|Witness the beauty of Hawai‘i’s underwater ecosystem in one of our many educational exhibits with tropical fish from all over the world. With over 50 salt water aquariums housing hundreds of bright colorful tropical fish, it’s easy to see why we call the coral reef a Living Art: diverse, beautiful, priceless, and irreplaceable.
The Living Art Marine Center also features the latest in the Marine Ornamental Industry and sustainable resource management including Clownfish breeding, sustainable fish raising through Post-Larvae Capture and Culture, and a 2500 square feet Aquaponics Garden.
Whether you visit once, or once a month, there is always something new and exciting to see, make, and explore.
Travel the Ocean
Take a journey around the tropics and discover how the reef and its inhabitants are quite different and unique in the displays highlighting marine life from Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Red Sea.
What? Clownfish can change gender? Yes, it’s true. When two individuals are isolated, they can form a breeding pair. The larger one will develop into a female and the smaller one into a male.
Voyage into the Deep
Fish can get the bends too. When capturing fish from considerable depths, fishermen need to make sure they bring them up to the surface slowly. An inflated swim bladder or even death can be the result if this is not being done properly. Dive into the depths of the ocean and discover what lives from the surface to the bottom of the ocean.
Post-larvae Capture and Culture
"PCC" is a new and remarkable way to raise post-larval fish (15 to 20 days old) to juvenile or adult size with virtually no damage to the reef population. How do we do it? Learn more about the future of salt water fish raising.
Opae Ula – Hawaiian Super Shrimp
Ever seen thousands of tiny shrimp in one big aquarium? The 'Opae Ula is an endemic shrimp found in Hawaiian brackish water ponds. This cute animal is able to adjust to different environmental conditions and it can survive in fresh, salt, and brackish water. These Hawaiian critters have even been to space when NASA took them up to the International Space Station.
Herbivore? Carnivore? Omnivore? What do all the beautiful critters of the ocean eat? Find out more about our fish’ diets. Want to feed them yourself? Look into booking a birthday party or a fish feeding frenzy tour.
Is it poky? Is it slimy? Is this a real rock? Those are just some of the questions we get asked when our visitors interact with crabs, sea stars, and other invertebrate animals at this hands-on display.
Shark Science and Culture Museum
Sharks are a big part in many cultures around the Pacific Ocean. This misunderstood creature plays an important role in many Hawaiian mo‘olelo (stories) such as the kumulipo and is often heard in oli and mele. In our world today, sharks are threatened by habitat destruction, marine debris, and hunters going after their fins. Learn more about this animal in our shark room.
D.I.Y. "Made in Hawai'i" Craft Center
Have you ever tried printed a fish on a t-shirt? How about etching your name on a cowry shell? Hands-on and interactive learning is a key component at our one-of-a-kind D.I.Y. center.
Aquaponics is a revolutionary system where plants, fish, bacteria, and lots of water are all involved in a sustainable cycle of life. The 2500 square feet area holds several big tilapia that provide fertilizer for a wide variety of plants such as lettuce, tomatoes, and green onion.
Why not visit our gift shop and take home something nice for yourself or a friend, to help you remember the good times you had among the fish? From t-shirts to unique and rare shells; we have it all!