- brrmoose
- First Reviewer
- 3 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
- 5
- Reviews
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13
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Honolulu Zoo
- May 7, 2007
- Rated 2 of 5 by
megankayd from Hope, Kansas
Don't waste your money unless you have absolutely nothing else to do. I think it costs about $20 and the zoo is very small. It might be fun for the kids though.
From journal 10 Days in Oahu
Honolulu Zoo
- December 10, 2006
- Rated 2 of 5 by
travellingdave from Calgary, Alberta
Honolulu's zoo is located east of Waikiki Beach in beautiful Kapiolani Park. This small zoo is home to many of Hawaii's indigenous animals, as well as some traditional zoo favorites like elephants and tigers.
Although it isn't the best zoo in the country by any means, it does showcase a variety of local animals and does bide your time well if you are needing something to do.
The zoo is best explored using the free map distributed by the visitor's center. Admission is $6 per person, including seniors. It's steep admission fee is hardly worth the admission, though, so be warned.
Once you enter the zoo, begin your day by exploring the circle route, which will take you alongside the most interesting of animals. There are some small uphill climbs, so wheelchair users be warned. Wheelchairs are available free of charge to disabled persons at the visitor center. You may have to leave your driver's license or passport, though.
If you are travelling with kids, do not miss the Keiki (Children's) Zoo, home to small miniature animals that are sure to make you smile. Children are able to feed, and sometimes pet, the animals. No extra admission fee is required.
For more info visit: www.honoluluzoo.org
From journal Two Tickets to Paradise
Honolulu Zoo
- December 10, 2006
- Rated 3 of 5 by
runarut from San Antonio, Texas
On Safari At The Honolulu Zoo.
The Waikiki Marriott where we stayed is two blocks from the Honolulu Zoo. Mid morning, we walked over to the zoo. I was hoping to see a rhino. My wife was hoping to see monkeys.
Childhood memories are like collages. They are patchworks of different events. Mixing childhood and recent memories makes visiting the zoo a real joy.
In 1962, John Wayne starred in Hatari!, a movie about a team of hunters selling animals to zoos. In the movie opening, a rhinoceros charges their car and gores a hunter. The soundtrack cover romanticizes this scene.
I would study the Hatari soundtrack album cover. I still can picture a rhinoceros ramming the hunter's car as the hunters are perched on the car roof lassoing the beast.
Hatari's soundtrack was composed by Henry Mancini during his most productive years. The sheet music for Baby Elephant Walk pictured the same scene as the album cover. In one Junior High orchestra concert, we performed Baby Elephant Walk reinforcing rhino memory.
Recently, I met a missionary who travels in Africa. He fears encountering a rhino. Rhinos are fiercely territorial and don't tolerate intruders. They charge and roll vehicles over seriously injuring the occupants. Hearing this, I immediately thought of the album cover. In my mind, I saw the missionary's Range Rover charged by a raging rhino.
As we paid at the zoo entrance, we were given a zoo map. Instead of first studying the map, we immediately set out to explore. Parts of the zoo are typical of zoos I visited as a child. Thick steel mesh cages or deep grottos with moats. Other parts of the zoo are more modern and open like the Savanna area. The zoo is small. It only took us a few hours to walk through and see everything (except the Herptetarium). All of the major animals were represented including monkeys and rhinos.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to see a rhino. They were hiding. However, the hippos and monkeys were quite engaging and satisfied my need for adventure. Watching the other zoo patrons, I saw small groups moving from exhibit to exhibit while talking, smiling, and pointing. Some visitors were telling their children zoo stories about themselves and other family members. Travelers with children under ten will enjoy the zoo. The pace inside the zoo is much slower and calmer than the pace of Waikiki. Watching children gaze wide-eyed at the animals enhanced our experience. The zoo Snack Bar where we ate lunch was crowded with families. The children were jabbering excitedly about what they had seen and what they still wanted to see.
The zoo is easy to find. Take Kalakaua Avenue toward Diamond Head. The zoo entrance is at the corner of Kalakaua, Monsarrat, and Kapahulu Avenues. Buses running along Kuhio Avenue stop at the zoo. Specifically, buses 2, 4, 8, 19, 20, 22, 42, and 58. Or, if you plan to drive, ample zoo parking is accessible off Kapahulu Avenue.
From journal Living Large at the Waikiki Marriott
Editor Pick
Honolulu Zoo
- February 8, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
ak1 from Auburn, Washington
The Honolulu Zoo is one of the best zoos I’ve been to so far. They have so many unique and interesting animals that I don’t get to see in Washington. The zoo has a park-like setting with tall pleasant trees and attractive landscaping everywhere. There are nicely paved paths to all of the exhibits and attractions. Along the paths they have posted facts about the landscaping and the animals.
This zoo has many exotic creatures and a large selection of animals, including elephants, giraffes, and several different species of monkeys, tigers, birds, and rhinoceros’. The settings for the animals were very nicely laid out. I’m one of those people who enjoys knowing that the animals have plenty of room to roam around; even if they are caged, this zoo made me feel comfortable about the animals living conditions.
On this trip, my friend and I went to the zoo alone so that we could take our time and enjoy ourselves without anyone rushing us around. Our most memorable experience at this zoo was when we were standing next to a glass wall; we were unloading the film from our cameras and we looked back to see a cougar pacing the glass wall and growling at us. Of course we jumped out of surprise, because we had been paying attention to our cameras instead of trying to see which animal we were going to see next.
This was a really nice place to come to unwind from the rest of Oahu. I enjoyed walking to this zoo from our hotel, which was a few blocks from the Waikiki beach. The scenery along the way, with the never-ending ocean and the views of Diamond Head, was incredible. This is one of my favorite places to visit in Oahu. I highly recommend visiting this zoo.
From journal My Excursions on Oahu
Honolulu Zoo
- December 5, 2001
- Rated 3 of 5 by
brrmoose from Morgantown, Indiana
The zoo was well kept and clean. The animals looked happy, well... happy as a caged animal could look. There were lots of animals for the kids to see. The kids enjoyed the variety of the activity, compared to laying around on the beach all day. I would recommend the zoo to anyone who visits Honolulu.
From journal Honolulu with the kids