Honolulu Zoo

In 1914, Ben Hollinger, the Administrator of Parks and Recreation, began collecting and showcasing animals in the park; including a bear, a monkey, and some lion cubs. An African elephant soon joined the crew and with that acquisition, Honolulu officially had a zoo. 

During the Great Depression, the Zoo was almost shut down but managed to continue operations despite financial difficulty and even began to expand the collection of animals.

The Zoo in Present Day

Today, the Zoo is home to numerous endangered species including nene, black rhino, Sumatran tiger, and the komodo dragon, among many others. There is a host of African animals as well as turtles, parrots, and even kookaburras. There is also an Animal Health Center, which provides excellent medical care for the animals.  

The Zoo also features a variety of plants that are native to Hawaii and that have a history of cultural importance to the Polynesian people. Some of these include fragrant hibiscus, hala, kou, lehua and a’ali’i. The Kou plant has valuable dye, wood, medicinal, and lei-making uses, and the tough and durable leaves of hala make for fine woven items that last for years.

The Honolulu Zoo's Objective and Conservation Efforts

The educational objective of the Honolulu Zoo is ‘to create a global and Hawaii-based environmental awareness which leads residents and vacationers to feel responsible for the well-being of this very special place that is the Hawaiian Islands.’ The message of conservation is loud and clear as the zoo offers many educational programs and funds restoration projects with nature preservation as the focus. These programs include “Zoo to You” Outreach, which is a free-of-charge public service to help educate people about Malama I Ka ‘Aina (respect the land), by informing them about and providing solutions to the problem of invasive species. There is also an Orangutan Outreach Program, which aims to promote awareness for orangutans globally.  Currently, there is a 20,000-acre reforestation project in Borneo to support local communities and an orangutan rehabilitation center.

Planning for the Experience and Parking

The Honolulu Zoo is larger than it appears from the exterior, and well-kept on the inside. Upon entering, you will be greeted by a group of stunning pink flamingos. There is a lot to see, so plan for at least a few hours and take a packed lunch or you may purchase food at the zoo.

Parking can be difficult to find so allow extra time for that. It is an easy walk from Waikiki, so parking in the surrounding streets can be an option. The zoo gets extremely hot in the middle of the day, so pack appropriate sun protection. The park is beautifully landscaped and there are plenty of shaded areas to stop and rest for a picnic or a cool drink. There are sizeable grassy playground areas for kids to run around in.