Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu

The Waikiki Aquarium is the third oldest public aquarium in all of the U.S. Built next to a living coral reef on the Waikiki shoreline, it is home to more than 3,500 organisms of 490 species of marine plants and animals. Each year, over 330,000 people visit, and over 30,000 schoolchildren participate in the Aquarium's education activities and programs.

Interestingly, the Aquarium was created in 1904 by the Honolulu Rapid Transit Authority. They hoped that having an aquarium at the end of the trolley line would help entice more people to ride it.

The Waikiki Aquarium was the first place in the world to maintain and captive-breed the chambered nautilus. It also developed living coral displays as early as the mid-1970s, which are notoriously difficult to maintain in captivity. Famous biologist, David Starr Jordan, claimed that the Waikiki Aquarium had the best collection of fishes in the world. There are vibrantly colored fish and corals here that are found nowhere else in the world, and the Waikiki Aquarium promises to be home to more variety than will be found in the waters off Waikiki.

Why You Should Visit:
While it may be smaller than other aquariums, the layout is nice, there's plenty to see, and the staff is very helpful and nice.
Recommended as a nice simple thing to do; a comfortable, relaxed stroll. You can see everything within an hour.
AC on the inside; hands-on experience on the outside, plus viewing of seals and some places to picnic.

Tip:
If you are a student, bring your student ID for a discount.