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Located on the historic grounds of Kaneloa in the ahupuaʻa (land division) of Waikīkī, the Waikīkī Aquarium is not just the second oldest public aquarium in the United States, it is a wahi pana (storied place) in our history. Built next to a living coral reef on the Waikīkī shoreline the Aquarium was established in 1904 as Hawaiʻi's only publicly owned facility providing display of live marine organisms and education for the general public; it has operated since 1955 in its present location. As a research institute of the University of Hawaiʻi, the Aquarium has won national awards for its exhibits and aquatic culture methods and has been designated as the Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center for the Pacific Island Region of the Coastal America Partnership.

The Waikīkī ahupua‘a was an important occupational and political center during much of pre-Contact Hawaiian history, and by the A.D.1300s it was the ruling center of the O‘ahu chiefs. It continued to be a chiefly residential center through the time of Kamehameha I, after he seized control of O‘ahu from Kalanikūpule in 1795. Along with the residential complexes of the pre-Contact Hawaiian chiefs, a thriving populace lived here as well, with an abundant food production system that included extensive lo‘i (wetland taro fields), ‘auwai (irrigation ditches) and fishponds. The Aquarium is located in the ʻili(land section) of Kaneloa within Waikīkī.  This desirable property was awarded to the Crown (sitting monarch) during the Māhele (division), a pivotal change in the land tenure system in the mid 1800s, when the Western concept of land “ownership” was codified.

Called the Honolulu Aquarium when it opened on March 19, 1904, it was initially a commercial venture by the Honolulu Rapid Transit and Land Company, who wished to “show the world the riches of Hawaii’s reefs” and to entice passengers to ride to the end of the new trolley line in Kapi‘olani Park across the street. The Aquarium opened with 35 tanks and 400 marine organisms, and during its first year, the internationally renowned biologist David Starr Jordan proclaimed it as having the finest collection of fishes in the world. Closing Banquest attendees will have private viewing of the over 3,500 organisms of 490 species of marine plants and animals.

A live webcam provides you with a virtual experience of where our Closing Banquet will take place and you will enjoy the sunset and the moon while enjoying a hosted bar and listening to live Hawaiian nahenahe Hawaiian music. E komo mai! (Welcome!) 

Oʻahu’s public bus system, TheBus, is a convenient and affordable way to get around the island. From Waikīkī (specifically near the Queen Kapiʻolani Hotel by the zoo), you can hop on Route #13 to reach the Imin Conference Center at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.Heading to the Conference: Catch the Route 13 – WAIKIKI–UH Mānoa bus. It’ll drop you off at the corner of Dole Street and East-West Center Road—just a short 3-minute walk to the Imin Center.

Heading Back to Waikīkī: Look for the Route 13 – LILIHA–Puunui bus. There’s a stop conveniently located right across from the conference center.

Buses typically run every 15–20 minutes depending on the time of day and the ride is approximately 20 minutes.

 

A single ride is $3—exact cash only if you're paying onboard, as drivers don’t carry change.

HOLO Card & Passes

To make things easier, consider getting a HOLO Card, which works like a transit pass.

• Day Passes are available at ABC Stores throughout Waikīkī.

• 7-Day Passes can be purchased at 7-Eleven locations.

• You can also pick up a HOLO Card at the UH Campus Center if you're already on campus.

A map of HOLO Card retail locations is available here.

Prefer a Ride Share?

Services like Uber and Lyft are also available. A ride from Waikīkī to the Imin Center typically takes about 10 minutes and costs between $10–$20, depending on traffic and time of day.

Do note: During the summer, wait times for ride shares can be a bit longer, but things usually improve once the fall semester starts and traffic patterns shift.

Have your own vehicle?

Parking can be limited on Campus and fills up very quickly. Make sure you are parked in the guest visitor space or you will be ticketed. There are a couple of lots close to the Imin Center but rates are $6 hr.

I strongly recommend using the Zone 20 Parking structure.  Rates are $5 per day.  Payment is by credit card only.

Give yourself about 10-15 minutes to walk to the Imin Center from the parking structure. Also, arrive early! At the start of the school year, it is busy and the lot will fill up by 9am.

You can find more information at Commuter Services.

It seems appropriate that the first blog post introduces you to Mānoa and the place where you will be spending much of your time at the conference.

As a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, understanding the ʻāina (land) we are on is essential—not only recognizing the history and relationship between people and the environment, but also upholding the value of aloha ʻāina—a commitment to caring for and sustaining the land. The Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office offers excellent resources that expand on these topics and situates the geography of Mānoa within O‘ahu and Hawai‘i.

Photo credit: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (Hawaiʻi Hall)

Beyond its rich cultural significance, Mānoa is also celebrated for its extraordinary beauty. Nestled in the lush Mānoa Valley, the University has more than 140 buildings on the 320-acre campus and has been a cornerstone of higher education in the Pacific since its founding in 1906.  A brief history of the university can be found here. The university regularly ranked among the most beautiful or prettiest college campuses in the U.S. This is unsurprising as the grounds are also an accredited arboretum, showcasing plants from Hawai‘i, the Pacific, and across the tropics. There are more than 4,000 trees and approximately 500 tree species including a number of truly exceptional trees, such as the largest Baobab in the United States, or distinct “sausage tree.”

The Sausage Tree, scientifically known as Kigelia africana, is found on campus and popular Ala Moana Park. It's easily recognizable by its long, sausage-shaped fruits hanging from the branches. These trees are not native to Hawaii but were introduced in the 1800s. The Campus Arboretum website offers a helpful Plant Finder Map for those interested in exploring the campus flora.

The university has a mix of building designs reflecting the broader shifts in architectural styles and the campus's growth. Early buildings were designed in a Neo-Classical design (exemplified in its first building Hawaiʻi Hall) which later gave way to Modernism, which then began to incorporate local influences, resulting in the unique Hawaiian Modernism seen today.

Many campus structures reflect the principles of Tropical Modernism—an architectural movement that harmonizes with the island climate through passive cooling, native materials, and a deep integration with the surrounding landscape. This includes the Imin Conference Center (Jefferson Hall) and Kennedy Theater across the road which were both designed by internationally famed architect I.M. Pei.

You can also find temples, ahu (altar), monuments, and other unique architectural constructions around the campus. While visiting for the conference, I encourage you to take some time to explore and experience the special place that defines UH Mānoa. Here is a link to the campus map for reference.

Traveling on assignment as a reporter for the Sacramento Times, Mark Twain referred to Hawaiʻi  as “The loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean.”

Settled by Polynesians ca. 1000 A.D, Hawaiʻi has been through five governments (Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, Provisional Government of Hawaiʻi, Republic of Hawaiʻi, Territory of Hawaiʻi and State of Hawaiʻi. It is one of the most diverse states in the US providing a wide range of knowledge and experiences.

Over the next several weeks, the Local Planning Committee is happy to provide you with personal recommendations to enrich your visit beyond the conference. You can expect posts on everything from local favorite dining options, cultural sites, hiking, best beaches, recommended readings, films, and music and Hawaiian words you may hear over the course of your stay.

Postcard c. 2935, UHM Library Digital Image Collections

In addition, the Hawaiʻi Visitors Bureau provides an excellent resource covering history, recommendations, and advice for visiting our ecologically fragile home. For those seeking visits to cultural repositories beyond those offered by the conference, the Association of Hawaiʻi Archivists provides a Directory of Historical Records Repositories in Hawaiʻi.  We hope your time in the islands enriches you as it does for us.

Mahalo piha,

The Local Planning Committee