The Waikiki Aquarium is one of the world’s most prestigious marine science institutions as well as one of the state’s most visited tourist attractions. Founded in 1904, the aquarium is the third largest public aquarium in the United States and is part of the University of Hawaii system. A good portion of proceeds from the exhibit side of Waikiki Aquarium goes towards funding the scientific and research portion of the organization. Additionally, the aquarium’s location among some of the best Hawaii Waikiki real estate has placed it in a convenient location to attract some of the best researchers and large groups of visitors. Its location along the shore helps to bring in real sea water to create an authentic environment for the animals that live in the aquarium.

Today, the aquarium hosts more than 3,000 organisms of over 450 species – both marine animals and plants. On a daily basis, almost 1,000 pass through the entrance doors. One of the most treasured parts of the facility is the display of living corals that was begun in the 1970s. Living corals are more complex to sustain in aquariums than actual marine fish, so nurturing the complex coral was a great accomplishment for the aquarium. The Waikiki Aquarium was the first in the world to maintain a chambered nautilus and is the first to breed the species.