By Melissa Voelker
Things to Do in Waikiki
Waikiki is more than just the ultimate
beach destination for surfing, swimming and working on your tan. It is also home to hundreds of indigenous and imported animals that live at the Waikiki Aquarium and the Honolulu Zoo. So you can make a trip to this tropical Hawaiian locale and learn about nature while basking in the sunny environment.
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach has been made famous by movies, television and film documentaries about the Hawaiian Islands because it is such a great place to swim, snorkel, surf and sunbathe. The beach covers two miles along Oahu's south shore, and includes picnic areas, restrooms and public showers. Lifeguards are on duty to ensure the safety of visitors. Plenty of resorts, such as the Hyatt Regency and the Waikiki Beach Marriott, are located nearby so you don't have to go far for lodgings.
Waikiki Aquarium
When the sun gets to be a bit too much, and you need a reprieve, you can head into the cool and beautiful Waikiki Aquarium building. Here you can see exhibits of monk seals, reefs, coral farms, and many varieties of fish, sharks and jellyfish. The aquarium offers a concert series, usually during the summer months. Here you can sit out on the lawn and enjoy the ocean view while listening to live music, and eating a specially prepared meal. Admission to the aquarium is $9 for adults, $4 for teenagers, and $2 for children (as of 2009) and it is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Waikiki Aquarium
University of Hawaii-Manoa
2777 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
(808) 923-9741
www.waquarium.org
Honolulu Zoo
Once you've had enough inside fun, head out to the Honolulu Zoo to see what other animals Waikiki has to offer. The zoo's African Savannah, Tropical Forest and Pacific Islands exhibits include hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles and birds. They have a Children's Zoo for the little kids who want to interact more closely with the animals, and offer Twilight Tours for those who would like to see the zoo inhabitants at nighttime. You can also participate in the Snooze in the Zoo program, where you not only get an evening tour of the animals, but can pitch a tent and camp inside the zoo itself. The Honolulu Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., though hours can change on holidays. Admission is $12 for adults and teenagers, and $3 for children (as of 2009).
Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
honoluluzoo.org
(808) 971-7171
About the Author:
Melissa Voelker has been a professional writer since 2002. She works full time at a TV station in the commercial traffic department and also writes for Paperbackreader.com and Pinkraygun.com. Her articles have appeared in "Listen," "The Spokesman Review" and "Freepress Houston."
Photo Credits:
aloha.com
