Photo: iStock Photo

For more than six decades, Sea Life Park Hawai‘i has been a destination along the picturesque Waimānalo coastline for residents and visitors eager to explore marine life. Over the years, Fat Freddie the penguin and the park’s famous “wholphin”—a crossbreed of a killer whale and a bottlenose dolphin—have become woven into the memories of many local families.

Now, the park is entering a new chapter. The Hawaiian Council, a Native Hawaiian advocacy and community development organization, acquired Sea Life Park from Herschend Family Entertainment in August.

“Under Hawaiian Council’s stewardship, we have an opportunity to look at the park through a different framework, one that reflects Native Hawaiian values and a deeper sense of responsibility to the animals in our care, the ocean, this place and the community we serve.”

The acquisition is part of the council’s broader effort to expand Native Hawaiian leadership in Hawai‘i’s cultural landscape. Through Kilohana, its tourism division, the nonprofit has been investing in projects to uphold Hawaiian culture and the Islands’ natural resources.

Christina M. Leos, a former member of the park’s leadership team, has returned as general manager to help guide its future. “This is a significant new chapter for Sea Life Park,” Leos says. “Under Hawaiian Council’s stewardship, we have an opportunity to look at the park through a different framework, one that reflects Native Hawaiian values and a deeper sense of responsibility to the animals in our care, the ocean, this place and the community we serve.”

The park’s new stewards say they plan to improve animal habitats and the guest experience itself, while incorporating Native Hawaiian culture, mo‘olelo, and ‘ike more deeply into its educational programming. As the park evolves, Leos says there’s still value in holding on to beloved experiences. “There is a lot worth preserving, particularly that sense of discovery, education and connection with marine life,” she says.

The goal is to make Sea Life Park a resource for local families, schools and the Waimānalo community, with expanded educational programs, community events and opportunities for residents to return throughout the year.

“I hope people leave Sea Life Park with greater respect for the animals, the ocean, Hawai‘i’s culture and the responsibility all of us share to care for them,” Leos says.

sealifeparkhawaii.com, hawaiiancouncil.org

Kayla Luke Colon, the 2026 summer editorial intern for HONOLULU Magazine, is a journalism student at UC Irvine.