I feel bad for the animals because it doesn’t seem like they were rescued from a horrible circus or other unfortunate place. It seems all animals were brought to be put inside a cage for profit.
The zoo is in a nice location. Parking is great. Honestly book the zoo spaces for a special event like a weeding or a birthday party. It seems animals are brought here simply to be put inside a cage. It doesn’t seem the zoo rescues animals from horrible captors.
Susan Hollander
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February 25, 2025
This is a zoo in the heart of Waikiki, easily walkable from most hotels. The exhibits were set up well with one easy path to follow along. The animals seemed well cared for and there was a good spread of different types of animals. This is a family friendly location and fairly inexpensive ($21 per adult). It was not busy on a Monday at opening time (10am). Note: the wild male peacock can be aggressive so take caution when they approach you.
Kristin Gamechuk (K Game)
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April 04, 2025
We loved the Honolulu Zoo! No lines! Pay at the gate. We got to see animals that we have never seen! There is a playground for kids in the zoo! Great location, right across the beach! I would love to go again!
Philip Stevens
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March 04, 2025
For a zoo on an island thousands of miles form another continent, this was a very impressive experience. Two beautiful Sumatran tigers 🐅, two large and charismatic Asian elephants 🐘, two giraffes 🦒, a shy Sun Bear 🐻, plenty of primates including two orangutans, two hippos 🦛, and lots of reptiles, amphibians were among what we saw. There’s many birds as well and all for a very reasonable price. You can see pretty much everything in 1.5-3 hours, and the crowd on a Saturday afternoon was very mild. A great weekend family activity, and right by a beach and lots of nearby food spots incline a food are inside. Well worth the trip over 🐒
Shawn Michaud
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March 10, 2025
Honolulu Zoo Review – Worth Visiting Once
The Honolulu Zoo is a relaxing outdoor experience with interesting exhibits, shaded pathways, and family friendly amenities. While it is well maintained and enjoyable for a one time visit, there are a few things to consider before going.
Parking and Entry
Parking is limited, and we had to park on the street using a meter at $3 USD per hour. Arriving early may help.
Park entry was quick, with no long lines.
Zoo Layout and Accessibility
The zoo has a paved main pathway that loops through most of the park, but many enclosures require extra walking beyond it.
Bathrooms are proper buildings, not portable restrooms, and some have water bottle refill stations.
For families with young children, stroller rentals are available near the entrance. The paved paths make it easy to navigate with a stroller, though some areas require extra walking to get a closer view of certain enclosures.
Playground
A large play area for kids sits in the middle of the zoo, offering two sections for older kids and a smaller area for younger ones. The entire area is shaded, making it a great break spot for families.
Animal Exhibits
Some exhibits are well designed and have good visibility, while others felt a bit underwhelming. The hippo exhibit features an underwater viewing area, and kids will enjoy climbing into the fish enclosure’s viewing bubble. Some indoor enclosures, like the reptile and amphibian exhibits, were crowded.
Unfortunately, the lions and wild dogs were not on display, and the giraffes were in a section not open to the public which was disappointing.
Staff and Animal Care
We saw staff feeding turtles, but there was very little staff presence throughout the zoo, and practically no one available to share information about the animals.
Food and Seating Areas
The food area offers hotdogs, burgers, cold drinks, and shaved ice. Prices are on the higher side, but the food was decent. The eating area has benches with umbrellas for shade. There are also ice cream stands throughout the park as well.
Gift Shop and Donation Experience
At the entrance/exit, the gift shop has a variety of stuffed animals, toys, and zoo themed souvenirs. A highlight was when my daughter donated a few dollars, and they let her ring a large golden bell while staff and visitors clapped. It was a fun moment that made her feel special.
Cleanliness and Atmosphere
The zoo was very clean, with no visible trash and well maintained restrooms. There was plenty of shade and seating, and the park was not overly noisy or smelly, making for a pleasant visit.
Final Thoughts
The Honolulu Zoo is worth visiting once, especially for families with young kids who will enjoy the playground and shaded seating areas. While it is well maintained, the lack of staff interaction and missing animals take away from the experience. I would pay to come back, but for a relaxed walk through a family friendly space, it is a pleasant way to spend a few hours.
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I feel bad for the animals because it doesn’t seem like they were rescued from a horrible circus or other unfortunate place. It seems all animals were brought to be put inside a cage for profit. The zoo is in a nice location. Parking is great. Honestly book the zoo spaces for a special event like a weeding or a birthday party. It seems animals are brought here simply to be put inside a cage. It doesn’t seem the zoo rescues animals from horrible captors.
This is a zoo in the heart of Waikiki, easily walkable from most hotels. The exhibits were set up well with one easy path to follow along. The animals seemed well cared for and there was a good spread of different types of animals. This is a family friendly location and fairly inexpensive ($21 per adult). It was not busy on a Monday at opening time (10am). Note: the wild male peacock can be aggressive so take caution when they approach you.
We loved the Honolulu Zoo! No lines! Pay at the gate. We got to see animals that we have never seen! There is a playground for kids in the zoo! Great location, right across the beach! I would love to go again!
For a zoo on an island thousands of miles form another continent, this was a very impressive experience. Two beautiful Sumatran tigers 🐅, two large and charismatic Asian elephants 🐘, two giraffes 🦒, a shy Sun Bear 🐻, plenty of primates including two orangutans, two hippos 🦛, and lots of reptiles, amphibians were among what we saw. There’s many birds as well and all for a very reasonable price. You can see pretty much everything in 1.5-3 hours, and the crowd on a Saturday afternoon was very mild. A great weekend family activity, and right by a beach and lots of nearby food spots incline a food are inside. Well worth the trip over 🐒
Honolulu Zoo Review – Worth Visiting Once The Honolulu Zoo is a relaxing outdoor experience with interesting exhibits, shaded pathways, and family friendly amenities. While it is well maintained and enjoyable for a one time visit, there are a few things to consider before going. Parking and Entry Parking is limited, and we had to park on the street using a meter at $3 USD per hour. Arriving early may help. Park entry was quick, with no long lines. Zoo Layout and Accessibility The zoo has a paved main pathway that loops through most of the park, but many enclosures require extra walking beyond it. Bathrooms are proper buildings, not portable restrooms, and some have water bottle refill stations. For families with young children, stroller rentals are available near the entrance. The paved paths make it easy to navigate with a stroller, though some areas require extra walking to get a closer view of certain enclosures. Playground A large play area for kids sits in the middle of the zoo, offering two sections for older kids and a smaller area for younger ones. The entire area is shaded, making it a great break spot for families. Animal Exhibits Some exhibits are well designed and have good visibility, while others felt a bit underwhelming. The hippo exhibit features an underwater viewing area, and kids will enjoy climbing into the fish enclosure’s viewing bubble. Some indoor enclosures, like the reptile and amphibian exhibits, were crowded. Unfortunately, the lions and wild dogs were not on display, and the giraffes were in a section not open to the public which was disappointing. Staff and Animal Care We saw staff feeding turtles, but there was very little staff presence throughout the zoo, and practically no one available to share information about the animals. Food and Seating Areas The food area offers hotdogs, burgers, cold drinks, and shaved ice. Prices are on the higher side, but the food was decent. The eating area has benches with umbrellas for shade. There are also ice cream stands throughout the park as well. Gift Shop and Donation Experience At the entrance/exit, the gift shop has a variety of stuffed animals, toys, and zoo themed souvenirs. A highlight was when my daughter donated a few dollars, and they let her ring a large golden bell while staff and visitors clapped. It was a fun moment that made her feel special. Cleanliness and Atmosphere The zoo was very clean, with no visible trash and well maintained restrooms. There was plenty of shade and seating, and the park was not overly noisy or smelly, making for a pleasant visit. Final Thoughts The Honolulu Zoo is worth visiting once, especially for families with young kids who will enjoy the playground and shaded seating areas. While it is well maintained, the lack of staff interaction and missing animals take away from the experience. I would pay to come back, but for a relaxed walk through a family friendly space, it is a pleasant way to spend a few hours.