For the first time since it opened in 1964, Sea Life Park Hawai‘i near Waimānalo is under Native Hawaiian stewardship.
Hawaiian Council on Wednesday announced it acquired the oceanfront attraction from Herschend Family Entertainment. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Georgia-based Herschend acquired the property last year.
"The transaction ensures that the park remains in local hands while creating an unprecedented opportunity to shape its next chapter as a place where marine life, Native Hawaiian culture, education and community come together," an announcement from Hawaiian Council, formerly known as the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, noted.
Sea Life Park will continue to operate without interruption; Hawaiian Council says that existing reservations, memberships and annual passes will be honored, and no layoffs associated with the purchase are planned.
“For generations, Sea Life Park has helped people discover the beauty of Hawaiʻi’s marine life. Our opportunity now is to help people understand something deeper — that these animals have always been part of Hawaiʻi’s story,” Hawaiian Council CEO Kūhiō Lewis said in the announcement. “They appear throughout our moʻolelo, genealogy, navigation traditions and cultural practices. Under Native Hawaiian stewardship, Sea Life Park can become a place where kamaʻāina reconnect with those relationships and visitors experience Hawaiʻi through the voices and values of the people who have cared for these Islands for generations.”
Former Sea Life Park General Manager Valerie King will support the transition with other operational support in place to help "ensure continuity," the announcement says.
"Sometimes you go looking for opportunities, and sometimes the kuleana finds you. This was one of those opportunities," Lewis told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions. "Valerie King first approached me about Sea Life Park and the possibility of bringing it back under local ownership, and I give Herschend a lot of credit for wanting to find a buyer that understood Hawaiʻi and cared about the park’s future. The more we looked at it, the more we saw an opportunity to create local economic value, support jobs and bring an important Hawaiʻi institution under Native Hawaiian stewardship. For us, local ownership also means that the value generated here can stay here and be reinvested back into our communities."
According to the announcement, Sea Life Park operates on state-owned land and Hawai‘i Pacific University holds the master lease; Hawaiian Council will continue operating under the existing lease structure, and continue working with HPU, the state and other partners to grow opportunities in marine education, research and community learning.
The park will be operated by Attractions Hawai‘i, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hawai‘i Holdings & Investments, or HHI, Hawaiian Council's for-profit holding company.
"Sea Life Park is an important Hawaiʻi institution with a long history and deep connection to the community,” Eric Rose, senior vice president of zoological advancement at Herschend said in the announcement. “As we considered its future, it was important to identify an owner who understood that responsibility. We believe Hawaiian Council is well positioned to guide Sea Life Park’s next chapter with care, continuity and respect for Hawaiʻi.”
Lewis told ASD that because the terms of the acquisition are confidential, Hawaiian Council is not able to disclose the purchase price, but noted that the acquisition was made through HHI and no nonprofit resources were used.
Long-term vision
Hawaiian Council says the acquisition builds upon its broader work in Native Hawaiian culture, economic development, destination stewardship and community impact, which includes initiatives like its tourism division, Kilohana, and productions like the Kaula Lū‘au and the upcoming Broadway-style musical, "Hawaiian Goddess: The Epic Tale of Hi‘iaka."
The nonprofit's long-term vision for Sea Life Park is "still being shaped," the announcement notes, "but the organization sees the park’s future as a Native Hawaiian-led cultural and educational destination inspired by the ocean, navigation, healing and the deep sea — a place where marine life, cultural interpretation and education can help residents and visitors understand that Hawaiʻi’s honu, nai‘a, monk seals, sharks and other marine species are more than remarkable animals. They are part of Hawaiian genealogy, moʻolelo, navigation, spirituality and the enduring relationship between people, the ocean and ʻāina."
Initial investments at the park will focus on "preserving what guests already value while introducing experiences that deepen their understanding of Hawai‘i," the announcement states.
Planned improvements include enhancing landscaping with Native Hawaiian plants, expanding cultural storytelling, educational programming and hands-on demonstrations. The organization also will evaluate opportunities to expand cultural partnerships, school programs, community access and learning opportunities, and look for ways to "strengthen the integration" of marine science, Native Hawaiian knowledge and storytelling.
Lewis says that guests shouldn't expect any immediate major changes.
"Sea Life Park remains open, reservations and programs continue, and our focus right now is on supporting the team and making sure operations remain strong," he told ASD. "We know the park needs investment, and we absolutely intend to reinvest in the property, its facilities and the overall guest experience. We are still assessing those needs, so it would be premature to put a dollar figure on that today, but we did not acquire Sea Life Park simply to maintain the status quo. We see a lot of potential here."
More details about future investments, educational experiences, cultural programming and community partnerships will be announced in the coming months.
Lewis says that Native Hawaiian stewardship is really about responsibility.
"Sea Life Park is in a special place, with a deep connection to the ocean, the surrounding community and the culture of Hawaiʻi," he says. "We now have the opportunity to think intentionally about how the park reflects those connections through education, culture and storytelling. Just as important, it is locally owned. That means decisions about its future are being made here in Hawaiʻi, with the goal of creating opportunities for local people and ensuring the park’s success also benefits the broader community."
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
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