9. Waikiki Aquarium and Hanauma Bay

We found the Waikiki Aquarium located by the shore just west of the Hotel district of Waikiki. So on Friday, we spent the late morning exploring the many exhibits that focused on the colorful tropical fish found in these waters. It was an extremely informative facility, with other exhibits indicating the fragile ecosystem that is the foundation for life on these islands. The reef system, giant clams, and several varieties of jellyfish were displayed, along with two Monk Seals in an outdoor enclosure. We reached the Monk Seals just at feeding time, and watched one of the aquarium staff dive into the pool and swim around with one of the seals. It was apparent that the two different creatures had a very good relationship, as they swam and played together for an extended time. The narrator indicated that the seals had much in common with the tourists here on the Island of Oahu. Both humans and the seals spent their days just eating, swimming and lounging around in the sun. We finished off the day with a visit to the beautiful Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. It was the location Elvis Presley used for several scenes in his movie, BLUE HAWAII, many years ago. It is still a spectacularly beautiful bay on the Southeastern coast of Oahu, and has some of the best snorkeling scenery in all of Hawaii.