Friends of the Panaewa Zoo

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Friends of the Panaewa Zoo

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On the Big Island of Hawai’i, this 12-acre zoo is the only tropical rainforest zoo in the U.S.

Located on the "Big Island" of Hawaii, this 12 acre zoo is the only tropical rainforest zoo in the United States. It is home to more than 80 animal species including the endangered Nene (Hawaii State Bird) and two Bengal Tiger, Tzatziki and Sriracha. The links on the left will take you to interesting information on many of the Zoo's animal exhibits.

11/02/2026

11/01/2026

Friends of the Panaʻewa Zoo would like to wish everyone a very Happy Halloween 🎃🐦‍⬛

Featuring a few of our beloved animal residents as they enjoy their Halloween-themed enrichment prepared by their zookeepers. 🎃💀🕸️

10/31/2026

👻 Boo to you from our crew!

10/30/2026

🐊 Croctober is coming to a close, so we’re wrapping up the month with a new face in the Reptile House! 👀

Meet our newest resident, a spectacled caiman! These fascinating crocodilian cousins get their name from the distinctive bony ridge between their eyes, giving them the appearance of wearing a pair of glasses. 🤓

Native to Central and South America, spectacled caimans inhabit freshwater environments such as rivers, lakes, marshes, and wetlands. They’re equipped with powerful jaws and teeth for catching and holding prey and are opportunistic carnivores with a varied diet. Generally solitary by nature, they typically only come together during mating season.

As keystone predators, they also play an important role in their ecosystems by helping regulate prey populations and maintain a healthy balance in wetland food webs. 🌿

Come meet our newest reptilian resident in the Reptile House, located across from the alligator habitat, at Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens. See if you can spot those unmistakable spectacles! 🐊💚

10/29/2026

Mahalo nui loa to everyone who came out to Boo at the Zoo 2026! 🎃 From food and games to creative costumes and trick-or-treating, it was a wonderfully spooky weekend celebrating with our Hilo community. A special mahalo to our dedicated Zoo staff, volunteers, vendors, and community partners for helping to bring this event to life!

Events like Boo at the Zoo create memorable experiences for families and guests while helping to support and enhance Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens and the care of the animals that call it home. We are incredibly grateful for your continued support and enthusiasm!

Thank you for making this year’s event one to remember and for supporting your local Zoo. We look forward to welcoming you back at future events!! 🧡🐅🐊🐾

10/25/2026

It’s the second and final day of Boo at the Zoo at Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens 🕸️ Come spend your Sunday in the rainforest for an afternoon of Halloween fun!!

Enjoy trick-or-treating, games, and drinks and treats from our vendors! You may even encounter some fascinating reptiles, amphibians, and insects along the way. 👀 Don’t forget to show off your best costume at our costume contest at 4:30 p.m. in the large pavilion by the playground!

Join us TODAY, October 25, from 3–6 p.m. for FREE admission! Trick-or-treat bags are available for $1 cash and are required to collect treats. Proceeds help support and enhance the Zoo.

Planning your day? The Zoo closes to regular guests at 2 p.m. and reopens at 3 p.m. for the event. There will be no Petting Zoo this week.

Event parking: Parking is available in the Zoo parking lot and Pana‘ewa Equestrian Center parking lot. Spaces are limited, so arranging a drop-off at the Zoo entrance is recommended when possible.

We can’t wait to see you in the rainforest! 🎃🐍🐦‍⬛🦉🐊

10/24/2026

Boo at the Zoo is here 🕸️ Join us for a weekend of Halloween fun at Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens

Get ready for trick-or-treating, games, and entertainment throughout the event! Plus, grab some delicious eats from our food vendors. You may even see some animal encounters along the way.. 🐾

Join us today and tomorrow, October 24–25, from 3–6 p.m. for FREE admission! Trick-or-treat bags will be available for $1 cash and are required to collect treats. Proceeds from the bags go towards enhancing the Zoo.

Planning your visit? The Zoo will close to regular guests at 2 p.m. and reopen at 3 p.m. for the event. Please note that there will be no Petting Zoo this week.

Parking information: Event parking will be available in the Zoo parking lot and the Pana‘ewa Equestrian Center parking lot. Spaces are limited, so we recommend arranging a drop-off at the Zoo entrance, if possible.

Bring your creative costumes and don’t miss the costume contest at 4:30 p.m. in the large pavilion located by the playground. 🏆

Enjoy a boo-tiful afternoon in the rainforest with us!! 👻🐍🐦‍⬛🦉🐊

10/22/2026

🌈 Introducing our colorful keel-billed toucan duo🌴

Learn more about these amazing birds and their rainforest lifestyles, and find out which name combo the public voted for!

Mahalo to everyone who participated in the naming poll 🤙 Come see these feathered friends at their viewing area located across from the primates!!

We can’t wait to see you this weekend at Boo at the Zoo 👻🎃

10/21/2026

🐸 National Reptile & Amphibian Awareness Day! 🐍

Today is all about appreciating the scaly and occasionally sticky members of the animal kingdom! From turtles and snakes to frogs and salamanders, reptiles and amphibians come in all shapes, sizes, and textures.

Did you know that reptiles and amphibians play important roles in keeping ecosystems healthy? 🌿 They help control insect and rodent populations, serve as indicators of environmental health, disperse seeds, and maintain certain habitats.

And to scale up the excitement today, there may be some new h**p residents joining us soon… 👀 Stay tuned! 👀

Today’s a great excuse to show some love to these often-misunderstood animals. 🦎 What’s your favorite reptile or amphibian? Let us know in the comments! ⬇️

**ptology

Address

800 Stainback Highway
Hilo, HI
.POBOX738,KEEAU,HAWAII.96749

Telephone

+18089599233

Website

https://hilozoo.org/, https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/8NBZUOPZSUOD?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_ggr-subnav-share_P7

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