Located just outside Hilo and a great place to bring young kids, the Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo is the only tropical zoo in the United States.
In the zoo you can find a variety of rainforest animals and endangered Hawaiian animals such as spider monkeys, lemurs, nene geese (the Hawaiian State bird), and over 80 other animal species.
The Panaewa zoo is a small tropical zoo perfect for a ~1 hour family visit on a sunny day
Great for kids: animal encounters, the petting zoo, and playground
One must-do for kids are the animal encounters and that are organized throughout the day, animal feedings, and the petting zoo (only on Saturday). You can see the schedule o fall events at the Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo here.
There is also a large playground available at the zoo grounds:
Playground and covered patio at the Panaʻewa Rainforest zoo in Hilo.
An impromptu botanical garden
While not planned, the many labeled plants and trees showcased on the grounds make the Panaʻewa zoo also feel like a botanical garden. During your visit you will see many orchids, bamboos, varieties of palms, and a water garden.
The small Panaʻewa Rainforest zoo in Hilo, Hawaii, doubles as a botanical tropical garden
How long does a visit to the Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo take?
The zoo is pretty small, plan on spending about one to two hours walking around checking out the animals and plants / flowers.
Map of the Panaʻewa rainforest zoo and gardens in Hilo, Big Island. Map retrieved from source in January 2025.
Practicalities
Opening hours and Admission
The zoo is open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM except on Christmas & New Years Day & the first Thursday of each month. Admission is free, but please consider either leaving a donation or a visit to their gift shop to support this local zoo and their outreach activities.
What to bring
The zoo is located in a natural rainforest so bring rain gear and sunscreen for everyone in your group. If needed, light weight ponchos and umbrellas are available for purchase at the gift shop.
Another thing NOT to forget is mosquito repellent.
Website
Visit the Panaʻewa zoo website for more information.