FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Caroline Witherspoon or
Katie Vanes
Becker Communications, Inc.
(808) 533-4165

THE WAIKIKI AQUARIUM KICKS OFF 2014 WITH MARINE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES

Honolulu, Hawai‘i (January 7, 2013) – The Waikiki Aquarium is making a splash with a line-up of fun, family-friendly educational events for the New Year. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon feeding the animals, explore the ocean reef at night, or bring the kids for some educational crafts. To register for events, please call 440-9007.

Afternoons at the Aquarium
Wednesdays at 3 p.m.
January 8 – Play-Dough Marine Animals
January 15 – Is the Rock Alive?
January 22 – Fish Identification & Creative Activity
January 29 – Brittlestar Presentation & Critter Encounter

Looking for something to do after school? The Waikiki Aquarium offers keiki a whale of a time with educational activities on the Aquarium lawn every Wednesday. Enjoy crafting marine animals out of Play-Dough, feeding limu to fish, learning how to identify marine creatures and more. Activities range from 10 to 20 minutes and are designed for ages 4 to 8, but everyone is welcome. Participation in Afternoons at the Aquarium is included in daily admission.

Aquarium After Dark
Friday, February 7 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Friday, February 21 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Friday, March 21 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Friday, April 4 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Discover if fish fall asleep and if yellow tang fish are always yellow on an after-dark flashlight tour of the Aquarium. Join the Aquarium for a class followed by a tour of the exhibits. Minimum age is five years; youngsters must be accompanied by an adult. $10/adult, $7/child ($14/10 for nonmembers).

Behind the Scenes
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 3:00 p.m.

Learn what makes the Aquarium run, from fish food to quarantine, and many stops in between. Climb-up and peer into the exhibits to see how they are created and visit the Coral Farm to see where coral is propagated. Minimum age 7 years; youngsters must be accompanied by an adult. Accessibility is limited. Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome. $12/adult, $8/child ($15/$10 for non-members).

Exploring the Reef at Night
Wednesday, January 29 from 7-9 p.m.
Wednesday, February 12 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 27 from 7-9 p.m.
Thursday, March 13 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Friday, March 28 from 7-9 p.m.

Wade into the ocean on these wet and wild excursions, where guests search for night-active crabs, lobsters, eels and octopi. Look for sleeping parrotfish, triggerfish and day octopus in their dens. For adventurers ages 6 years and up; youngsters must be accompanied by an adult. Participants should be comfortable in the ocean, both day and night. $15/adult, $9/child ($18/$12 for non-members).

Meet the Monk Seals
Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 3 p.m.

More sightings of seals around the main Hawaiian Islands have renewed interest in these amazing and endangered animals. Learn about seals in the wild: what do they eat? How deep do they dive while hunting? Do they really have fingernails? Then, move to the monk seal habitat where Aquarium biologists will introduce guests to the resident seals, Maka Onaona and Ho‘ailona. Participants will assist with seal enrichment activities. Designed for participants 7 and up, but anyone interested is invited to attend. $7/person ($10/person for non-members).

ABOUT THE WAIKIKI AQUARIUM
Founded in 1904 and administered by the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa 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 “third 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. Daily 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. For more information about the Waikiki Aquarium, including membership, call (808) 923-9741 or visit www.waikikiaquarium.org

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