Educational Programs

Dolphin Trainer Talk

Have you ever wondered what it is like to train magnificent animals, such as dolphins? If so, try out our Dolphin Trainer Talk and see our dolphins perform just for you as the trainer teaches students about the characteristics of mammals, the similarities between dolphins and humans, and what skills are needed to become a Marine Mammal Trainer. A trainer will give a short presentation about our amazing Bottlenose Dolphins while your class gets to view the animals’ personalities and behavior!

Turtle Feed

This program gives students a chance to feed the sea turtles and watch as they chomp down on their food! Did you know that when sea turtles bite down on their food, water squirts out of their nose? How do you tell the males from the females? Come learn all about our Honu in this interactive learning session. *All ages, Pre-school friendly!

Meet the Honu

Sea Turtles are amazing animals and sadly the population status for all species range from vulnerable to critically endangered. Come to Sea Life Park to meet one of our honu, and see why it is so important to protect these turtles. Students will get an up-close view of the animals while learning why they should not feed, touch, or approach a turtle in the wild.

Sea Life Park is a place for everyone, especially the little ones. Toddlers participate in crafts and story time that can be both fun and educational. There is also opportunity for your child to touch sea creatures at the Discovery Reef Touch Pool, an experience they won’t want to miss!

K-2nd*
Radical Reef Fish
What is a swim bladder? Do all fish lay eggs? Radical reef fish can be round, flat, large, small and full of color. Come investigate what it means to be cold blooded, how reef fish fit in a food web and how they are all specially adapted to survive in their complex habitat known as the reef!

Honu in Hawaii
Meet or feed one of our Honu and learn about their reptilian characteristics in this fun filled lecture. Students will learn about Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle anatomy, as well as the life cycle of the Honu. (Availability of "meeting Honu" is based on class size and may not be available for larger groups.)

Teeth and Munchies
Teeth differ between a Spinner Dolphin and a Humpback Whale, as well as Sperm Whale and a Tiger Shark! Animals may have different shapes and sizes of teeth depending on what they need to eat. Learn about the different kind of teeth marine animals have, and find out what they eat in order to survive.

Sensational Seabirds
The Hawaiian islands are home to twenty two species of seabirds. Have you ever wondered what makes a seabird a seabird? Come learn all about the seabirds that call our islands and ocean home, and also what you can do to help protect these animals!

Wild Whales
During whale watching season, we keep our eyes peeled for Kohala (humpback whales). They are one of the largest species of baleen whales, which are whales with two blow holes! In this class you will learn the differences between toothed and baleen whales including those that are endangered.

3-5th*
Sharks and Rays
Sharks and rays are often thought to be scary and mean, but that is not always true! Join us as we explore the differences between sharks and rays, common misconceptions about these amazing animals, how they adapt to their environment, and why they are so important to the ocean ecosystem!

Hawaiian Tide Pools
Ever wonder how tide pools are created? What about the little animals that live there? Learn all about the invertebrates unique to Hawaii that live in these habitats, and how they are adapted to survive in such harsh living conditions that are constantly changing!

Bottlenose Dolphin Basics
Did you know a mother dolphin’s milk has a fat content of 33%? Dolphins are excellent at communicating with each other, and sometimes hear using their lower jaw bone! Find out how they communicate and much more as you explore the anatomy of Bottlenose Dolphins, and how they adapt to live in their aquatic environment.

Cetaceans
What is the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise? What about a baleen whale and a toothed whale? Explore what it means to be a Cetacean in this fun class; and learn what these amazing animals use to be great at surviving in the ocean, such as how they use bubbles to trap their food!

Endangered Species
What is the difference between threatened and endangered? These are two terms that can be easily mistaken for the other, but have completely different definitions. Come join us and learn what is endangered, what that means, and what we can do about it.

6-8th*
Coral Reefs of Hawaii
Some people say coral is a plant, some say coral is an animal, and others say it is both! Come learn what coral actually is, the kinds of coral you can find on Oahu, the threats coral face, and just how important it is to protect the beautiful reefs here in Hawaii!

Sea Stars and their Cousins
Sea Stars, Brittle Stars, Sea Urchins, and Sea Cucumbers are all a part of the group ECHINODERMS. Did you know that Sea Cucumbers can expel their intestines when disturbed and regrow new ones? Find out more in this class, and investigate all the extreme adaptations these animals have to protect themselves from predators.

Seals and Sea Lions
Let’s take a look at two seemingly similar mammals from their slippery flippers to their silly whisker tips. This program will enrich students’ understanding of the Hawaiian Monk Seal and the California Sea Lions with an emphasis on their characteristics and differences in anatomy.

Marine Debris
What is marine debris? Where does it come from and where does it go? This class will focus on the effects of marine debris both on our environment and animals. Marine Debris is a problem we cannot ignore, and students will learn how to make a difference!

Food Chains
While students visit the park they can fill out handouts about food chains involving sea lions, penguins, sea turtles, and dolphins. Students can learn about the animals at the park and what they eat by viewing regularly scheduled feeds and trainer talks. Before visiting, students should be familiar with most of the following concepts: food chains, food webs, trophic levels, producers, and consumers (self-guided).

Cycling of Matter and Energy
Ocean ecosystems are very complex and encompass a wide variety of species. Energy is constantly cycled throughout the ecosystem beginning with the sun and making its way up to the top predators. This class offers insight into how energy is transferred through food chains, and how matter is reused and recycled in the marine environment (self-guided).

Dynamic Equilibrium
Marine ecosystems are constantly changing in response to biotic and abiotic factors. The introduction of invasive species can be detrimental to a marine ecosystem. Learn how the introduction of specific species in Hawaii has caused equilibrium shifts that have changed the marine landscape forever (self-guided).

9-12th*
Human Effects on the Marine Environment
Marine organisms are affected by changes within their physical environment. These changes can be the result of natural or human related activities. Most often, human actions that impact marine environments can be prevented. Students will learn that there are consequences of human intervention in natural marine ecosystems, even when the intentions are good.

Marine Animal Classification
By comparing organisms through physiological, anatomical, molecular, and behavioral assessment; scientists have created the modern classification system in order to categorize organisms. Students will act as scientists by classifying species at our park, and by determining the similarities and differences between them (self-guided).

Adaptations for Marine Environments
Marine organisms require different anatomical structures and physiological functioning than terrestrial organisms. For example, fish have swim bladders that control their buoyancy, and seabirds have salt glands that filter the salt out of the water they drink. Learn about adaptations that allow marine organisms to survive in their environment.

We strive to provide a curriculum that meets Hawaii Department of Education Benchmarks, Common Core Standards, and the Next Generation Science Standards.

To book a field trip today, please fill out the following information click here and email it to slpeducation@sealifeparkhawaii.com

Our education staff can come to your site and deliver an educational program tailored to the topic you’re most interested in. Students will learn about animal characteristics, behaviors, and the importance of conservation.

Rates: $50 each.

For further information and for reservations, please contact the Sea Life Park Hawai'i Education Department at (808) 259-2512, (808) 259-2513 or email: slpeducation@sealifeparkhawaii.com.

Doze with the Dolphins/Slumber with the Sharks

What happens at Sea Life Park after the sun goes down? Do dolphins doze? Do sharks slumber? Discover the answers to these and other questions by participating in Sea Life Park’s exciting overnight program! Sea Life Park is the perfect field trip venue near Honolulu to learn about animals’ nocturnal behaviors, embark on a flashlight twilight tour, explore the anatomy of a squid, and set sail on a scavenger hunt. “Dozers” can choose to sleep next to the dolphins at our Hawaii Ocean Theatre, curl up alongside our Shark Cave, or pitch a tent in our Makapu’u Meadows. The program times and events can vary depending upon requests.

*$60/participant including an evening snack and breakfast. Chaperones are charged for meals only.
*Participants can choose to eat dinner at the park or before arrival. (Dinner can be provided for an additional charge). Call for scheduling and to book your sleepover.

Sample agenda:
5:00PM Arrival
5:30 Turtle Feeding/Touch Pool Exploration
6:00 Dinner at our Restaurant
7:10 All About Sharks Lecture/Craft
7:45 Twilight Tour
8:15 Squid Exploration of Internal Anatomy
9:00 Snack at Restaurant
9:30 Campfire
10:30 Time for Slumber/ Lights out!

Intersession Camps

Camp is our favorite time of the year where our youth become mini marine biologist! Each school intersession break, Sea Life Park hosts in-depth, week-long camps for ages K-6th grade. Each camp focuses on marine life and conservation. This includes beach clean-ups, themed games, intriguing class time, snorkeling with stingrays, and meeting a dolphin! Please contact Sea Life Park's Education Department to learn more about organizing your intersession camps. Parents can request on site care before and after Sea Life Park programming.

Sample agenda from Day 1
9:00AM Ray Encounter and Snorkeling with Sea Life Park Reef fish
10:30 Welcome and games
11:15 Scavenger Hunt in the Park
12:00PM Lunch
12:30 Dolphin Lagoon Show
1:00 Introduction to Cetaceans class
1:45 Marine Mammal Stranding Activity
2:00 Hawaii Ocean Theatre Show
2:30 What is the Purpose of Blubber Activity
3:00 Kolohe Kai Sea Lion Show
3:30 Discovery Touch Pool Exploration
4:00 Kids' Choice/Pick-Up

For further information and for reservations, please contact the Sea Life Park Hawai'i Education Department at (808) 259-2512, (808) 259-2513 or email: slpeducation@sealifeparkhawaii.com.