Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo; free yet exciting!

Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, a free and fun destination, has been our go to site for hours of play and viewing the variety of animals. If just visiting the Big Island or living here with children, this zoo is perfect for a relaxing daytime outing. This site is the only tropical rainforest zoo in the entire United States and is located just four miles outside of Hilo! Although Pana'ewa is smaller in size than some, there are approximately 80 species of both tropical and endangered species, including the regal tigers (Siracha and Tzatziki), different species of monkeys, lemurs and other mammals, as well as numerous tropical birds, amphibians and reptiles. The Nene, the endangered Hawaii state bird, inhabits the zoo with other animal nomads such as peacocks, wild chickens and geese, which roam freely among visitors and animals alike. The playground in front of the pavilion and picnic area, offers a shaded seating area for parents to watch their keiki play safely. There is even a climbing wall on the playground, which is a favorite for my son who loves to climb everything! Up the hill from the pavilion, there is another beautiful play area which is formed into a large butterfly. The kids can climb on top, ride on the caterpillar, or crawl through a tunnel. This playground is covered, with a picnic table right beside it. As visitors make their way further up the hill, they will view our personal favorite; Siracha and Tzatziki, the young tigers, introduced as cubs in 2016. This has to be a hit for many, as numerous visitors gather to take pictures and videos of these majestic animals. They do remind me of a larger version of our cat Fudge, as we watch them play fighting and stalking our children, just two fences away. On this particular visit, the kids were playing in the bushes, which sparked Tzatziki to get extremely excited and ready to pounce. I was eager to capture the above video, as we have not seen them in quite this light before.
After visiting with the tigers, you might want to meander down the hill past a variety of smaller birds and a ugly yet fascinating lizard couple, named Mr. and Mrs. Pickles. Once past them, you'll view Lemurs, playing and grooming each other on the left, and spider monkeys on the right. You can continue on straight or take a left to view more monkeys as they race around the large enclosure, tails awry. At the bottom of the hill, you'll see a cage with a Boa Constrictor, obviously non native and then larger animals such as the wild Boar, goats and larger birds.
To finish off the tour, you'll see a charming little owl, the loud and in charge Parrot named Einstein, an array of amphibian and lizard species and an alligator couple. If one still has energy, they can let the keiki go for another round on the playground or gradually herd everyone towards the exit and a lovely butterfly garden. Don't forget the gift shop on your way out, for a cold popsicle or other icy treat!
Among the top activities on this island, Pana'ewa Rainforest zoo is a must see for wildlife viewing, playtime and various parties or family gatherings. While living here, we have toured several groups of family and friends to our beloved spot and reactions of amazement are common among all. So on your tour of this island be sure to check it out and as it closes at four, you can visit Rainbow Falls and still have dinner at Hawaiian Style Cafe afterwards. After all, every day is on island time; so adventure, enjoy and capture it all for a lifetime of memories!