Friends of the Panaewa Zoo

07/22/2025

It's ZOOKEEPER APPRECIATION WEEK!

Linda, our Zoo Animal Keeper II, is a valued senior keeper who's approaching 20 years with us! She’s incredibly dedicated and meticulous when it comes to caring for the animals. Linda has a special passion for our primates and has proudly led efforts to enhance their lives here at the Zoo. She's also a wonderful teammate and a natural leader among the staff.

07/21/2025

It's ZOOKEEPER APPRECIATION WEEK

Bobby, our dedicated Zoo Animal Keeper II, has been an incredible part of our facility for nearly 30 years! His deep knowledge of the Zoo’s history, animals, and procedures makes him a wonderful resource. Bobby’s passion for all things animals and wildlife shines through as he happily answers guest questions and shares captivating stories about the animals. Besides his work with the animals, Bobby is also our talented resident musician. You might catch him serenading guests and gift shop staff during lunch or at our special events, adding a special touch of music and joy to our day!

07/20/2025

It's ZOOKEEPER APPRECIATION WEEK!

Kyle is the Complex Supervisor – he began his zoo career here as a keeper. He continues to lead the keeper team, often getting ‘in the trenches’ with them to lend a hand at daily husbandry, projects, medical procedures, and training sessions. Kyle is very passionate about helping the Zoo progress, especially with hawks, reptiles, and tigers.

07/16/2025

🎉 Happy Bird-Day to Max, the Catalina Macaw, who turns 37 today!! As our (unofficial) Zoo greeter, Max is quite the talker and is a favorite among guests and staff.

Meet Max:
🦜Hatchday: July 15, 1988
🦜Favorite Food: mixed nuts in shells, bananas, papayas, hard boiled eggs, and crunchy vegetables
🦜Favorite Toys: wooden blocks, hanging ropes, puzzle feeders, and anything he can destroy
🦜Favorite words or phrases: “Hi”, “Florida”, “Barbara”, “Aaron”, “have a cookie”, “bye-bye”, “mmmmm”, “Bobby”, “flower”, “noogie”, and “Alooo-HA”. He’s also known for mimicking laughter!
🦜Max Facts: Max is a Catalina Macaw—a hybrid with traits inherited from the Blue-and-Gold Macaw and a Scarlet Macaw. Max has a history of having a growth on his beak. The current beak discoloration you see is due to a cellular matrix band-aid, applied by our vet team, which is aiding in the healing process. 🤍

Max will be treated to extra enrichment toys, fruit kabobs, and all the attention he can get. Make sure to say hello 👋 at your next visit! 🧡❤️💚💙

07/10/2025

🎉🦅 Today, we’re circling around a very special celebration.. it's Igorina’s 42nd birthday!

Meet our Turkey Vulture:
☀️Birthday: July 10, 1983 (originally from the Honolulu Zoo)
☀️Favorite Food: rats & mice, chicken, small birds, fish, mealworms, ice treats with prey items
☀️Favorite Toys: toilet paper tubes, phone books, shredded paper, pine cones, puzzle feeders, zookeeper ankles
☀️Fun Facts: Igorina “Iggy” is the oldest resident at the Pana’ewa Zoo!! A not-so-fun fact is that when vultures feel threatened, they throw up. (They can propel their vomit up to 10 feet!) When the threat passes, they will re-eat the contents. Waste not, want not!

Stop by the Zoo today to sign her birthday card and help us wish Iggy a happy birthday. She will be receiving special treats and toys this week and will be eating up all the attention. 🍗

07/04/2025

Happy Birthday, Tzatziki! Wishing you a fantastic 10th birthday! It’s wonderful to see how excited you still get about those special birthday boxes—just like always. Even tigers like you know how to have fun!

07/03/2025

06/30/2025

Roaring success at Tiger Fun Day! 🐅🎉

Our two tigers, Sriracha and Tzatziki, celebrated their big 10th birthday with bloodcicle cakes, wrapped present boxes, and special handmade enrichment: intricately woven firehose shaped like an ungulate. They appeared to enjoy moving the firehorse (AKA Steve) around their habitat as well as scent rubbing, showcasing their strength and natural behaviors.

Big mahalo to everyone who came out to celebrate with us and to the Hilo Fire Department for the firehose donation! 🤙🏼🥳

06/29/2025

Tzatziki and Sriracha are taking a well-deserved break after a fun-filled day! Birthday parties can be pretty tiring, but these two know how to unwind and enjoy some relaxing moments.

06/28/2025

Don't Forget TODAY!
TIGER FUN DAY at the Zoo.
10:00 am to 2:00m pm

Join us in the Main Pavilion from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm to enjoy some music by Bobby, our talented Zookeeper who loves to strum his guitar and sing.

While supplies last, you can also create a fun bird toy for your favorite zoo bird with a $5 donation, which will help the zoo.

Don’t forget to visit the FOZ table to enter for a chance to win one of ten $25 gift certificates from the Zoo Gift Shop!

There’s lots to do—get your face painted, play fun games, sample tasty refreshments, and discover more about the animals, conservation efforts, and native plants. We can’t wait to see you there!

06/25/2025

Today marks Srirach's 10th birthday, and she's celebrating in her own special way. She starts her day with a few gentle groans, some loving licks, and cuddling her favorite ball. Then, she's eager to chase it around, enjoying every moment of her special day.

06/24/2025

Happy 10th birthday, Sriracha! Even tigers can sense when something special is on its way. Sriracha is no different; she'll be happily running around tomorrow, excitedly waiting for some special treats to mark her birthday. We warmly invite you to visit the zoo and join us in celebrating her special day with cheerful wishes.