I was lured to Sea Life Park by the idea of a Sea Lion Encounter … up close and personal with these adorable playful animals – a fellow-finned cousin of the seal. At the time, I was in Honolulu in search of a beach break. Even the glorious Pacific Ocean beaches can, dare I say, become routine.
Sea Life Park has welcomed more than ten million visitors over the years. This popular park introduces kids and adults to some fascinating ocean creatures, along with a focus on animal rescue and conservation.
Interested in Hawaii’s famed native green turtles? Care to swim with dolphins? See the turtles and swim with rescued dolphins at Sea Life Park. The animals at the park are a mix of rescues and others that have been rehomed through organizations like NOAA or born at the park. Interested in learning about penguins? The Park’s resident penguins are darling.
On arrival, I wandered around to check out many of the habitats … even the menacing sharks at the “Shark Cave Feeding Frenzy,” with talks delivered by enthusiastic, caring staff. I didn’t get to experience the Monk Seal Habitat, but Hawaii’s very own turtles were on my list.
The turtle area faces a breathtaking promontory in the Pacific – Manana Island. Hawaiian green sea turtles, or honu, are native to Hawaii, where the locals are duly proud of them. They are the largest hard-shelled sea turtles in the world, reaching lengths of four feet and weighing over 300 pounds.
This Park’s Honu Conservation Program has released more than 17,000 of them into the wild. As all of us gasped, these giants lumbered along on land before ultimately gliding into the water. (Note: pick up a plush stuffed version at their gift shop to take home, along with other souvenirs like surfing rash guards in Hawaiian prints.)
Then, Keiki (Hawaiian for children), their parents, and I gathered at an open-to-the-air auditorium to learn about the dolphins, who were all too willing to show off for us. On command, these sleek gray marine mammals leaped toward the sky, raced after a ball, and amazingly skimmed across their whole pool … all in front of an appreciative crowd.
The swirling dolphins flipped their tails, creating giant plumes of spray as they flipped in the air. Soon, their trainer opened her arms to grasp one close to her. You couldn’t help but love them both. It was 80 degrees with gentle breezes as our performers took a bow with a double flip.
I could have chosen to swim with the rescued dolphins or do a “Shark Snorkel” with white tip reef sharks, another Hawaiian native. But I preferred an on-land experience with the California sea lions, as the Park provides lifelong care for these rescues.
My Sea Lion Encounter at their compound included just me and three other guests, a Midwestern mom and her two sons. The staff was concerned about protecting these marine mammals who live both on land and water. We were to enjoy them on land.
To avoid mishaps and not upset our new friend, Ulu Lani, a 16-year-old female sea lion born and raised at the Park, we took turns with almost everything we did. Soon, it was my turn to feed Ulu, tossing small snacks to her (raw fish ravenously appreciated), while her trainer/caretaker Stephanie gave Ulu both hand gestures and audible signals.
We each got to pet our sleek new friend – a unique opportunity. I touched her skin (coarse and firm) and her rear flippers (rubbery yet bony). Each of us had a chance for a photo op (smiles mandatory) with Ulu Lani giving a kiss to each of us.
Some may argue that we shouldn’t get this close and engage with “performing seals.” That’s for each of us to decide, but the training allows caretakers to examine the animals to make sure they are okay physically. All I know is that too soon, our 20 minutes was over.
We planned to stay for the luau, which my former employer, The Travel Channel, deemed one of the best around. It includes cultural exhibits plus a Hawaiian buffet dinner and a show. Whole families come for it.
Part of the package was getting a group photo. Groups eagerly posed, often in matching outfits, wearing their flower leis, a present from the park. It was a lovely memory of a day that – forgive me – had gone swimmingly.
IF YOU GO:
Sea Life Park 41-202 Kalanianaole Hiway, Waimanalo Beach, HI 96795. Ample parking. Open 10am-4pm; Aloha Kai Luau 5pm-8pm. You can stay at at the Beach Boy Lanai in the park after its close to wait ‘til Luau time.
Getting There: The park is about a half hour from Honolulu; the route offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Signs note Scenic Overlooks all along. Huge pali (cliffs covered with greenery) rise along the Kalanianaole Highway – an added thrill.
Official Visitors Guide: https://gohawai.com.
As a television producer and on-camera reporter, traveling to Asia, Europe, and around the U.S., Norma Davidoff got hooked on travel. She loved her work on television projects in Italy, France, Spain, Indonesia, India, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Norma liked nothing better than being on-location with a small camera crew, meeting locals to learn about their lives. Among many positions, she was producer/on-camera reporter for Newsweek Broadcasting, Director of Program Development for The Travel Channel, and Senior Producer for Ted Turner’s Better World Society. She is particularly proud of her work in public television in its infancy. These days, she writes feature and travel articles, many with her own photos. That has brought Norma to still more places to satisfy her curiosity about the world.
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