Guide to Oahu’s Waikiki Aquarium
Every visitor to Waikiki imagines swimming along the majestic Waikiki Beach. But, there is a lot more to do in Honolulu. One fantastic option is a visit to the Waikiki Aquarium. Here is our guide to the Waikiki Aquarium. Discover what you can se and what to expect at this small aquarium on Oahu.
About the Waikiki Aquarium
The Waikiki Aquarium is the second oldest operating aquarium in the United States (after the New York Aquarium). It launched in 1904. The site, built on the Waikiki shoreline, is home to more than 400 species and more than 3500 living organism.
The aquarium is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm (last admission is 4:30 pm). Currently, admission is $12, with rates for children, Kama’aina and more.
Outdoor Living Reef
One of the things that sets Waikiki Aquarium apart from its peers is the living reef area. Here, you find species found around the Hawaiian Islands.
Some of those animals include sea turtle and monk seals. Unfortunately, the monk seal display was not open when we visited the aquarium.
There are helpful lectures and docents who can ask questions at the outdoor area. The aquarium collaborates with University of Hawaii at Manoa, meaning you get a lot of knowledgeable students and teachers joining the discussion.
The aquarium has a number of special events throughout the year. Check the calendar or social media pages for these events.
Pacific Corals
The Waikiki Aquarium created the United State’s first Pacific Coral displays in 1978, using water from a sea water well and natural sunlight.
Seeing the coral is amazing. Knowing that coral damage is rampant throughout the world, this small oasis for the coral feels even more significant.
There is information throughout the display regarding the risks to coral and things we can do to stave off destruction.
Fishy, Fishy
The indoor tanks at the Waikiki Aquarium are massive. The glass seemingly fill all of the wall space. The tanks are teeming with all varieties of fish, including eels, shrimp, tang fish, clown fish, grouper, trevally, wrasses, triggerfish, rays, sharks, and more.
How Much Time Should You Spend
As mentioned, the Waikiki Aquarium is a small aquarium. We spent about 90 minutes on site and felt that was sufficient time to explore the grounds and enjoy the species.
The aquarium is a short walk from the Honolulu Zoo. So it would be easy to pare the two attractions for one full day of family adventures in Honolulu.
Final Thoughts
The Waikiki Aquarium is a great place to see native Hawaiian fish for those who won’t get in the ocean or snorkel to see fish on Oahu.
It is a small aquarium, so you can easily visit in a couple of hours and be educated and entertained.
It is a great place to take a family to see underwater life.
Below is a short video of some of the fish we saw during our visit.
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