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This is a great little stop while in Waikiki, Hawaii. We loved seeing the Hawaiian Monk Seal and reading his story while also learning more about the endangered seals. Although a handful of the aquarium is being renovated, we took our time and looked at each of the other fish that they have at the aquarium. The jellyfish were fascinating and seemed to be very well maintained, which, for a lot of zoos on the mainland, seems to be a struggle. There were a lot of fish that I had never seen before and enjoyed the opportunity to see and learn a bit about each of them. They also have a few kinds of seahorses accompanied by facts and how their species as a whole are currently being threatened by pollution and capture. This is a great place to visit and I enjoyed seeing a lot of the underwater species that I hadn't seen anywhere else.
I first visited this aquarium back in 2016 and it was amazing. It seemed very well maintained and the exhibits were very presentable. Unfortunately, whatever construction is going on now has really reduced its appeal. All the outdoor exhibits that they had is gone and the monk seal exhibit was so dirty that you could barely see the monk seal through the glass or in the water. Even some of the exhibits on the inside were dirty. Hopefully, we just came on an off day and that the tanks would be receiving cleaning soon. My kids still very much enjoyed themselves. We loved all the fishes, especially the jelly fish, the big grouper and sharks. I hope that after construction is finished, the outdoor exhibits come back.
Loved taking my kids here for years then we moved a few years ago to Texas. Came back for the first time in 4.5yrs and I didn't realize how expensive the non-kama'aina tickets were. I get that it's just the way it is, but they shouldn't charge when half of the aquarium are gone or the site is under construction. For the time being, they should be giving discounts to everyone. This aquarium was small to begin with, but with the construction and/or closure of certain areas, it's a super short walk. It took longer finding parking than walking this whole property. Pretty sad to see one of my kids favorite places, become this.
Visited in March 2025 while some areas were under renovation. Overall impression: not bad, just okay. The aquarium is very small, so expectations matter here. If you're visiting with kids, it's a solid, manageable stop. Short, educational, easy to get through without meltdowns. For adults only, though, it's probably not something you need to go out of your way for. That said, it does a good job showcasing local Hawaiian marine life. Lots of native fish and sea urchins, which is cool if you're interested in what actually lives in the surrounding waters rather than big flashy exhibits. The space itself feels a bit dated, and with the renovations happening, some areas felt even more limited. You can tell it's more of a local, educational aquarium than a major attraction. Bottom line: fine for families, quick visit, mildly interesting if you like local marine life. Not a must-do for adults, but not a regret either. Solid.
I've always loved taking my kids when they were young here & I finally have my baby boy to bring. So it's been awhile since we've come here. Prices are different for tourist & kamaaina rate & military . Make sure to show your id. Parking: parking can be a struggle because they only have a few on the lot & after that it's street parking but it gets really busy. Sometimes you'll have to go around multiple times. Service: The workers in the front are so friendly & nice. I love that. Definitely affects us from coming. If they weren't nice, I wouldn't enjoy being there. I love that they still have the smaller tanks that has all the different kinds of fish & seahorses & jelly fish. I am bummed that the BIG tank only had a few fish in there. They should definitely add a bit more bigger fish inside. I was also bummed that the outdoor area only had the one seal. I remember they had a moi tank & hands on tide pool kind of area for the kids to interact in the water. Definitely need that back. Not too much things there to go visit. Would I come back? Of course for my son but we'll probably wait till we see that they add more things there
Not fab... really disappointing and the only seal we saw did not seem to be thriving. Disappointment, and you know how I do not like to give businesses a low score.
While the Waikiki Aquarium was small, I thought it was unique compared to other aquariums I've been to. In the main section of the aquarium, there were a lot of fish, however, there was one gigantic fish that I particularly liked. I also got to see blacktip reef sharks, which I haven't seen at other aquariums before. Outside, I got to see a Hawaiian monk seal, an endangered species. The monk seal was initially resting, but the staff held a feeding session, where we got to see the monk seal get into the water and move around. At a very affordable price, I'd recommend checking out the Waikīkī Aquarium, especially if you need a break from outdoor activities and the sun
This was my second visit to the Waikiki Aquarium. I love visiting aquariums and this aquarium though small it is very unique compared to other aquariums I have visited. The Waikiki Aquarium - is affordable, and focuses on local sea life. I have been to many aquariums with all the same fish. Most of the sea life here are smaller such as fish, jellies, sea horses but they do have a rescue Hawaiian Monk Seal in a large outdoor area. I was 13 the first time I went to this aquarium with my grandparents and I was so captivated by the sea dragons - this was the first place I ever saw them. I still have the stuffed one they bought me on that visit. My boyfriend also commented that he enjoyed this aquarium because it is focused on the local sea life. They are currently having some construction to expand and add some additional exhibits but overall it was one of the highlights of our trip. Highly recommend especially if you have younger children as it isn't a huge aquarium but alot of local sea life.
The first time visiting the aquarium since I was a kid, but I don't think it has changed much, quite dated. It is very small compared to others we have visited (Scripps, Long Beach, etc) but much more affordable as well. The exhibit space is limited, but the tropical fish are beautiful and it feels very intimate. Great for little kids. All in all, a good value, but not the most impressive display.
Despite many negative reviews, the Waikiki aquarium has been around for over 100 years. They are currently undergoing heavy renovations but still are open for the public. At the ticket booth entrance, the employees were very nice to us and greeted us warmly. They even had some employees standing near some of their aquarium showcases offering informational "elevator pitch" speeches to anyone walking by who'd like to hear. While most of their exhibits are indoors, the outside is where the renovations are happening. So I won't write a negative review regarding closed "under construction" exhibits. I remember loving this place as a child and I think once construction is over, it'll be that core, childhood memory for many other kids!
A really tiny aquarium if you've ever visited the Monterey Bay aquarium or *any* other aquarium for that matter. But...that's not a knock on this place. The exhibit here is maybe the square footage of a medium sized, two-story house, but they have some sea creatures you don't regularly see, even at the bigger aquariums. And at $12 per person (kids are free under 4 I think), it's still a great value. Visit the gift shop...it's also small, but packed with cool ocean related merchandise. We must've spent 30 minutes in here alone. You'll probably spend an hour at the aquarium side if you stretch and pace yourself. Parking sucks. Find public parking as far out as you're willing to walk.
There really wasn't much to see during our visit. We were here for 30 minutes. They were doing some remodeling when we went. There were no monk seals which was probably the main thing to see here. They did have a few sharks which was cool and a fish named emo nemo. This place is probably best for toddlers who don't want to walk around much and who are fascinated easily.
5 months ago
On those rare occasions it rains in Hawaii this is a great indoor activity. We took our toddler here and she enjoyed the different types of fishes. The big tank has a grouper and tiger shark which were cool, but she was a little afraid of them. The outdoor are has a seal and touch area. Both of which were cool. There are a few free parking spots in front or metered street parking. Allot for about one hour here. read more
This is a great little stop while in Waikiki, Hawaii. We loved seeing the Hawaiian Monk Seal and reading his story while also learning more about the endangered seals. Although a handful of the aquarium is being renovated, we took our time and looked at each of the other fish that they have at the aquarium. The jellyfish were fascinating and seemed to be very well maintained, which, for a lot of zoos on the mainland, seems to be a struggle. There were a lot of fish that I had never seen before and enjoyed the opportunity to see and learn a bit about each of them. They also have a few kinds of seahorses accompanied by facts and how their species as a whole are currently being threatened by pollution and capture. This is a great place to visit and I enjoyed seeing a lot of the underwater species that I hadn't seen anywhere else. read more
I first visited this aquarium back in 2016 and it was amazing. It seemed very well maintained and the exhibits were very presentable. Unfortunately, whatever construction is going on now has really reduced its appeal. All the outdoor exhibits that they had is gone and the monk seal exhibit was so dirty that you could barely see the monk seal through the glass or in the water. Even some of the exhibits on the inside were dirty. Hopefully, we just came on an off day and that the tanks would be receiving cleaning soon. My kids still very much enjoyed themselves. We loved all the fishes, especially the jelly fish, the big grouper and sharks. I hope that after construction is finished, the outdoor exhibits come back. read more
7 days ago
Small aquarium which I was fine with. Only $12 which is a bargain compared to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Since Halloween is coming up, a lot of the fish tanks had Halloween decor inside. I doubt I'll be back. Saw everything I needed to see. read more
4 months ago
Loved taking my kids here for years then we moved a few years ago to Texas. Came back for the first time in 4.5yrs and I didn't realize how expensive the non-kama'aina tickets were. I get that it's just the way it is, but they shouldn't charge when half of the aquarium are gone or the site is under construction. For the time being, they should be giving discounts to everyone. This aquarium was small to begin with, but with the construction and/or closure of certain areas, it's a super short walk. It took longer finding parking than walking this whole property. Pretty sad to see one of my kids favorite places, become this. read more
8 months ago
Visited in March 2025 while some areas were under renovation. Overall impression: not bad, just okay. The aquarium is very small, so expectations matter here. If you're visiting with kids, it's a solid, manageable stop. Short, educational, easy to get through without meltdowns. For adults only, though, it's probably not something you need to go out of your way for. That said, it does a good job showcasing local Hawaiian marine life. Lots of native fish and sea urchins, which is cool if you're interested in what actually lives in the surrounding waters rather than big flashy exhibits. The space itself feels a bit dated, and with the renovations happening, some areas felt even more limited. You can tell it's more of a local, educational aquarium than a major attraction. Bottom line: fine for families, quick visit, mildly interesting if you like local marine life. Not a must-do for adults, but not a regret either. Solid. read more
11 months ago
I've always loved taking my kids when they were young here & I finally have my baby boy to bring. So it's been awhile since we've come here. Prices are different for tourist & kamaaina rate & military . Make sure to show your id. Parking: parking can be a struggle because they only have a few on the lot & after that it's street parking but it gets really busy. Sometimes you'll have to go around multiple times. Service: The workers in the front are so friendly & nice. I love that. Definitely affects us from coming. If they weren't nice, I wouldn't enjoy being there. I love that they still have the smaller tanks that has all the different kinds of fish & seahorses & jelly fish. I am bummed that the BIG tank only had a few fish in there. They should definitely add a bit more bigger fish inside. I was also bummed that the outdoor area only had the one seal. I remember they had a moi tank & hands on tide pool kind of area for the kids to interact in the water. Definitely need that back. Not too much things there to go visit. Would I come back? Of course for my son but we'll probably wait till we see that they add more things there read more
While the Waikiki Aquarium was small, I thought it was unique compared to other aquariums I've been to. In the main section of the aquarium, there were a lot of fish, however, there was one gigantic fish that I particularly liked. I also got to see blacktip reef sharks, which I haven't seen at other aquariums before. Outside, I got to see a Hawaiian monk seal, an endangered species. The monk seal was initially resting, but the staff held a feeding session, where we got to see the monk seal get into the water and move around. At a very affordable price, I'd recommend checking out the Waikīkī Aquarium, especially if you need a break from outdoor activities and the sun read more
This was my second visit to the Waikiki Aquarium. I love visiting aquariums and this aquarium though small it is very unique compared to other aquariums I have visited. The Waikiki Aquarium - is affordable, and focuses on local sea life. I have been to many aquariums with all the same fish. Most of the sea life here are smaller such as fish, jellies, sea horses but they do have a rescue Hawaiian Monk Seal in a large outdoor area. I was 13 the first time I went to this aquarium with my grandparents and I was so captivated by the sea dragons - this was the first place I ever saw them. I still have the stuffed one they bought me on that visit. My boyfriend also commented that he enjoyed this aquarium because it is focused on the local sea life. They are currently having some construction to expand and add some additional exhibits but overall it was one of the highlights of our trip. Highly recommend especially if you have younger children as it isn't a huge aquarium but alot of local sea life. read more
10 months ago
The first time visiting the aquarium since I was a kid, but I don't think it has changed much, quite dated. It is very small compared to others we have visited (Scripps, Long Beach, etc) but much more affordable as well. The exhibit space is limited, but the tropical fish are beautiful and it feels very intimate. Great for little kids. All in all, a good value, but not the most impressive display. read more
1 year ago
Despite many negative reviews, the Waikiki aquarium has been around for over 100 years. They are currently undergoing heavy renovations but still are open for the public. At the ticket booth entrance, the employees were very nice to us and greeted us warmly. They even had some employees standing near some of their aquarium showcases offering informational "elevator pitch" speeches to anyone walking by who'd like to hear. While most of their exhibits are indoors, the outside is where the renovations are happening. So I won't write a negative review regarding closed "under construction" exhibits. I remember loving this place as a child and I think once construction is over, it'll be that core, childhood memory for many other kids! read more
A really tiny aquarium if you've ever visited the Monterey Bay aquarium or *any* other aquarium for that matter. But...that's not a knock on this place. The exhibit here is maybe the square footage of a medium sized, two-story house, but they have some sea creatures you don't regularly see, even at the bigger aquariums. And at $12 per person (kids are free under 4 I think), it's still a great value. Visit the gift shop...it's also small, but packed with cool ocean related merchandise. We must've spent 30 minutes in here alone. You'll probably spend an hour at the aquarium side if you stretch and pace yourself. Parking sucks. Find public parking as far out as you're willing to walk. read more
2 years ago
There really wasn't much to see during our visit. We were here for 30 minutes. They were doing some remodeling when we went. There were no monk seals which was probably the main thing to see here. They did have a few sharks which was cool and a fish named emo nemo. This place is probably best for toddlers who don't want to walk around much and who are fascinated easily. read more
Small aquarium a short walk from Waikiki Beach. Entrance fee is $12 per person. When we went, the seal exhibit was closed for renovations. They had a good selection of fish, coral, and jellyfish for viewing. The entire aquarium is small and takes 45 min to an hour to complete. There is no restaurant inside. There is a small gift shop and plenty of bathrooms. Great for families or people who love animals! read more
1 year ago
Oh man, this was a nice experience! I think I only spent a good hour or two here with my family but I genuinely enjoyed watching the beautiful jelly fish and seeing all the little Nemo's. I also enjoyed seeing sharks so close up and in front of my face. That's definitely not something you get to see on the daily. At least not for me. The only lack luster for me was the outside. There was a big pool that looked it housed sea creatures which weren't there anymore. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this time with my family and I would come back again sometime to see the sharks and jelly fish up close again! read more
VERY SMALL AQUARIUM but my 2 year old still had a fun time - she liked looking at the sharks, jelly fish and the sea horses. The pricing was good for what we got tho and we still had a nice time! The outside exhibits were closed when we went. The staff is friendly and helpful. We were able to complete our entire walk through of the aquarium in less than an hour! read more
6 months ago
Affordable and a fun outing. They have a small but interesting set of exhibits, when we were there they happed to have nesting white turns in the outdoor area that they had put up information about as well as the aquatic exhibits. read more
7 months ago
This was a small spot but pretty cool. The jellyfish and starfish were our favorite. A good get out of the rain event. read more
I brought my niece to the Waikiki Aquarium today. We were both excited because we have never been there before. The staff was friendly. If you are a resident of Hawaii, they do offer the Kamaaina rate. All you need to do is present your id. Even if you aren't Kamaaina, I feel that the price is pretty reasonable. Though we both thought it would be a bit bigger, we enjoyed our time there. There were plenty of fish to look at. Both my niece and I enjoyed the Jelly Fish exhibit and different aquariums full of fish. We especially thought that the seahorses were cool. Their gift shop was pretty cool too. Expect to take up to an hour to an hour and half for your visit. Parking is limited. While they do offer parking, there isn't a lot of spots. I ended up parking in the lot by the zoo which was pretty reasonable. If you are looking for a fun educational activity to do on a rainy, day, I suggest you visit here! read more
2 years ago
The Waikiki Aquarium is one of my favorite places to go when I visit Honolulu. The aquarium is small, not a large showy aquarium where you see dolphin shows. I like that the aquarium is dedicated to learning and preservation of sea life. The aquarium is associated with University of Hawaii. I take my granddaughter a couple times throughout the year. The faculty offers a free digital tour with admission. There are several rooms of large tanks with jelly fish, shark, local Hawaiian tropical fish, coral and much more. Many photo ops exist throughout the visit. There is a small gift shop and restrooms. Place about an hour visit. Food is not allowed. Strollers are welcome. Handicapped accessible. Free (limited) parking. Admission fees are not high and feed support the preservation of the fabulous sea life. You can purchase admission on line or during your visit. I always pay when I get there. read more
1 year ago
The aquarium was so nice. Got to see ocean animals, the sea lion wasn't there as it was remodeling. It's so fast probably about 30 mins to get to look at everything. The gift shop had so many cute toys for the little ones and even nice jewelry. read more
This is a very small aquarium that is affiliated with the University of Hawaii. They do offer free two hour parking, which is more than enough time to throughly check out this place. The aquarium is partially indoors and partially outdoors. In the indoor exhibit you will find seahorses, blue tang fish (Dory), clown fish (Neo), jelly fish, eels, coral, archerfish, clam, unicorn fish, urchin, butterfly fish, angelfish, Hawaiian yellowfin and octopus. I really liked the upside down jelly fish. They were my favorites. I visited the aquarium during the month of October, so it had Halloween decorations and a Halloween them going on. A large tank holds the Hunter on the Reef exhibit which is home to sharks, jacks and large groupers. There is a photo backdrop that you can take a picture in front of in the aquarium. The aquarium also has a restroom, water fountain and of course a gift shop. The gift shop is small and carries toys, magnets, figurines, hats, stuffed animals, post cards, and stuffed animals. Outside is where the aquarium has the seal exhibit. Unfortunately the sea lion exhibit was closed during my visit. There is also a stage out there with a decent patch of green space. It looks like it would make a nice outdoor event venue. I took me about an hour to go through this museum and I was moving slow because I had time to kill. Admission is reasonable so,I did not care that the place was small and it did not take very long to see. I recommend checking this place out, but just do not come in with high expectations. It should probably be on you to-do list while visiting Waikiki, just probably not at the top of it. read more
Small aquarium associated with the University of Hawaii. Don't expect a big place with all kinds of fancy exhibits, it's small but has pretty cool exhibits. It's focused on Hawaiian sea life and the shark tank is pretty cool! Unfortunately the monk seals are on loan in California- I remember feeding times with them was a a lot of fun. There also was a touch pool in the past but no longer. Oh well, The entrance prices aren't bad -$12 I think but it's discounted for seniors, military and kama'ainas. No parking- street only. read more
2 years ago
12 dollars for me , free for my little girl .. a win is a win It's a tiny place but gets to the point . They have a indoor and outdoor part -- start inside They have sharks !! And I found out today that fish can go from male to female or the opposite mind blown! The sea lion and seals weren't home sadly . The staff was amazingly informative read more
10 months ago
It's small, but worth the money! They have monk seal feedings, a giant moon jelly tank, lots of tropical fish, and very informative staff. It's a great place as it is not too overwhelming and it probably can be explored entirely in an hour. The gift shop is also very cute! read more
I'm so sad to give a less than 5 Star to an aquarium. I love aquariums simply this one is not worth the money. Save your $12 and go enjoy the ocean right outside. The most interesting thing was the sea dragons. Customer service was alright they certainly did not seemed overjoyed to have what I would consider a great job. Working at an aquarium would be up there with being a museum curator. You don't need this on your Hawaii agenda. read more
1 year ago
Updated Clam Score: C This is an unfortunate update to my previously glowing review. I visited the Waikiki Aquarium again recently, only to find both of the large Tridacna gigas in the main tank have died. The giant clam in the outdoor tank looks half-dead and clearly bleaching. And what happened to the outdoor clam tank with the overflow filter?? Even more disappointing: the giant clam shells that were once on display near the exit to the touch pool are now gone. Has there been a funding cut? A clam crisis? The once-mighty bivalve presence at this aquarium has taken a serious hit. At the moment, the only remaining bivalves are small clams (maxima and derasa clams) in a single "clam tank," which doesn't do justice to the legacy this place once had. Feedback: Please bring in more bivalves. Add clams to the touch pool when operational again. Educate the public. Inspire the next generation of mollusk lovers. And maybe bring back that amazing shell display. Until then, I am revising my Clam Score from an A to a C. I would be more than happy to revise my score when there is more bivalve representation, but as it is, I wouldn't come back until these changes are made. read more
Rainy day at the Aquarium. Compared to other aquariums, this one is to the smaller side. In fact, that explains why the entrance fee is much cheaper: $12 The aquarium has 3 areas: indoors, outdoors and shop. Indoors is beautiful, with featured animal life, ranging from crabs, to fish, to sharks and Hawaiian sea life. There's also artifacts, which are displayed indoors Outdoors for us was rainy; outdoors you have fish on display as well, with a nice employee who assists and welcomes you. The shop was small, and packed as well. I didn't find a souvenir I liked, but they definitely had some nice items. I felt like the time at the Aquarium was too quick, since there wasn't much, but I loved the experience here read more
8 months ago
7 months ago
2 years ago
right by the beach Aquarium admission for general adult $10 & senior (65+) $5. The Aquarium was not large but loaded w/lots unique beautiful Marine species etc. Yes, I 100% recommended people to visiting here, i think it's great for adults, kids, groups or even just solo. read more
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More info about Waikiki Aquarium
2777 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
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(808) 923-9741
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http://www.waikikiaquarium.org
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Do u guys sell food their?
No they do not sell food! There is a vending machine and a cute shop
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