Websites share the history of the Honolulu Zoo and what visitors can expect to find there
From a regional park to becoming a home for animals, the Honolulu Zoo has been a source of wonder and meaningful memories for tourists and residents, says information on honoluluzoo.com.
Fun-filled experience
Visiting the Honolulu Zoo is enriching and is also a family-friendly activity, according to hawaii-aloha.com. The website also says the zoo has been an incredible childhood experience for locals and will continue to do so in the future.
According to the blog threelittleferns.com, the author said she loved the size of the zoo the most. “It’s small, but has plenty to see… most of the exhibits at the Honolulu Zoo aren’t too spaced from one another,” said Alex, the author of the blog. She said when she visited the zoo the first time, she did not expect she would see a number of various animals. “They have everything from lions to elephants, to reptiles [and] to birds,” she continued.
Raihana Marurai, a sophomore from Tahiti majoring in psychology, said visiting the zoo was a great experience. She said, “I was able to discover some animals I have never seen before.” Some animals are on the verge of extinction, she added. People should visit the zoo because some animals might be gone soon, she continued.
History and development
According to honoluluzoo.org, in 1876, King David Kalakaua, the monarch of Hawaii, opened the 300-acre land of marsh fishponds, islands and lagoons to the Hawaiians. The website says King Kalakaua named the regional park after Queen Kapiolani in 1877 and the members of the appointed park association began developing the land to make a home for King Kalakaua’s bird collection and a horseracing track.
The first park director, Ben Hollinger, started collecting animals in 1914 when the City of Honolulu took responsibility for the area, says Honolulu Zoo information. The website says the first animals Hollinger added to the park were a monkey, a bear and an African elephant. Being also known for its bird-of-paradise collection, “In 1938 Kapiolani Bird Park grew to include three large aviary complexes,” the website continues.
“In 1947, 42.5 acres within the Kapiolani Regional Park was designated the Honolulu Zoo,” says information on honoluluzoo.com. Paul Breese, the first zoo director, developed a master plan converting the zoo into a known layout exhibiting animals in their habitats, says the website. In 1984, a second master plan was created, and the exhibits were organized into three zones: the African Savanna, the Asian and American Tropical Forest and the Pacific Islands.
When Ken Redman was given the director’s position in 1993, he continued updating the master plan of the zoo until he retired in 2008, says honoluluzoo.org. Today, Linda Santos, the current zoo director, “is committed to making our zoo a place of refuge and wonder for residents and visitors alike,” the website continues.
The Honolulu Zoo’s mission is to encourage stewardship in the world by conserving, educating, and offering meaningful experiences to the community, says honoluluzoo.org. The zoo also focuses on the values of malama and ho’okipa, or caring and hospitality, the website continues.