s larger exhibits are. We saw the intertidal tank, which is a long, waist-high tank right against the edge of the aquarium property, with an awesome view of the real ocean right behind it. Mangrove trees line this tank, and swimming in its waters are colorful reef fish such as needlenose butterfly fish, yellow tangs, raccoon butterflys, various corals, crabs, shrimp, sponges, and many more creatures! Also out here was one of the aquarium’s star attractions: the monk seals. These seals are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, meaning that they are from here and found nowhere else on Earth. They are currently extremely endangered, and so it was a real treat to be able to see these wonderful animals up close. Also on display out here were some classic animals of the tropical Pacific, including the giant clam, lion fish, and sea turtles.

We saw just about all of the aquarium’s exhibits in two hours. We saw many creatures that are difficult to see in the wild, and even for the ones we had seen, it was great to be able to see them so close up in such a relaxed setting. All in all, including the walk down Waikiki’s Kalakaua Avenue to get to the aquarium, it was a rewarding half-day activity!

Tips & info:
-Directions: Take Kalakaua toward the Honolulu Zoo. After crossing Kapahulu, get to the right lane; the Waikiki Aquarium will be on the right side.
-The inside of the aquarium is cool and dark, but the outside is hot and sunny—bring sunglasses and a hat for the outside.
-Bring a camera, especially for the outside shots, but remember that when shooting the tanks inside—turn your flash off—the picture won’t come out and it annoys the animals and visitors alike.