Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens
Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens
4
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Top ways to experience Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
30 within 3 miles
Attractions
85 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Mike PAnchorage, Alaska1,726 contributionsGood zooThis is a nice, small zoo that is an easy visit for families with preschoolers and children. In addition to the animal exhibit, there is a nice playground and picnic area. And inthat there’s no admission fee, it is a great option for a day trip/activity for families.Visited November 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 20, 2023
- Heather D8 contributionsA great place for kids and their parents!If you're in the hilo area with kids, don't miss this zoo and playground. It is free, which is amazing, and younger kids can spend several happy hours seeing the animals and playing on the playground. clean and safe too.Visited December 2023Traveled with familyWritten December 24, 2023
- Caitlin HSydney, Australia5 contributionsExceeded our expectationsThe zoo was amazing! Up close with so many animals and very few other people (no crowds). A very natural environment, we saw a lot more than we expected at this free zoo. Our young kids (6, 4 and 2) loved the whole visit. Highly recommend.Visited December 2023Traveled with familyWritten January 5, 2024
- Face_The_ElementsEdmonton, Canada344 contributionsFamily friendly entertainmentThis is a great place to go for families and those looking to see animals. Most animals are behind tightly knit mesh fences which makes it hard to get good pictures but still gives you good views up close. Birds, monkeys, reptiles, a few mammals, anteater, and a tiger that was hiding while we were there. This is a great place for kids as it also has a big playground, snacks and it’s also free to enter.Visited April 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten April 18, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
576 reviews
Excellent
272
Very good
197
Average
70
Poor
27
Terrible
10
Lindy R
Cedar Crest, NM319 contributions
Jan 2020
We enjoyed spending a few hours wandering around the beautiful Zoo grounds. There are lots of bird exhibits. However, the highlight for us was the Bengal Tigers, one of which is white. Their enclosure was quite large so they had plenty of room for them to roam and play. Although the Zoo is free, you should definitely make a small donation to help them cover expenses. Lots of locals were there with children who were having a great time!
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle
20 contributions
Mar 2022
This was the worst experience on our trip to the Big Island. The animals are in all wire cages with little to no vegetation. Many of the animals who are social in the wild are isolated individually. We observed a monkey whose only companion was a small stuffed animal. When asking about the gardens, the gardener complained that people should visit the botanical gardens and pay to learn because this was a free zoo.
Written March 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenn Nolen
Saint Louis, MO387 contributions
Apr 2019
This was a lovely introduction to the Big Island! If you're looking for interesting, budget-friendly activities on your vacation, this is a good one!
Admission is donation only. Despite that, there were many animals to observe and they all seemed to be well cared for! The grounds were beautiful and well-maintained. The atmosphere was unhurried so we were able to meander through and enjoy the animals and plants.
If you're used to large, urban zoo environments, this one may seem disappointing; there are no restaurants, animal shows, rides, etc. You won't find enough to entertain you for more than a couple of hours, BUT, it's simple and low-key and FREE. Lovely introduction to the plants and animals of HI!
Admission is donation only. Despite that, there were many animals to observe and they all seemed to be well cared for! The grounds were beautiful and well-maintained. The atmosphere was unhurried so we were able to meander through and enjoy the animals and plants.
If you're used to large, urban zoo environments, this one may seem disappointing; there are no restaurants, animal shows, rides, etc. You won't find enough to entertain you for more than a couple of hours, BUT, it's simple and low-key and FREE. Lovely introduction to the plants and animals of HI!
Written January 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian D
Denver, CO2,388 contributions
Apr 2023
A great zoo to visit in Hilo. The zoo is primarily home to native animals found in Hawaii. They do have a few other exhibits to draw in the crowds. The zoo is free, but a donation is gladly accepted at the door, and they accept cash or credit cards for the donation. There is also a fantastic souvenir shop at the entrance/exit, where you can buy fantastic merchandise that also helps to support the zoo. The zoo is laid out in a very nice, organized, visitor-friendly path. If you follow the pathways, you should see everything on exhibit. You'll also see some great scenery and well-maintained exhibits with areas to sit and relax. If you love birds, reptiles and amphibians, this is the zoo for you! There are a number of frogs on display, lizards, tortoises and more! I was very glad that I decided to stop in and visit this zoo while vacationing in Hilo and Hawaii. A perfect place to spend some time if you are an animal lover like me. Bring your camera, because there are some great photo opportunities as well.
Written June 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Love2Cruise2gether
Anchorage, Alaska20 contributions
Oct 2021
I wish that I could share some pictures with everyone. This is a cute little zoo and botanical garden area. We spent a couple of hours here (even a couple of picnic tables in the zoo area) and really enjoyed the variety of animal life.
Written October 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dustin B
Wells, ME30 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
The Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens is a must see stop on the Big Island for everyone! Not only is the drive out to the zoo beautiful but the drive to the zoo shows the real inner island. Also as a major plus the zoo is free to attend. The zoo has a lot of great animals and exotic birds and is surrounded by rainforest throughout the park. Tons of cool flowers and plants to see. Some of the best animals were the two tigers including a white Bengal tiger and the many types of monkeys. The animals were pretty active for such a hot day and we definitely got to see most of the animals. The staff were all extremely helpful and friendly. The zoo does not take that long to complete and is great for a follow on activity during the day as it is near the Hilo side of the island. There is a gift shop and some good bathroom facilities at the entrance. I highly recommend!
Written June 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
islandlovingtwosome
Lake Forest, CA125 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
A wonderful little zoo tucked in a beautiful botanical garden. Not a lot of animals, but the animals they have are interesting. The highlight is probably the white tiger and orange tiger. Lots of peacocks and other birds roaming the grounds adding to the ambiance. It was very pleasant strolling the clean grounds of this zoo. Admission was free, but I did read that starting 2025 you will have to pay admission. It's still worth it in my opinion.
Written October 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria S
27 contributions
May 2022
Things to know:
1. The zoo is beautiful and has an amazing laid back vibe. I have been to many zoos but this one i think was the most pleasant to walk around. lots of space, not many people, very relaxed visit.
2. It is free
3. Opens at 10:00
4. Has a playground! (not huge but fun) with benches to sit near it and tables to eat (if you bring your own food). Moms, you will appreciate it.
5. It has a white tiger (albino).
6. While it doesn't have as huge variety of animals as for example San Diego zoo , but it has enough to keep kids' interest.
7. Suitable for stroller.
Bottom line, visit. It is fun, and is a great spot to let your kids run around getting their energy out and learn about some cool animals.
1. The zoo is beautiful and has an amazing laid back vibe. I have been to many zoos but this one i think was the most pleasant to walk around. lots of space, not many people, very relaxed visit.
2. It is free
3. Opens at 10:00
4. Has a playground! (not huge but fun) with benches to sit near it and tables to eat (if you bring your own food). Moms, you will appreciate it.
5. It has a white tiger (albino).
6. While it doesn't have as huge variety of animals as for example San Diego zoo , but it has enough to keep kids' interest.
7. Suitable for stroller.
Bottom line, visit. It is fun, and is a great spot to let your kids run around getting their energy out and learn about some cool animals.
Written June 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ravenito
Charlotte, NC545 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
This was a nice little Zoo. It's free to get in, which is cool. They have a decent amount of animals and the enclosures didn't seem all that small to me. It was really cool that it is a rainforest zoo so there's lot of neat plants as well as animals to see. Really glad I stopped here
Written June 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon B
2 contributions
Oct 2021
I’m disabled. The improvements the zoo has made for disabled visitors are wonderful. They have rental scooters available and only request 48 hour advance notice if you will need one. Thank you so much for making the zoo a place that is welcoming to people who are differently abled. Romeo (one of the cockatoos) never ceases to delight me. Kyle was the escort for me and my service dog. He made sure we got to say hi to Romeo who was out of his cage for enrichment activities. Kyle was a great escort. He knew so much about the animals and never made me feel rushed. This zoo is small and intimate. You get close to many of the animals. I had the best time and I think you will too. Please be sure to donate if you are able to. The money goes to care for these amazing animals. This is a wonderful way to spend a few hours of the day. The staff really care about the welfare of the animals and your experience.
Written October 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What time are the white tigers fed ?
Written December 9, 2019
Not sure exactly. Get there early because they feed shortly after the place opens. The tigers get very playful (hungry) while they’re waiting to be fed. And only one of them is white.
Written December 9, 2019
I would bet not because there are peacocks walking around on the property. Better call to check.
Written February 12, 2017
Aloha - its about a 15 minute drive from the cruise port. You will need a taxi or a rental car. Its near the Macadamia nut factory (farm) as well so you may want to see both while you are out there.
Written October 31, 2016
clarencespring12
Calgary, Canada
how far is the zoo from the cruise ship terminal and are taxis available
Written March 22, 2016
I think about 4 miles and taxis are available. The zoo is really neat and beautiful but it isn't to big. We enjoyed it, but we really love animals and we had already done so many other things. But unless you really are stuck on the zoo I would check out some of the other local beaches or the zip line near by.
Written March 23, 2016
Is this accessible to bus lines?
Written December 15, 2014
No city bus service to the zoo. There are often tour buses there, however I do not have any information on them. I would recomend renting a car for the day. If you shop around you can usually rent a mini car for $25 or less and get a nicer car for about $35 or less. With no admission fee and other attractions close by like Mauna Loa Macadamia nut visitor center renting a car for the day would most likely be the most economical way to visit. Hope that helps, Aloha, Michael
Written December 16, 2014
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