Oahu Attractions
Honolulu Zoo
- Critic's rating
- Frommer's
Nobody comes to Hawaii to see an Indian elephant or African lions and zebras. Right? Wrong. This 43-acre municipal zoo in Waikiki attracts visitors in droves. If you've got kids, allot at least half a day. The highlight is the new African Savannah, a 10-acre exhibit with more than 40 African critters roaming around in the open. The zoo also has a rare Hawaiian nene goose, a Hawaiian pig, and mouflon sheep. (Only the goose, an evolved version of the Canadian honker, is considered to be truly Hawaiian; the others are imported from Polynesia, India, and elsewhere.)
For a real treat, take the Zoo by Twilight Tour, which offers a rare behind-the-scenes look into the lives of the zoo's nocturnal residents. Tours are Saturday from 5:30 to 7:30pm; the cost is $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 4 to 12 years. Other great family programs include: Snooze in the Zoo, where kids can discover "who is roaring and who is snoring" during the night with pizza, tours, and campfire time with s'mores, plus breakfast and a morning stroll ($50 age 4 and up; check website for dates); and Star Gazing at the Zoo, an evening tour of the zoo that also explores the night sky above Hawaii with astronomer Dr. Michael Chauvin ($12 adults, $8 children ages 4-12).
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