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All 63 Hilo Attractions »

Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens

Hwy 11 to Stainback Hwy, Hilo, Island of Hawaii, HI 96720
808 959 7224
Ranked #6 of 38 attractions in Hilo
4.5 of 5 stars 63 Reviews
Type: Zoos
Activities: Viewing wildlife
Useful Information: Activities for older children, Stroller parking, Bathroom facilities, Activities for young children, Wheelchair access
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63 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    28
    28
    4
    2
    1
Date Rating
NEW YORK CITY
Senior Contributor
26 reviews 26 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 21, 2012

This is a small but great zoo with beautiful gardens and foliage. Lots of small animals to see and exotic birds however it is more like a garden with refuge for animals. We went early in the morning and most the animals were still sleeping. They have a nice little playground for children to run around in. Admission is free... More

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See 5 more reviews by NYCROTARYROCKET for Hilo
Springfield, Oregon, United States
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 17, 2012

The best thing about this little zoo is the price (free), but there are many good times here. We went to this zoo quite a few times and it is a wonderful place to go and walk. The gardens are amazing and the animals are very cool. A few of the enclosures could be enlarged/ improved, but they are working... More

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See 4 more reviews by Christine Ula L for Hilo
Marysville WA
Contributor
14 reviews 14 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 10, 2012

This is a beautiful layout as far as the gardens. It is worth going to see the tiger. The rest of the zoo has only small animals and birds. Entrance is free but its worth donating. This is a great place for children and there are paved walkways. More

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San Francisco, California
Top Contributor
53 reviews 53 reviews
Reviews in 26 cities Reviews in 26 cities
60 helpful votes 60 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed May 6, 2012

I have a love-hate relationship with zoos but usually like to visit them to get more insights on the place I am visiting (this was insightful in India, for example). This zoo had a white tiger that is on one acre, which is not that much for a big tiger. It looked very sad and was walking in circles like... More

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See 12 more reviews by princessvontrapp_7 for Hilo
Australind, Australia
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 29, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

Loved seeing the beautiful plants and flowers whilst wandering around the zoo visiting all the animals. More

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kailua kona
2 reviews
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 28, 2012

Very nice place to take a walk. Lots of plants. Enjoyed spending a few hours with the fam! More

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Melbourne, Australia
Top Contributor
132 reviews 132 reviews
Reviews in 36 cities Reviews in 36 cities
158 helpful votes 158 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed April 28, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

This is a free private zoo. Somewhat run down with a lot of the cages empty or in a poor state. There is a beautiful lily pond at the entrance. The chital or spotted deer have a very small run - very sad. The only cocky is very lonely. The macaws do not have sufficien space to spread their wings.... More

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See 7 more reviews by Rasputin21 for Hilo
VA
Contributor
13 reviews 13 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 25, 2012

I go to see Namaste the white tiger. He's the man. You can watch him eat beef and chickens at 3PM. The zoo is free. It's very nice. More

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See 10 more reviews by surferboyVA for Hilo
Palo Alto, California
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 23, 2012

Every time I visit Hilo or Volcano, I stop by this zoo, usually more than once. Set in a botanical garden, it is worth the trip just to walk through for the beauty of the setting. You meander around paved paths surrounded by tropical flowers. Go in the morning when they first open: no one is there, the white tiger... More

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Hilo
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 19, 2012

Nice zoo layout and great playground for kids. Good venue for children's birthday parties. More

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See 2 more reviews by HiloNana for Hilo

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