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Hawaii is rich with culture, history and educational experiences. When visiting Oahu, there are a few family friendly attractions that simply should not be missed. These one of a kind experiences are so spectacular that they define the Hawaii experience for many families.
Iolani Palace
This palace was built in 1882 during the reign of King David Kalakaua and is a National Historic Site. It is the only royal residence in the United States. It was designed to mirror England’s Queen Victoria’s palace during that same era. It is also the site of the Revolution of 1893 where the Committee of Safety, a group of local businessmen, overthrew then Queen Liliuokalani, King Kalalkaua’s sister.
Guided 45 minute tours are available Tuesday through Saturday but reservations are recommended. It is important to know that due to the priceless value of the large number of antiques present in the Palace, children under the age of five are not permitted.
The Hawaii Nature Center
This Nature Center is all about kids! They offer hands on learning activities with Hawaii’s unique flora and fauna. Guided nature trail hikes for the whole family are offered and the knowledgeable staff will patiently answer all of your little one’s questions. Weekends bring special projects at the Nature Center. Earth Care projects, crafting with nature and interpretive hikes are all types of family activities offered by the center that are designed to raise the level of respect and appreciation for Hawaii’s natural habitats.
Bishop Museum
This four-story, lava rock museum was founded by a Hawaiian princess and houses the largest collection of cultural and natural Hawaiian artifacts in the world. You’ll see royal cloaks crafted from millions of feathers, a glimpse into Stone Age Hawaiian culture, and nature exhibits spanning thousands of years. The unique cave exhibit shows a newly formed lava tube and the mysterious creatures that dwell near the boiling hot lava. An onsite planetarium completes your Hawaiian education at the Bishop Museum.
Sea Life Park and Pacific Whaling Museum
The Sea Life Park and Pacific Whaling Museum is an educational experience that should not be missed! Admission to the museum is free but you must pay to enter the park. A visit to the educational marine park will provide a look at the world’s only cross between a whale and a dolphin, called a wholpin.
The unique dolphin-trainer program allows you to get an insider’s view of the behind the scenes workings of the dolphin training and entertainment. This program is hands on and visitors get to touch and feed dolphins. Enrollment is limited and reservations are required for the dolphin-trainer program.
The park includes a 300,000 gallon reef tank filled with over 2,000 different species of Hawaiian water life. The Open Air Hawaii Ocean Theater offers entertainment from trained dolphins, penguins and sea lions and Whaler’s Cove recreates Hawaiian tales with the help of the dolphins. The display includes a scaled down version of an authentic whaling ship. The Pacific Whaling Museum displays the Pacific’s largest collection of whaling artifacts and memorabilia and should not be excluded from your family trip.
Oahu is filled with educational opportunities, but if you must condense your selections down to a few, these four experiences are sure bets for a memorable Hawaiian trip.
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