Friends of the Panaewa Zoo

Friends of the Panaewa Zoo 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.

09/05/2026

Did you know that the first Saturday of September is dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness about vultures?

Often misunderstood and unfairly portrayed, vultures are actually some of nature’s most important cleanup crew! By feeding on carcasses and other organic waste, vultures help keep ecosystems clean and healthy. Their scavenging also helps reduce the spread of harmful pathogens and diseases that can affect both wildlife and people.

In honor of the holiday, Igorina the turkey vulture got full access to her favorite toy: a zookeeper’s ankle! 🦴 (No actual zookeeper was harmed in the making of this video 😜). The 3D-printed skeleton came complete with tasty treats tucked on top, giving her a fun reason to investigate, forage, and pick apart her food. Unusual-looking enrichment like this encourages natural scavenging behaviors and keeps Iggy engaged in doing what vultures do best.

Happy International Vulture Awareness Day! ❤️

This day is set aside to make important repairs, complete ongoing projects, and begin new ones safely, without putting o...
09/03/2026

This day is set aside to make important repairs, complete ongoing projects, and begin new ones safely, without putting our guests at risk. At times, heavy equipment may be used to accomplish these tasks. We also take this opportunity to maintain walkways throughout the zoo to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors.

This day gives us a chance to make repairs, finish ongoing projects, and start new ones safely—without putting our guest...
09/01/2026

This day gives us a chance to make repairs, finish ongoing projects, and start new ones safely—without putting our guests at risk. Sometimes, we need to bring in heavy equipment to get the job done. We also use this time to keep our walkways in good condition so everyone can enjoy a safe, pleasant visit.

The Zoo is OPEN today, Wednes. August 19! 🐾A huge mahalo to our dedicated staff and volunteers for their cleanup efforts...
08/19/2026

The Zoo is OPEN today, Wednes. August 19! 🐾

A huge mahalo to our dedicated staff and volunteers for their cleanup efforts following Hurricane Lala. Our team has come together and worked tirelessly to clear fallen trees and debris, inspect/ repair perimeters and habitats, and navigate power outages, all to ensure the safety and well-being of our animals while preparing the Zoo to safely welcome guests back.

Come visit us! See you at the Zoo 🤙🌺

We’ll be closed today, Tuesday, 8/18, as our community continues to recover from the effects of Hurricane Lala. We’ll co...
08/18/2026

We’ll be closed today, Tuesday, 8/18, as our community continues to recover from the effects of Hurricane Lala. We’ll continue to share updates as they become available. We look forward to seeing you soon! 🐾

Closure update 🌧️ The Zoo will remain closed to the public today, Monday 8/17, in accordance with the closure of all Haw...
08/17/2026

Closure update 🌧️

The Zoo will remain closed to the public today, Monday 8/17, in accordance with the closure of all Hawaiʻi County parks and recreational facilities and beach parks.

Thank you for your patience as our community recovers. We’ll share updates as they become available and keep you updated on our reopening. Please stay safe!!

The Zoo will remain closed Sunday, 8/16 as our team assesses the grounds and works on cleanup following Hurricane Lala. ...
08/16/2026

The Zoo will remain closed Sunday, 8/16 as our team assesses the grounds and works on cleanup following Hurricane Lala. We’ll keep you updated as we work toward reopening safely. We look forward to welcoming everyone back once it’s safe to do so. 🐯

The Zoo is closed today, Sat. August 15, as we continue to prioritize the safety of our animals, staff, and guests durin...
08/15/2026

The Zoo is closed today, Sat. August 15, as we continue to prioritize the safety of our animals, staff, and guests during the current weather conditions.

Please keep an eye on Hawaiʻi County social media for updates regarding operations.

Mahalo for your understanding and stay safe! 🐯

🌧️ Weather Closure The zoo will be closed Saturday, 8/15.Due to the forecasted weather conditions for our island, we are...
08/14/2026

🌧️ Weather Closure

The zoo will be closed Saturday, 8/15.

Due to the forecasted weather conditions for our island, we are taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of our animals, staff, and guests. For the latest updates or any changes to our operations, please follow Hawaiʻi County social media accounts.

Mahalo! 🌺

Address

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

Telephone

+18089599233

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Friends of the Panaewa Zoo posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share