First Look: Jurassic Empire at Hawai‘i Convention Center
Meet more than 50 fierce dinosaurs, dig for fossils, ride on a T-Rex and don virtual reality googles to immerse yourself in a prehistoric era at this two-day-only exhibit.
Aherd of dinosaurs will invade the Hawai‘i Convention Center this weekend, Sept. 10-11, when Jurassic Empire returns to Honolulu. It’s a similar experience to the exhibit that came in 2018, but we’ve been told the dinosaurs are all-new and bigger than ever. Here’s our guide to the upcoming spectacle:
Photo: Courtesy of Jurassic Empire Hawai‘i
The Experience
Wander through the jungle-like display at your own pace where production lighting and fog machines make you feel like you have stepped back to the time of the dinosaurs. You’ll encounter over 50 life size herbivores and carnivores, including babies, of different species which move, breathe and even “roar.” Expect your walkthrough to take from 20 minutes to up to an hour.
At the end, you’ll enter the activities area where keiki can get hands-on with dino-themed attractions like a ride on a walking Tyrannosaurs Rex, a fossil dig, bounce houses, remote control racetrack and ATV area. Most attractions are for keiki only, with varying height and weight restrictions, but the virtual reality experience is open to all ages, even dino-loving adults!
Photo: Courtesy of Jurassic Empire Hawai‘i
Admission
Book your two-hour admission tickets online in advance. Everyone 2-years-old and up will need a ticket. General admission is $45 which includes the walkthrough tour of the dino exhibit. Or you can purchase Child VIP Admission for $59, which also includes unlimited access to the bounce houses, fossil dig, dino basketball and dino band. Additional activity tickets can be purchased a la carte and range from $5-$20 per attraction.
What You Need to Know
Strollers are welcome, and they even have an adorable dino stroller for rent. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase from the Convention Center concessions, but no outside food or drink is allowed. Brace yourself for the gift shop packed with dinosaur loot!
Photo: Courtesy of Jurassic Empire Hawai‘i
Our Tips
- Follow along on your phone. Scan the QR code at the entrance for species names, how to pronounce them and cool facts as you stroll through the exhibit.
- Have an escape plan. The realistic, loud dinosaur replicas may scare younger ones, but it’s more likely that they’ll be mesmerized. Also note that the walkthrough is one-way, so you cannot go backwards.
- Take photos. The exhibit is an Instagram dreamland, so snap lots of pics for your feed. We’ve heard a favorite photo moment is of keiki with the dino band!
- Bring socks. Heads-up: socks are required for kids on the bounce houses.
- Save on souvenirs. If you plan to shop at the retail store, consider buying a surprise pack, where you’ll receive either three ($30) or six ($50) gifts.
Jurassic Empire is open Saturday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave., Waikīkī. jurassicempire.com
