- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
6 reviews for Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens
Whether you're a local or not, how can you pass up something that's FREE? Free admission to a local zoo in the middle of a lush Hawaiian tropical forest! It's great that it's in Hawai'i, but throw in FREE and it's a bonus you simply cannot overlook!
On the smaller side, the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens is a hidden gem on the Big Island. It is literally a Rainforest Zoo within an actual tropical rainforest (as far as I could tell). I thought this place was great for both children and adults. Most of the animals are in plain view or close to it. Possibly the most difficult animal to spot might be the tiger in its large enclosure.
Even though the majority of animal species are non-native, they do have a few indigenous birds and quite a few native plants. I would have liked to spotted some mongooses (?). Overall, this is actually a good collection of specimens given the size of the zoo.
It was a bit rainy during our visit (Hilo is pretty wet overall anyway), so an umbrella or weatherproof jacket would be wise. Bring a water bottle and a few snacks for the kids because there are no food vendors on the zoo grounds. Also, as a free zoo, please make a donation at the entrance and support this local attraction. Oh yeah, don't forget your camera either!
If you're in Hilo and looking for a nice little stop for the kids, Pana'ewa is a great choice.
People thought this was:
- Useful (10)
- Funny (4)
- Cool (5)
Awesome little zoo. Really it is pretty large given the small population of the Big Island. It is a RAINforest zoo... so you may catch a shower during your visit, please bring a jacket. Bug spray is also very useful!
Along with the animals there are many kinds of palm and other tropical plants throughout the grounds. As other folks have noted, the tiger (named Namaste) gets fed at 3:30 pm each day. The zoo closes at 4:00 PM. Please say Hi to the lemurs for me.
p.s. Be sure to find the Geocache named "Panaewa Tiergarten" that is hidden in the zoo!
If you have about an hour to kill, this is a great place to visit. The highlight of this place is a white tiger named Namaste. He is so beautiful and regal and such a site to see. His cage is not so much a cage as a wide open bowl shaped area where he can play around in. He moves pretty slowly so he must be pretty old so don't be afraid that he will jump out of his home and attack you. The zoo is pretty small, but has a good collection of monkeys, birds, and other small animals. The cages look old school and run down, but the animals look well taken care of and the cages are clean. PETA won't be tearing this place apart any time soon. The paths are lined with exotic flowers and the zoo keepers are friendly and knowledgeable. Entrance to the zoo is free.
The Pana'ewa Zoo has improved so much over the years! It's a great attraction for kids and tourists. This is one of the most unique zoos in the world because they have very unusual, and often endangered, plants and animals that are native to Hawaii. They have peacocks roaming around freely. Once a year, they shed their tail feathers and if you're lucky, you may find a plume on the ground. They also have a beautiful white tiger.
The zoo is maintained clean, pruned, and litter-free. Admission is free, although they have a pretty neat little gift shop at the entrance. On the way to the zoo, you'll pass by the Pana'ewa Equestrian Center. It's also a good place to drive through to see horses.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
We loved this zoo! The birds, tiger, and other animals were a HIT with my kids. The tiger was very active (he gets dinner around 3:30 each day) and he was cruising around looking hungry as early as 2:30. We got to meet the keeper that is friends with the lemur Casper and Casper clearly LOVES his surrogate mommy: he was kissing her and holding her hands and playing with her hair through the cage. The birds were everywhere, making noise and entertaining my kids.
Truthfully one of the best zoos I've been to. And it was FREE!
This quirky little zoo was a great place to break up a road trip around the Big Island. Small in scale, not only are you able to get a close-up look at many of the animal residents, you are exposed to a lot of amazing and unusual tropical plants, including one my daughter referred to as the "bead tree."
Admission is free. The zoo is well kept up and clean, the animals seem happy. There is also a funny little peacock that acts as a zoo escort around part of the place.
Check it out at:
http://www.hilozoo.com/
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
