Looking for information on visiting Waikiki Aquarium with a toddler? While fairly small, the aquarium is an ideal size for exploring with young kids and learning about the diverse marine life of the Pacific. In this Waikiki Aquarium review, I will share our experience visiting the Waikiki Aquarium with a toddler.
Waikiki Aquarium with a toddler
Established in 1904 and built next to a living coral reef, the Waikiki Aquarium is the second oldest public aquarium in the United States and is run by the University of Hawaii. The aquarium houses more than 3,500 organisms and 500 species of Hawaiian and South Pacific marine life.
Showcasing the diverse marine life of the Pacific, Waikiki Aquarium offers visitors an educational experience and an up-close look at the typical marine life you might see snorkelling or scuba diving along Hawaii’s reefs.
Located on Kuhio Beach, the Waikiki Aquarium is only a short walk or bus ride away from many of the top hotels along Waikiki Beach. Since Waikiki Aquarium is just less than a mile from where we were staying in Waikiki, the Moana Surfrider, we could easily walk to the aquarium, admiring the view from the beach parks along the way.
Related: Moana Surfrider Oahu Review
Waikiki Aquarium Exhibits
The Waikiki Aquarium is small compared to many of the aquariums we have visited with our kids, and you only need 30 to 60 minutes to explore the exhibits. That said, the Waikiki Aquarium is a great attraction for exploring with toddlers or preschoolers, particularly if you are looking for a break from the heat or an activity for a rainy day.
Exhibits at the Waikiki Aquarium offer an up-close look at a wide array of fish, coral, sea anemones, jellyfish, giant clams, seahorses and more. The indoor exhibits are fascinating, especially the display of the South Pacific and Hawaiian marine communities and the jellyfish.
One exhibit contains the chambered nautilus, that lives on the deep reef slopes of the western Pacific. The Waikiki Aquarium was the first aquarium in the world to maintain the chambered nautilus and the first in the United States to breed them. These unique creatures are the last of a primitive mollusc line dating back 500 million years and they move around by propelling water through a muscular tube called the siphon.
The jellyfish in the Ocean Drifters Gallery were enchanting to watch. The Ocean Drifters Gallery is a changing exhibit that features jellyfish found locally and abroad, including moon jellies, Atlantic sea nettles and blue blubbers. The jellyfish tanks are specially designed with constant water currents to keep the jellies moving throughout the exhibit.
During feeding time, you could have the chance to watch the jellyfish grabbing their live food with their tentacles and moving it through their stomach chambers.
Other interesting exhibits to see include Hunters on the Reef, which features top predators on coral reefs such as zebra sharks, giant groupers and bluefin trevally. Jacks or trevally, known locally as ulua, are popular food and game fish and are the most common predators on Hawaiian reefs.
Groupers, meanwhile, are among the largest fish residing on coral reefs. The giant groupers in the Hunters on the Reef tank could reach 8 feet (2.44m) in length and weigh over 800 lbs (360 kg).
Other exhibits we enjoyed visiting Waikiki Aquarium with a toddler were in the South Pacific Marine Communities gallery, where you can see a wide array of vibrant tropical fish.
The highlight of this gallery is the 5500 gallon Barrier Reef exhibit, which contains over 100 species of fish, giant clams and live corals. The giant clams in the Barrier Reef exhibit weigh over 170 lbs (77 kg) and are possibly the largest and oldest in captivity in the world.
Related: Travel Tips: Waikiki with a Toddler
Edge of the Reef
One of the top things to do at the Waikiki Aquarium with a toddler is to explore the outdoor coral reef exhibit. The longest continuously running exhibit at the aquarium, the Edge of the Reef is a 7500 gallon outdoor exhibit with the typical marine life you might find along the Hawaiian rocky shoreline.
Fish and invertebrates in the Edge of the Reef exhibit offer a look at the marine life you might see snorkelling along Hawaii’s reefs, including yellow tangs, parrotfish, butterflyfishes, sea cucumbers and bright red pencil urchins.
Related: Oahu Family Travel Guide
There is also an interactive area with a touch pool run by university volunteers. The touchpool is great for little ones, where you can have a close look at a sea urchin and hold a hermit crab in your hand. In this area, there is also an enclosure for two Hawaiian monk seals that were rescued as pups.
Waikiki Aquarium Admission
Waikiki Aquarium, 2777 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815
Opening Hours: 9am to 4:30pm daily, 7 days a week. Facility closes at 5pm. Special hours on Thanksgiving Day: 9am to 2:30pm and New Year’s Day: 11am to 4:30pm. Closed on Honolulu Marathon Day and Christmas Day.
Tickets: General admission tickets are $12; children age 3 and under go free. Each paid admission includes a free Mobile Audio Guide.
Parking: There is small parking lot with free 2 hour parking located in front of the entrance that is available to aquarium visitors. Metered street parking is also available on the left-hand side of Kalakaua Avenue.
Family Activities: The Waikiki Aquarium runs various events, including special family nights, Hawaiian performances and educational activities for both children and adults. The aquarium also runs a Keiki Time class, designed for kids 1 to 4 years old to learn about sea creatures through crafts, singing, storytelling, dance and play.
Food and Drink: There isn’t a restaurant on-site but the Barefoot Beach Café is very close by in the park next to the aquarium.
https://www.waikikiaquarium.org/
Oahu with Kids Guide
I hope you have found this Waikiki Aquarium review helpful in planning activities in Waikiki with young kids! Read on for more tips and inspiration for planning a family vacation to the beautiful island of Oahu;
Family Travel Guide to Oahu with Kids
Hotel Review: Moana Surfrider, Waikiki
Travel Tips: Waikiki with a Toddler
Kid Friendly Activities on Oahu
Beachfront Restaurants in Waikiki
Oahu with Kids Map
I am also pinning fun things to do on Oahu with kids, family-friendly restaurants and where to stay on Oahu for families in the “Oahu with Kids” Google Map Guide. For a direct link to the map to bookmark, click here. To explore the map, click on the door sign with an arrow just before the map title.
Pin for Later – Waikiki Aquarium with a Toddler
Disclosure: There are some affiliate links in this post. This means that if you choose to make a purchase after clicking on one of the links I may receive a small commission that helps to support this site at no additional cost to you. This post was updated on 21 November 2025 with up-to-date information on visiting the Waikiki Aquarium.
