Located on Waikiki’s shoreline, this university-run aquarium features dozens of tanks that re-create diverse tropical Pacific reef habitats. Check the website or call ahead to make reservations for special family-friendly events and fun educational programs for kids such as Aquarium After Dark adventures. It’s about a 15-minute walk southeast of the main Waikiki beach strip.
You’ll see rare fish species from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, as well as hypnotic moon jellies and flashlight fish that host bioluminescent bacteria. Especially hypnotizing are the Palauan chambered nautiluses with their unique spiral shells – in fact, this is the world’s first aquarium to breed these endangered creatures in captivity, a ground-breaking achievement. An outdoor pool is home to rare and endangered Hawaiian monk seals.
