Waikīkī Aquarium
Events & Programs

GET INVOLVED.

From Makahiki celebrations and Earth Day cleanups to behind-the-scenes tours and school programs, there's a way for everyone to dive in.

Festivals on the lawn.
Year-round traditions

Festivals on the lawn.

Makahiki, Mauka to Makai, World Ocean Month, the Slack Key Festival — our calendar follows Hawaiian seasons, not just the school year. Most are free with admission.
  • Annual events
    8+ each year
  • Theme
    Hawaiian seasons
See the lineup
Blink and you'll miss it.
Limited runs

Blink and you'll miss it.

Waikīkī Scarium for Halloween, sunrise beach cleanups, plein-air paint nights — short-format events that only happen a few times a year.
What's coming up
Get behind the glass.
Learn by doing

Get behind the glass.

Our Behind the Scenes Tour lets you peek into the back rooms — the quarantine tanks, the food prep, the coral nursery. Hawaiian Reef Animals goes hands-on with our keepers.
  • Format
    Small group, guided
  • Length
    60–90 minutes
See classes
Built for groups of 15 to 55.
Bring your crew

Built for groups of 15 to 55.

Discounted self-guided visits and biologist-led presentations for clubs, neighborhood boards, senior groups and birthday parties. Reserve at least two weeks ahead.
Group rates
20,000 students every year.
Schools & keiki

20,000 students every year.

Docent-guided lessons aligned to NGSS and Hawaiian content standards. Bring a class as small as 10 or as large as 200 — we'll tailor the visit to your age group.
  • Grades
    Pre-K through college
  • Capacity
    Up to 200/day
School programs
Weddings between the reef tanks.
Rent the venue

Weddings between the reef tanks.

Open the gates after hours and host your reception under the stars, with the Living Reef as backdrop. We work with your caterer, planner and DJ.
Plan your event
Live calendar, updated weekly.
What's on

Live calendar, updated weekly.

Every presentation, tour, cleanup and pop-up program in one place. Filter by date, age group or topic.
Open calendar
Box jellies follow the moon.
Beach safety

Box jellies follow the moon.

They wash ashore in Waikīkī roughly 8–10 days after every full moon. Check our influx calendar before you swim — and learn what to do if you (or the keiki) get stung.
  • Window
    8–10 days post full moon
  • Updated
    Monthly
Check the forecast
120 years of programs.
Looking back

120 years of programs.

Browse the archive — every special exhibit, every cleanup, every concert we've hosted. Useful if you remember an event from years ago and want to revisit.
Open archive