| Visit the Honolulu Aquarium |
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| Written by Ted Felber |
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The award winning Honolulu Aquarium is a marine fantasy for kids, a wonderful discovery for adults and overall fun for the whole family. Also known as the Waikiki Aquarium, it has more than 400 species of aquatic animals and is visited by more than 350,000 visitors each year.
The award winning Honolulu Aquarium is a marine fantasy for kids, a wonderful discovery for adults and overall fun for the whole family. Also known as the Waikiki Aquarium, it has more than 400 species of aquatic animals and is visited by more than 350,000 visitors each year. Located on the Waikiki shoreline, the Honolulu Aquarium is a wonderful stop when you want to take a break away from sun worshipping on the beach. Within their cool and darkened walls, you can find reef and tiger sharks in the deep tank and giant colorful Palauan clams. These were raised from little hatchlings no bigger than a dime, to now measure more than 2 feet. The longest standing exhibit at the aquarium is Edge of the Reef, one of the first touch pools in the country. In this outdoor tank, you can even locate those pretty, vibrantly colored fish you saw snorkeling. Learn their names: the crosshatch red-tailed triggerfish; beaked mouth parrotfish, and the sunny yellow tang. Other must-see exhibits are: o The barrier reef - a gigantic tank that is home to 100 species of fish and live coral. Try to spot the enormous 500 pound claim! o The biodiversity special exhibit ? keep an eye out for the tendril like weedy seadragon, the pink leaf dragonfish and the reclusive hairy hermit crab. o The jet-set exhibits ? these are creatures which propel through water such as the Hawaiian day octopus, the bigfin cuttlefish which pulsates with flashes of light, and the chambered nautilius which is little changed from its ancestors millions of years old. The Honolulu Aquarium is one of the rare places where you can see the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal up close. Nuka 'au and Maka onaona are the two adult male seals living at the aquarium. In spite of focused conservation efforts, there are only around 1300 of these seals remaining; they are native only to the Hawaiian islands. Many of these seals have been killed by getting entangled in ocean waste and fishing nets. Kids will enjoy the feeding show that happens several times daily, when the monk seals frolic and roll around for food in and out of the water. Dazzle your children at the Honolulu Aquarium by showing them the different kinds of jellyfish, and watch as they perform their mesmerizing dance across the tank. You'll observe lagoon jellies, white-spotted jellies, and moon jellies " there's not much that can beat that! It has several after-hours programs. One of the most delightful for couples and families alike is the reef exploration tour at night. See how many crabs, eels and octopus and other night creatures you can spot as you wade up to your knees with aquarium staff. Otherwise, enchant your kids with a memorable flashlight tour of the Honolulu Aquarium. Once a month, armed with flashlights, visitors soft-shoe through the aquarium to explore the nocturnal habits of the marine life. Do fish really sleep with their eyes open? The Honolulu Aquarium has several education and conservation programs. It is internationally well known for its work in coral propagation and through its coral ark program, is growing rare Hawaiian corals for reintroduction into the wild. After your visit here, you will come away not only entranced, but also better informed. Author: Ted Felber is the editor of EnjoyHawaiiVacations.com where you get practical tips and suggestions on the best Hawaii attractions, activities, adventures, lodging, travel deals, vacation packages and more. |