One of many fantastic issues about entertaining visiting household and mates in Hawaii is that it’ll usually result in actions we’d in any other case regard as “touristy” and take with no consideration. That’s how we right here on the HAT Weblog discovered ourselves on the Honolulu Zoo just lately, and it’s why we’re nonetheless charmed by the go to.
A buddy of Honorable Spouse Particular person’s household was on Oahu for a brief keep throughout a multi-island trip, so we made plans to fulfill him on the Queen Kapiolani Resort in Waikiki. It’s positioned instantly throughout the road from the Honolulu Zoo on Kapahulu Avenue. My final go to to the zoo was at the least ten years in the past, minding calabash nieces and nephews as they careened from habitat to habitat, squealing with delight and gawking in childhood marvel at unique animal species from everywhere in the world.
It was straightforward to recollect then my very own childhood experiences on the Honolulu Zoo, from major college subject journeys to birthday events for calabash cousins many years in the past. The latest go to via my (principally) grownup eyes and senses was extra considerate and it lacked the corn syrup-based snacks and treats I bear in mind from my childhood (I’ve lengthy since outgrown my love for sweets). It was a studying expertise, even for this lifelong Hawaii child.
I knew the historical past of the Honolulu Zoo, that it started as a house to King David Kalakaua’s menagerie of unique animals, presents from kings and queens and royals across the globe beginning in 1877. I knew that it wasn’t decided because the Honolulu Zoo till 1947. I used to be vaguely conscious that it includes 47 acres on the foot of Diamond Head Crater.
I’d been on behind-the-scenes excursions of the chimpanzee habitat, met Krueger the Rhinoceros (RIP), and fed watermelon halves into the gaping maws of large hippopotamuses. However this most up-to-date go to opened my eyes to the decided and ongoing efforts towards preservation, conservation, schooling, and outreach on the Honolulu Zoo.
I came upon that the Wildest Show Concert Series is again after two years of the pandemic. I discovered that as a result of we had been politely requested to go away the zoo and re-enter for the particular occasion. It’s a fundraising occasion, with proceeds going to varied enchancment and outreach initiatives on the zoo.
I used to be tickled to be taught that the official Animal Mayor of the Honolulu Zoo is Squirt the Giraffe (he’s enormous, get it?), who narrowly beat out Rusti the Orangutan as voted by the general public in a 2020 digital election (Rusti was named Conservation Ambassador). I discovered that the Honolulu Zoo simply welcomed a Sumatran Tiger from a Louisiana zoo. I discovered about Twilight Excursions on the zoo, and that there are Zoo Camps this summer time and this fall. I additionally discovered in regards to the Histories and Mysteries Tour, alongside which zoo guides inform over a dozen tales of supernatural experiences involving zoo workers (reservations required).
Above all, I discovered that I’ve quite a bit extra to find out about how a lot the Honolulu Zoo has modified over time, and the way a lot effort goes into conservation and academic outreach, and into the take care of the animals and habitats there.
It’s an enriching and fully family-friendly expertise, even for this pretty previous man with out kids. The Honolulu Zoo is a shared childhood expertise amongst an enormous variety of Oahu residents, as it’s going to absolutely proceed to be effectively into the longer term. And at $19 per grownup (13+) and $11 for youths (3-12), and an reasonably priced, pleasing, and academic option to spend a day for household visiting Oahu.
Allow us to right here at Hawaii Aloha Journey assist you plan your go to to the Honolulu Zoo. A few of us grew up (close to) there.
Posted by: Jamie Winpenny
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