Honolulu Zoo
In the beautiful capital city of Honolulu in lovely Queen Kapiolani Park, the Honolulu Zoo is an enchanted wonderland in a tropical vista. The state may be known for its natural scenic beauty but it also plays home to a wonderful zoological park. It's also the only zoo in the United States to have been founded by a monarch, established on land gifted by King David Kalakaua in 1876.
Set on 42 acres, the Honolulu Zoo houses and cares for dozens of endangered species including black rhinoceros, chimpanzees, Sumatran tigers, Galapagos tortoises, and Nile crocodiles to name a few. You are also likely to find favorites from the African continent like lions, wild dogs, Grant's zebras, meerkats, and giraffes. Travel to Asia and see Indian elephants, tigers, and sun bears among others. Over a hundred species of birds call this zoo home and include everything from duck species to flamingos, cuckoos, chickens, teals, and hawks. Several varieties of tortoise mingle with gharials, crocodiles and alligators, lizards, geckos, and Komodo dragons.
As the zoo is situated on the scenic island of Oahu, the park's gardens are also something to behold. You might even call the zoo a botanical garden with the number of themed plant collections you can find here. Find your group among the verdant and lush landscapes of Hawaii's indigenous plants that have, over the centuries, played an important role with the Hawaiian people.
There are several educational programs available through the Honolulu Zoo including various camp programs and daily lectures, tours, and activities. School field trips and groups may reserve special guided tours of the zoo to gain deeper knowledge and access to the park.
