MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- Constructed in 1904, the Waikiki Aquarium is the third oldest aquarium in the U.S. It boasts roughly 2,500 living species, including some of the rarest fish and sea dwellers like Monk Seals, Cuttlefish and the ever elusive Abie’s Angelfish, one of the five in captivity.
It’s no wonder, with so many amazing creatures and endangered species, the Waikiki Aquarium draws nearly 350,000 visitors annually. With military discounts and events like sleepovers and shark nights, there’s no reason not to experience the aquarium’s wonders.
“It’s one of the only places in the world where you can see some of the animals we have,” said Dr. Andrew Rossiter, director, Waikiki Aquarium. “I once received a phone call from a man in Japan, he offered me $15,000 for the Angelfish we have. Would you pay that kind of money?”
Some patrons might laugh at the notion of paying that kind of money for a fish that lives about 10 years, despite being one of five ever caught. But for less than $10, they can see a creature that, before being displayed here, only about 50 people had seen.
“We do have many exotic fish and animals for people to see, and one thing that we emphasize is recreating the habitat as best we can,” Rossiter said. “There’s no imitation plant life and background; we have live coral and rocks that are commonly found in the animals’ natural habitat. We ensure they’re fed because there’s too many factors to exactly recreate the wildlife and any fish that are commonly found in deep waters are illuminated in a similar setting.”
The staff at the aquarium puts a lot of effort into the care and presentation of the museum. They are passionate about their work and spreading marine life knowledge to the public.
“This place is absolutely amazing,” said Jen Hampton, a tourist from New Hampshire. “To see all these rare and beautiful animals as you’d find them in the wild is just breathtaking. I hope people appreciate and enjoy such an amazing place, especially when it’s in their back yard. I wouldn’t be lying if this was a contributing factor in coming to Hawaii.”
Many people often marvel at the aquarium’s fish and then go to Hanauma Bay to snorkel and often come back to see what fish they saw. They’ll be astonished at how accurate a scenario they saw them in, Rossiteri said.
For a small cost and a short ride into Waikiki gives you the full experience. Even if aquariums aren’t your scene, it’s a great place to spend an hour or two, maybe as you wait for a table at a local venue or for traffic to die down.
Visit the aquarium’s Web site athttp://www.waquarium.org for directions and other information.