Honolulu Zoo: Tourist Trap or Totally Worth It?

Every list of “things to do in Waikiki” has the Honolulu Zoo on it. Many tout it as a slow-paced, fun, “must-visit attraction” for families. It sounds perfect…

..but then you remember how many tourists pile into Waikiki every year. (For those that don’t know, about 4 MILLION tourists visit Waikiki annually!)

Since my girls are older, I didn’t plan on visiting the zoo while we were here. However, Lyvi wanted to go, and there was no way I was saying no when my teenager actually wanted to go somewhere and hang out with me. So, we made a quick addition to our Hawaii Bucket List!

And since I was there, I’ll give you my honest opinion. Is the Honolulu Zoo worth a visit or is it just another tourist trap?

Once again, the answer is: It depends on YOU!

Let me explain:

Our Honest Experience

Reservations and Parking

Our visit to the Honolulu Zoo was completely unplanned and spur-of-the-moment.

We had exactly ONE day of sunshine over Spring Break, so I made plans to see the Diamond Head lighthouse and then do some shopping. After seeing the lighthouse, we wound up at the zoo instead (MUCH better than shopping)!

Luckily, we found a parking spot in the zoo parking lot, and I paid for 4 hours (the max time you can park). And in we went!

Entrance to the zoo was only $16 for Lyvi and me with my military ID. So, definitely cheaper than any shopping we would have done.

The Honolulu Zoo

I have been to a handful of zoos in my lifetime, several of which are in small towns and cities. However, we have been to the Houston Zoo in Texas and the National Zoo in Washington D.C, so I do have something to compare it to.

The Honolulu Zoo is bigger than I expected. Definitely not as big as the ones in Houston or Washington, but much bigger than I anticipated. That being said, it’s not a full-day activity. We spent 2 hours wandering around. So, an afternoon (3-4 hours) would be plenty of time and you could pair it with another activity.

And the grounds are absolutely beautiful!

Perhaps it’s due to the tropical environment and plants. Or maybe it’s because of the immaculate planning of zoo designers (is that a job?) and landscapers, but I was seriously impressed by how pretty this zoo is. It is also extremely clean and well-kept.

(There are plenty of shady areas, but still bring sunscreen because you’re going to need it!)

The Animals

How does one rate a wild animal? You don’t, because they are simply just what God intended them to be.

However, I can say with confidence that I was surprised and impressed by the variety of animals we saw at the Honolulu Zoo. From the collection of birds and reptiles to the monkeys, giraffes, and elephants, we couldn’t have been happier.

Another thing I can say with confidence is that these were the most active zoo animals we’ve ever seen! Maybe it’s because of the milder temperatures here on the island. Or because we visited on the first sunny afternoon after a solid week of rain, but most of the animals were chipper and happy to run around and give us a show. Especially the monkeys!!

The monkeys were especially hyper. They would swing from their ropes and even do flips and daring jumps. And I swear they were doing it for applause!

Everyone would clap after a round of monkey business and it only made them do more of it!

Would We Go Again?

Umm…maybe.

If my oldest daughter asked me to go back (she missed out because she was in a course over Spring Break), then yes, I would go back. If we had visitors with small children and a couple of hours to kill, then yes.

And I’m saying yes, because it isn’t very expensive for us with the military rate. If I were here on vacation with limited time or limited budget, then I’m not sure the zoo is where I would want to spend it. Especially since you can visit a zoo in your area.

However, if you live here and you have kids (even teenagers!), then definitely add the Honolulu Zoo to your Hawaii Bucket List.

Also, it’s a great outing combined with a stop by the Diamond Head Lighthouse and a yummy lunch at Lulu’s!