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Honolulu Zoo, Honolulu, HI

Photo: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsFamily Favorite

Honolulu Zoo

151 Kapahulu Ave · Honolulu, HI

Why you should go…

The Honolulu Zoo sits on 42 acres at the north end of Queen Kapiolani Park in Waikiki. Its habitats hold more than 1,230 animals, from black rhinoceros and reticulated giraffes on the African Savanna to the Reptile Complex and Bird Sanctuary. You can also stroll the Orchid Garden and bring kids to the hands-on Keiki Zoo, and the zoo works to conserve native species such as the nene, Hawaii's state bird.

  • #zoo
  • #waikiki
  • #kids
  • #african savanna
  • #kapiolani park

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Honolulu Zoo, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Waikiki Beach

    Free

    Swim, take a surf lesson and stroll Honolulu's resort beach with the Diamond Head crater in view down the shore.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Shopping
    Free

    International Market Place

    Free

    Shop and eat beneath a preserved banyan tree at an open-air shopping center on Kalakaua Avenue in the heart of Waikiki.

    0.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Diamond Head State Monument

    Under $25

    Climb switchbacks, steep stairs and a lighted tunnel to old military bunkers on the crater rim.

    1.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Shopping
    Rainy-Day Pick

    Ala Moana Center

    Free

    Browse more than 350 shops and restaurants at an open-air Honolulu mall, with hula performances on Centerstage.

    2.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Dole Plantation

    Free

    Ride the Pineapple Express train, wander a giant garden maze and try Dole Soft Serve at this plantation stop in Wahiawa.

    23 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    Polynesian Cultural Center

    $25–$50

    Walk through six Pacific island villages, watch the Huki canoe show and stay for the evening stage show Ha: Breath of Life in Laie.

    26 mi awayMore like this