Family Fun At The Waikiki Aquarium - DECEMBER 2023 Events And Programs - Kaimuki

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Kaimuki, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item
Family Fun At The Waikiki Aquarium - DECEMBER 2023 Events And Programs
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Type: Family
Date: DECEMBER 2023
Time: see notes
Location:
2777 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: 808-923-9741
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Cost: see notes

Waikiki Aquarium Family Programs - DECEMBER 2023
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FEATURED EXHIBIT/ - Amazing Adaptations Exhibit Opens!

Description: The Amazing Adaptations Gallery displays a diverse collection of seahorses, seadragons and pipefishes. These fishes are members of an unusual fish family, known as family Syngnathidae, and share some unusual characteristics. Perhaps most notably, the male fishes in this family carry the eggs and the females show no parental care. Some species even exhibit true male pregnancy and are the only animals known to do so. Other characteristics of these fish include elongated bodies enclosed in bony armor, tubular fused snouts, and the need to eat almost continuously due to the lack of a stomach. There are nearly 200 known pipefish species, 47 known seahorse species, and only two known seadragon species.

Extending over 60 feet of gallery wall and holding over 3,000-gallons of water, the gallery includes nine exhibits that display species ranging from local Hawaiian pipefishes and seahorses to exotic Australian seadragons. Additionally, two seahorse nursery tanks display juvenile seahorses bred at the aquarium and the live food these fish require to survive in captivity.
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DECEMBER 2023 SPECIAL EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES

Elf in the Shell -
EVERY DAY DECEMBER 1ST TO DECEMBER 24TH, 2023 @ 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Find her if you can... the infamous Elf In The Shell is back again! Each day, the elf will be hidden somewhere in the Aquarium sitting in one of 4 seashells. If you spot her, come to the gift shop and let us know where she is to claim your surprise!

Volunteer Led Arts and Crafts
Friday, December 1, 2023 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm 
Unleash your creativity and make your own nature inspired craft. Visit our volunteer-led arts and crafts table from 10AM-12PM!
See more details

Diving Santa in the Hunters on the Reef Exhibit
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 @ 11:30 am - 12:00 pm 
Come sea Diving Santa at the Waikīkī Aquarium. The holidays have arrived and the Waikīkī Aquarium is celebrating with a special visit from Santa Claus. On Tuesday, December 5 and 12, 2023 at 11:30AM visitors can sea Diving Santa in the Hunters on the Reef exhibit.
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Native Hawaiian Plant Tour
Thursday, December 7, 2023 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm 2777 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
Join volunteer Alice Roberts for a personal guided tour of the Aquarium’s native Hawaiian plant gardens, where she will be highlighting 16 of the plants. A complete plant guide book is available in the Waikīkī Aquarium’s Volunteer Office, or you can print out your own Hawaiian Plant Guide map for the tour by going to the following link: http://www.waikikiaquarium.org/experience/plants-seaweeds/hawaiian-plant-guide/
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Volunteer Led Arts and Crafts
Friday, December 8, 2023 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm 
Unleash your creativity and make your own nature inspired craft. Visit our volunteer-led arts and crafts table from 10AM-12PM!
See more details

Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR) Table
Monday, December 11, 2023 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm 
Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR) is the largest Hawaii-based nonprofit marine species conservation, education, field support, rescue and stranding response organization.
Their mission is to undertake substantial actions that result in the preservation, recovery and stewardship of Hawaii’s marine protected species and the ocean ecosystem we share. Thousands of times each year, our outreach, field response, interventions, rescue and stranding support activities help us move towards our vision of Hawaii’s ocean ecosystem shared in sustainable harmony by humans and marine protected animals such as Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles, dolphins, whales and seabirds.
Visit HMARʻs table at the Waikiki Aquarium to learn about HMAR, the work they do, and why they do it.
See more details

Diving Santa in the Hunters on the Reef Exhibit
Tuesday, December 12, 2023 @ 11:30 am - 12:00 pm 
Come sea Diving Santa at the Waikīkī Aquarium. The holidays have arrived and the Waikīkī Aquarium is celebrating with a special visit from Santa Claus. On Tuesday, December 5 and 12, 2023 at 11:30AM visitors can sea Diving Santa in the Hunters on the Reef exhibit.
See more details

Volunteer Led Arts and Crafts
Friday, December 15, 2023 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm 
Unleash your creativity and make your own nature inspired craft. Visit our volunteer-led arts and crafts table from 10AM-12PM!
See more details

Paint For Your Soul - Yellow Tang Canvas
Saturday, December 16, 2023 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm 
Get creative at the Waikīkī Aquarium! On Saturday, December 16th at 1:00 p.m., you’re invited to paint an ocean-inspired canvas! For $40, you will receive the supplies needed to create a masterpiece. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Aquarium. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Reserve your canvas now by texting or calling (808)379-6811
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Native Plant Garden Tour
Thursday, December 21, 2023 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm Waikīkī Aquarium, 2777 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
Join volunteer Alice Roberts for a personal guided tour of the Aquarium’s native Hawaiian plant gardens, where she will be highlighting 16 of the plants. A complete plant guide book is available in the Waikīkī Aquarium’s Volunteer Office, or you can print out your own Hawaiian Plant Guide map for the tour by going to the following link: http://www.waikikiaquarium.org/experience/plants-seaweeds/hawaiian-plant-guide/
See more details

Volunteer Led Arts and Crafts
Friday, December 22, 2023 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm 
Unleash your creativity and make your own nature inspired craft. Visit our volunteer-led arts and crafts table from 10AM-12PM!
See more details

Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR) Table
Monday, December 25, 2023 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm 
Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR) is the largest Hawaii-based nonprofit marine species conservation, education, field support, rescue and stranding response organization.
Their mission is to undertake substantial actions that result in the preservation, recovery and stewardship of Hawaii’s marine protected species and the ocean ecosystem we share. Thousands of times each year, our outreach, field response, interventions, rescue and stranding support activities help us move towards our vision of Hawaii’s ocean ecosystem shared in sustainable harmony by humans and marine protected animals such as Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles, dolphins, whales and seabirds.
Visit HMARʻs table at the Waikiki Aquarium to learn about HMAR, the work they do, and why they do it.
See more details

Volunteer Led Arts and Crafts
Friday, December 29, 2023 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm 
Unleash your creativity and make your own nature inspired craft. Visit our volunteer-led arts and crafts table from 10AM-12PM!
See more details

VISIT WAIKIKI AQUARIUM WEBSITE

SUPPORT WAIKIKI AQUARIUM
Friends of the Waikiki Aquarium
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Become a Member
Becoming a Friends of the Waikīkī Aquarium (FOWA) member enables marine life enthusiasts of all ages
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ABOUT WAIKIKI AQUARIUM

Founded in 1904 and administered by the University of Hawai'i at Manoa since 1919, the Waikiki Aquarium is located on the shoreline of Waikiki Beach next to a living reef and across from Kapiolani Park. The Aquarium -- second oldest in the U.S. -- showcases more than 500 marine species, and maintains more than 3,500 marine specimens. Public exhibits, education programs and research focus on the unique aquatic life of Hawai'i and the tropical Pacific.

The Aquarium welcomes more than 320,000 visitors annually, and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except Honolulu Marathon Sunday and Christmas Day. Admission is $12 for visitors; $8 for local residents and active duty military with ID, $5 for senior citizens and juniors ages four to 12; and free for children three and under and Friends of Waikiki Aquarium (FOWA) members.

MISSION:
To inspire and promote understanding, appreciation
and conservation of Pacific marine life.

DESCRIPTION:

Founded in 1904, the Waikiki Aquarium is the second
oldest public aquarium in the United States. A part of the University of
Hawai`i at Manoa since 1919, it is located next to a living reef on the Waikiki
shoreline. Exhibits, programs, and research focus on the aquatic life of
Hawai`i and the tropical Pacific, with roughly 320,000 people visiting the
Aquarium each year. Over 3,500 organisms are on exhibit representing more than
500 species of aquatic animals and plants.

EXHIBITS:
Waikiki Aquarium exhibits focus on the diversity of
aquatic, shoreline and coral reef habitats and living communities of Hawai`i and
the tropical Pacific. Among the highlights:

Corals Are Alive! interactive exhibits
showcasing corals, their biology and conservation

SeaVisions Theatre shows videos that
illustrate shoreline conservation and how you can be a responsible reef
visitor

South Pacific Marine Communities features
South Pacific habitats and species, including colorful reef corals and fishes,
giant clams, groupers and snappers and intriguing partnerships such as
anemonefishes and their host sea anemones

Hawaiian Marine Communities recreates
Hawaiian habitats from wave-swept surge zone to deep reef slopes, and from young
to ancient reefs; celebrates distinctive reef life, including the longnose
butterflyfish

Ocean Drifters Gallery features a
1,000-gallon moon jelly tank and a seasonally changing jelly wall that may
contain white-spotted jellies, blue blubbers, sea nettles, box jellies and
ctenophores

Hunters on the Reef 35,000-gallon exhibit
is home to Hawaiian sharks and jacks; shark interpretive panels introduce shark
biology, research, conservation and safety. New Spyball camera provides up close
shark encounters in real time on a television screen

Edge of the Reef naturalistic shoreline
exhibit offering opportunities for supervised observation and hands-on
interactions with selected marine life

The Coral Farm exhibit and working research
facility for propagation of reef corals

Giant Clams exhibit and working research
facility for propagation of clams

Hawaiian Monk Seal Habitat features the
endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal found only in the Hawaiian Islands

Aquaculture features moi, a popular food
fish, whose numbers have declined in the wild

Coastal Gardens with native Hawaiian plants
adapted for life close to the sea

ENDANGERED SPECIES:

Hawaiian monk seals; ‘öhai (endemic
Hawaiian coastal plant)

UNIQUE SPECIES:
Pacific giant clams; Hawaiian stream gobies; rare
deep-reef butterflyfish; bearded armorheads; masked angelfish; and diverse
native coastal plants

CONSERVATION & RESEARCH:
The Waikiki Aquarium is a working research facility,
conducting numerous conservation and research programs, including:

Husbandry, nutrition and behavior of aquatic and marine
aquarium specimens

Husbandry and propagation of chambered
nautilus

Spawning behavior, larval rearing, and propagation
potential of selected reef fishes

Identification & treatment of diseases, parasite
infections and other ailments of aquarium marine life

Coral husbandry, propagation and conservation

Hawaiian monk seal metabolic and bacteriological
research

Giant clam husbandry and propagation

Sea jelly husbandry and propagation

Deep reef coral research

Coral Ark: archiving and husbandry of rare Hawaiian
corals

EDUCATION PROGRAMS:
The Waikiki Aquarium offers numerous education programs,
including:

Interpretive services: staff or volunteers enrich
the visitor experience with explanations of the exhibits, demonstrations, and
hands-on experiences

Self-tour opportunities for individuals and
groups: interpretive graphics & exhibits, handouts are
available.

School Program: presentations and docent-assisted
tours for school groups, grades K - 6

Outreach and special request presentations for
schools and community groups

Community Enrichment Program: year-round natural
history fieldtrips, classes, and workshops for children, families, and
adults

Information services: staff answer questions from
visitors & community on marine and aquarium-science related
topics

OPPORTUNITIES:

The Waikiki Aquarium affords a number of opportunities
to get involved through:

Membership: Join the Friends of the
Waikïkï Aquarium (FOWA) to enjoy the annual benefits of free
admission, 20% discount at the Natural Selections gift shop, quarterly mailings
of our beautiful and informative magazine Kilo i’a, free salt water
pick-up, and facility rental privileges at “Family” and
“Family Plus” levels. To select the membership level right for you,
please see the Visitor Services staff or contact Events and Membership Manager
Raina Fujitani at (808) 440-9008 for more information.

Volunteerism: When you donate your time and
curiosity to the Waikiki Aquarium, you are rewarded with diverse and challenging
opportunities to help make a difference!
- Education
  – Docents provide on-site presentations and tours to elementary school
  groups and provide outreach programs for school and community groups.
  Interpreters at the Edge of the Reef exhibit assist visitors and provide
  up-close observations of Hawaiian marine life.
- Live
  Exhibits – Assist with husbandry, tank maintenance and
  feeding.
- Natural
  Selection Shop – Assist with stocking inventory and sales.
- Membership/Public
  Relations/Special Events - Assist with bulk mail outs & communications
  with Aquarium members, public relations surveys, record-keeping and special
  events.

AWARDS:
The Waikiki Aquarium has received several awards for its
research and conservation efforts, including:

2008 Keep It Hawai`i Award

2003 Munson Aquatic Conservation Exhibit (M.A.C.E.) Award
from the American Zoo & Aquarium Association (AZA) for South Pacific Marine
Communities exhibit

2003 Edward H. Bean Award from AZA for Long Term Tropical
Pacific Coral Propagation Program

DIRECTOR: Dr. Andrew
Rossiter

EMPLOYEES: 35 full-time, 36 part-time, 33
affiliate staff

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily (except
Honolulu Marathon Sunday and Christmas Day)

ADMISSION: $12 for visitors; $8 for local residents and active duty military with ID, $5 for senior citizens and juniors ages four to 12; and free for children three and under and Friends of Waikiki Aquarium (FOWA) members.

Questions? Ready for an appointment?

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Kaimuki, Hawaii Event Calendar Item

Family Fun At The Waikiki Aquarium - DECEMBER 2023 Events And Programs

Kaimuki, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item