Waikiki Aquarium Celebrates World Oceans Month with Free Child Admission & Special Activities

Community website by MBC/Ernest Abrams. Call 808-739-9797 for advertising/sponsorship. Community website by MBC/Ernest Abrams. Call 808-739-9797 for advertising/sponsorship.

Waikiki Get Down - Honolulu, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item
Waikiki Aquarium Celebrates World Oceans Month with Free Child Admission & Special Activities
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Type: Family
Date: Multiple Dates in June
Time: see notes
Location:
2777 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: 808-923-9741
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Cost: see notes

WAIKIKI AQUARIUM CELEBRATES WORLD OCEANS MONTH IN JUNE WITH SPECIAL ACTIVITIES AND FREE CHILD ADMISSION

For the seventh year in a row, Waikiki Aquarium will celebrate World Oceans Day by cleaning marine debris and educating the community about the dangers of ocean pollution. The health of the ocean is critical to the earth's climate, sustenance and recreation, as it cover 71% of the earth's surface. World Oceans Day is a time for ocean celebration and action around the world and this year's theme is healthy oceans, healthy planet.

The Waikiki Aquarium will be holding events throughout the month of June, including keiki activities, special Afternoons at the Aquarium, several beach clean ups and a variety of educational activities and events for everyone to enjoy. The Aquarium will also extend a special "child free" beginning on June 6 through June 30. For every paying adult, one child (12 years or under) will receive free admission.

Saturday, June 6 -- Waikiki Aquarium Celebrates World Oceans Day, 9 a.m. -- 12 p.m.

Kicking off the celebration on June 6, keiki will about seahorses, seadragons and sea snails with special activities. At 11 a.m. Outrigger Hotels will unveil their O-zone program and present entertainment and activities for keiki and their families. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet the biologist and learn about coral polyps and propagation.

Wednesday, June 3, 10, 17, 24 -- Afternoons at the Aquarium, 3 p.m.

Each Wednesday, marine life enthusiasts are invited to dive into Afternoons at the Aquarium as it hosts an interactive lesson on the lawn. Keiki can enjoy a critter encounter with snails, feed limu to the Aquarium's unicorn fish, create play-dough marine animals and learn about honu petroglyph printing from local author and artist, Lynn Cook. The activities are designed for ages 4 to 8, but everyone is welcome. Activities are included with Aquarium admission.

Thursday, June 4, 11, 18, 25 -- Behind the Scenes, 4 p.m.

Learn what makes the Aquarium run, from fish food to quarantine. Climb-up and take a look into the back of the exhibits you love and visit the Coral Farm and Jelly Hale where sea jellies are raised.

Minimum age 7 years and must be accompanied by an adult. Availability is limited. $16 per adult, $10 for members; $12 per child, $8 for members.

Sunday, June 7 -- LEAHI Display and LEGO Build, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

LEAHI will share their passion for modeling with LEGO bricks with Aquarium visitors through a special ocean-themed display. Keiki will also have the opportunity to try their hand at creating their own models and interact with other LEGO enthusiasts.

Tuesday, June 9, 16, 23, 30 -- Aqua Explorers, 11 a.m. -- 1 p.m.

Dive in at the Waikiki Aquarium for a special activity to learn more about dive gear and marine life. Keiki can try on pieces of dive gear and learn more about the necessary gadgets used when diving, such as tanks, gauges, weight belts and more! There will also be lessons on how to identify Hawaiian fish species while diving.

Thursday, June 11 & 25 -- Ke Kani O Ke Kai, 5:30 -- 8:30 p.m.

June 11 -- Kaiholu and Makana (featured restaurant: A Place to Eat)

June 25 -- Sean Naauao and Ben & Maila (featured restaurant: Da Spot)

The Aquarium will once again host its popular "Ke Kani O Ke Kai" summer concert series, offering visitors and residents an evening of live entertainment and delicious food under the stars. Tickets are required in advance and may be purchased online at www.waikikiaquarium.org/KKOKK.

Saturday, June 13 -- Tutu & Me: Traveling Preschool, 10 a.m. -- 12 p.m.

Meet the creators of Kai Ocean Book Series as the Aquarium presents Tutu & Me: Traveling Preschool. Keiki will listen to stories of Kai the ‘Opihi, Mele the Crab, Pili the ‘Iwi, Noa the Puhi and Holu the He‘e and learn important lessons from these friends.

Monday, June 16 -- PacIOOS: Monitoring Near Shore Water Quality in Hawaii with Gordon Walker, Oceanographic Specialist, 12 p.m. -- 1 p.m.

The Aquarium is partnering with Pacific Island Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) near Shore Water Quality Group, Chaminade University -- Environmental Studies program, Oceanic Aeries and Waikiki Dive Center to offer a series of programs for children throughout the month of June with a special presentation on June 16.

Wednesday, June 17 -- Hawaii Aquaculture: Fish, Oysters and Pearls with Dr. Maria Haws, 12 p.m. -- 1 p.m.

Join the Waikiki Aquarium for a Hawaii Aquaculture Update featuring fish, oysters and pearls in the Waikiki Aquarium classroom led by Dr. Maria Haws, Director of Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center.

Thursday, June 25 -- A Tribute to Dr. Isabella Abbott, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Visitors can take advantage of this rare opportunity to view native algae specimens from Bishop Museum's Herbarium Collection. Learn more about these native algae discovered by Dr. Isabella Abbott, the late Hawai‘i marine botany expert and pioneer.

Saturday, June 27 -- Get in the Sanctuary Day, 10 a.m. -- 2 p.m.

Learn more about National Marine Sanctuaries Pacific Region -- Hawaii Island Humpback Whale Sanctuary, Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and America Samoa's National Marine Sanctuary. Visitors will make whale hats, try their hand at gyotaku (fish printing) and meet maritime archeologists and staff.

LISTEN TO GREAT INTERVIEW

Interview with Hawaii Public Radio Business of the Arts
Listen to a great interview about Waikiki Aquarium's history, staff, causes and much more.

Founded in 1904 and administered by the University of Hawai'i at Manoa since 1919, the Waikiki Aquarium is located on the shoreline of Waikiki Beach next to a living reef and across from Kapiolani Park. The Aquarium -- third oldest in the U.S. -- showcases more than 500 marine species, and maintains more than 3,500 marine specimens. Public exhibits, education programs and research focus on the unique aquatic life of Hawai'i and the tropical Pacific.

The Aquarium welcomes more than 320,000 visitors annually, and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except Honolulu Marathon Sunday and Christmas Day. Admission is $9 for visitors; $6 for local residents, active duty military with ID, students with ID and seniors; $4 for youths ages 13-17 and persons with disabilities; $2 for juniors ages 5 to 12; and free for children 4 and under and Friends of Waikiki Aquarium (FOWA) members.

MISSION:

To inspire and promote understanding, appreciation and conservation of Pacific marine life.

DESCRIPTION:

Founded in 1904, the Waikiki Aquarium is the third oldest public aquarium in the United States. A part of the University of Hawai`i at Manoa since 1919, it is located next to a living reef on the Waikiki shoreline. Exhibits, programs, and research focus on the aquatic life of Hawai`i and the tropical Pacific, with roughly 320,000 people visiting the Aquarium each year. Over 3,500 organisms are on exhibit representing more than 500 species of aquatic animals and plants.

EXHIBITS:

Waikiki Aquarium exhibits focus on the diversity of aquatic, shoreline and coral reef habitats and living communities of Hawai`i and the tropical Pacific. Among the highlights:

Corals Are Alive! interactive exhibits showcasing corals, their biology and conservation
Sea Visions Theatre shows videos that illustrate shoreline conservation and how you can be a responsible reef visitor
South Pacific Marine Communities features South Pacific habitats and species, including colorful reef corals and fishes,giant clams, groupers and snappers and intriguing partnerships such asanemone fishes and their host sea anemones
Hawaiian Marine Communities recreates Hawaiian habitats from wave-swept surge zone to deep reef slopes, and from young to ancient reefs; celebrates distinctive reef life, including the longnose butterfly fish
Ocean Drifters Gallery features a1,000-gallon moon jelly tank and a seasonally changing jelly wall that may contain white-spotted jellies, blue blubbers, sea nettles, box jellies and ctenophores
Hunters on the Reef 35,000-gallon exhibits home to Hawaiian sharks and jacks; shark interpretive panels introduce shark biology, research, conservation and safety. New Spyball camera provides up close shark encounters in real time on a television screen
Edge of the Reef naturalistic shoreline exhibit offering opportunities for supervised observation and hands-on interactions with selected marine life
The Coral Farm exhibit and working research facility for propagation of reef corals
Giant Clams exhibit and working research facility for propagation of clams
Hawaiian Monk Seal Habitat features the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal found only in the Hawaiian Islands
Aquaculture features moi, a popular food fish, whose numbers have declined in the wild
Coastal Gardens with native Hawaiian plants adapted for life close to the sea

ENDANGERED SPECIES:

Hawaiian monk seals; ‘öhai (endemic Hawaiian coastal plant)

UNIQUE SPECIES:

Pacific giant clams; Hawaiian stream gobies; raredeep-reef butterflyfish; bearded armorheads; masked angelfish; and diversenative coastal plants

CONSERVATION & RESEARCH:

The Waikiki Aquarium is a working research facility,conducting numerous conservation and research programs, including:

Husbandry, nutrition and behavior of aquatic and marineaquarium specimens
Husbandry and propagation of chamberednautilus
Spawning behavior, larval rearing, and propagationpotential of selected reef fishes
Identification & treatment of diseases, parasiteinfections and other ailments of aquarium marine life
Coral husbandry, propagation and conservation
Hawaiian monk seal metabolic and bacteriologicalresearch
Giant clam husbandry and propagation
Sea jelly husbandry and propagation
Deep reef coral research
Coral Ark: archiving and husbandry of rare Hawaiiancorare deep-reefrals

EDUCATION PROGRAMS:

The Waikiki Aquarium offers numerous education programs,including:

Interpretive services: staff or volunteers enrich the visitor experience with explanations of the exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on experiences
Self-tour opportunities for individuals and groups: interpretive graphics & exhibits, handouts are available.
School Program: presentations and docent-assisted tours for school groups, grades K - 6
Outreach and special request presentations for schools and community groups
Community Enrichment Program: year-round natural history field trips, classes, and workshops for children, families, and adults
Information services: staff answer questions from visitors & community on marine and aquarium-science related topics

OPPORTUNITIES:

The Waikiki Aquarium affords a number of opportunities to get involved through:

Membership: Join the Friends of the Waikïkï Aquarium (FOWA) to enjoy the annual benefits of free admission, 20% discount at the Natural Selections gift shop, quarterly mailings of our beautiful and informative magazine Kilo i'a, free salt water pick-up, and facility rental privileges at "Family" and "Family Plus" levels. To select the membership level right for you,please see the Visitor Services staff or contact Events and Membership Manager Raina Fujitani at (808) 440-9008 for more information.
Volunteerism: When you donate your time and curiosity to the Waikiki Aquarium, you are rewarded with diverse and challenging opportunities to help make a difference!

Education-- Docents provide on-site presentations and tours to elementary school groups and provide outreach programs for school and community groups. Interpreters at the Edge of the Reef exhibit assist visitors and provide up-close observations of Hawaiian marine life.
Live Exhibits -- Assist with husbandry, tank maintenance and feeding.
Natural Selection Shop -- Assist with stocking inventory and sales.
Membership/PublicRelations/Special Events - Assist with bulk mail outs & communications with Aquarium members, public relations surveys, record-keeping and special events.

AWARDS:

The Waikiki Aquarium has received several awards for its research and conservation efforts, including:

2008 Keep It Hawai`i Award
2003 Munson Aquatic Conservation Exhibit (M.A.C.E.) Award from the American Zoo & Aquarium Association (AZA) for South Pacific Marine Communities exhibit
2003 Edward H. Bean Award from AZA for Long Term Tropical Pacific Coral Propagation Program

DIRECTOR: Dr. Andrew Rossiter

EMPLOYEES: 35 full-time, 36 part-time, 33 affiliate staff

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily (except Honolulu Marathon Sunday and Christmas Day)

ADMISSION: $9 for visitors; $6 for local residents, active duty military with ID, students with ID and senior citizens;$4 for youths ages 13-17 and persons with disabilities; $2 for juniors ages 5 -12; and free for children 4 and under and Friends of Waikiki Aquarium members

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Waikiki Get Down - Honolulu, Hawaii Event Calendar Item

Waikiki Get Down - Honolulu, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item