On the south end of the beautiful Waikiki Beach, we discovered the
Honolulu Zoo. It's the best zoo for 2300 miles in any direction! Open daily from 9:00am-4:30pm, this wonderful zoo is home to over 200 species of animals.
There are so many gorgeous birds at the Honolulu Zoo and I learned that the zoo was originally a bird park, started from the personal collection of King David Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani. A huge flock of pink flamingos greeted us near the entrance.
Honolulu Zoo features a Keiki Zoo (keiki means child in Hawaiian) that features interactive exhibits like nowhere else. They've combined playscapes with animal exhibits so children can climb up, around, and through right where the animals live, as well as places to touch some of the animals.
The hippo sculpture is a great place for a photo opp! There are alligators, tortoises, orangutans, chimpanzees, penguins, tigers, and lions. We saw an aardvark, a komodo dragon, and a gharial, which looks like an alligator with a long, pencil-shaped nose.
I even found Timon and Pumba! There was a meerkat exhibit and a warthog exhibit, but I couldn't catch either one of them standing still long enough for a good picture. The Honolulu Zoo is a fabulous place to spend the day.
There is also a beautiful Nene Sanctuary in the zoo and I learned that the Nene (below) is the Hawaiian state bird. It is a goose and is found exclusively in Hawaii. The species almost became extinct in the 1940s, but conservationists are working to protect them and increase their population.
The Honolulu Zoo also features lots of open grassy areas and playground areas, so it's a great place for a group outing. There are several places to eat and a gift shop, whose profits help support wildlife conservation.
The Honolulu Zoo features tropical forest animals, tropical giants, primates of the world, and an African Savanna section. There is so much to explore and learn! I was very impressed at how hard they work to keep everything so clean.
The Honolulu Zoo is located at 151 Kapahulu Avenue and you can check out their website at
www.honoluluzoo.org. They will even host your birthday parties, special events, and company parties.
On Wednesday nights through August 10th, stop by the The Wildest Show In Town, featuring live local entertainment, including music, ukulele giveaways, snacks, crafts for kids, and much more, for just a $3 entry fee!
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