Hidden
Treasure: Hawaii's Fabulous Zoos
One of the most overlooked
gems in Hawaii is its collection of top
notch zoos. This is not surprising since
most people come to Hawaii for the
beaches, the luaus, the hula, etc. etc.
But we are veteran zoo-goers so we could
not resist the temptation to visit a
couple of Hawaii’s zoos. We are
happy to report that they are just as
interesting and are as much fun as some
of the world’s top zoos. We
recommend that you visit at least one of
these Hawaiian zoos, especially if you
are traveling with children. This can be
a great diversion on a dreary day when
the beaches are not so appealing anyway.
Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Avenue
808-971-7171 (recorded message)
808-971-7174 (offices)
Open 7 days a week from 9 am to 4:30 pm
Closed Christmas and New Year’s Days
The Honolulu Zoo can hold
its own with any city zoo we have ever
seen. The zoo has every base covered with
all the top animals: lions, tigers, elephants,
zebras, primates, giraffes
and rhinos,
all kinds of tropical birds and many more. One aspect we really
enjoyed at this zoo is that you can get
very close to the animals, which is the
exception rather than the rule at the
world’s major zoos. In fact, we were
only a few feet away from a Sumatran
Tiger and only inches
away from a Hippopotamus that had its
nose pressed up against the glass wall
that separated us. What is most
remarkable about these close encounters
is that the animals are kept not in
sterile cages but in open areas
reminiscent of their respective natural
habitats.
Not to be missed at the Honolulu Zoo is
the Elephant encounter, a special
presentation given by the elephants’
keepers during which one of the elephants
is exercised for the public to see. This
is a popular attraction at the zoo
because visitors get to see the elephants
up close while the keepers explain the
elephants’ care and behavior.
The zoo is located in the lush gardens of
Queen Kapiolani Park between Waikiki
Beach and Diamond Head. A visit to the
zoo can make a great stop while traveling
to or from Diamond
Head.
Pana'ewa Rain Forest
Zoo (Big Island of Hawaii)
808-959-9233
Open daily from 9 am to 4 pm (closed
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day)
Admission: free
Highway 11 to Stainback Highway
As the name implies, this
12-acre zoo is in the middle of a
tropical rain forest on the Hilo side of
The Big Island, so pack your umbrella and
water proof jackets since an average of
125 inches of rain fall on this zoo
annually. Consistent with its location,
the zoo’s emphasis is on animals one
would find in a rain forest. Among the 75
species of animals, birds, and reptiles,
Namaste, a 500-pound white Bengal tiger
is king (don't miss his daily feedings at
3:30 pm). You'll often find peacocks loose and wandering around the zoo -- it
is wonderful to see these beautiful birds
up close and personal! The Panaewa Zoo is
smaller than the Honolulu Zoo and can
easily be seen in an hour, but you might
enjoy taking your time and enjoying a
picnic in the shade of over 100 varieties
of palm trees. If you plan to go on a
weekend, don't miss the Petting Zoo
attraction held on Saturdays 1:30 to 2:30
PM. For further details, see the zoo's web
site.
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