Panaewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens in Hilo, Hawaii - The United States' Only Natural Tropical Rainforest Zoo

Looking for a great activity that the entire family will enjoy? Visit the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens. It is located in Hilo, Hawaii, just off highway 11 and is the United States' only tropical rainforest zoo.

As you enter the zoo, you'll see a gorgeous water garden filled with a bubbling waterfall and large Victoria water lilies. Just to the right of the garden is Max, a colorful, talking parrot. Listed on his cage are all the words that make up his vocabulary. Spend a minute with him to see if he's in a chatty mood. Maybe you'll even be able to teach him a new word or two?

On the left side of the entrance is an enclosure that looks like a greenhouse. This is the zoo's Butterfly House. The Butterfly House is filled with delicious flowers that butterflies love to eat. Step inside and see if you can find some.

As you continue along the path, you'll pass a buffet of tropical foliage. Many have plaques to help you identify them. If you follow the path, it'll curve left and split two different animal dwellings. On the left, you'll find some giant anteaters named Spike and Penny Ant-E and some axis deer named Faline, Dotty Boy and Cupid. While the two anteaters were born in Florida, the three deer were born and raised right there in the zoo. On the right, you'll see some jungle fowl and ibis.

Continuing along the path you'll see Hawaii's state bird, the nene or Hawaiian goose. These endangered birds look like a smaller version of the Canadian goose and are endemic to the Big Island and Maui, where they live high atop the mountain slopes.

The education building is just around the bend. This is a nice place to stop for lunch because it contains several picnic benches and bathrooms to wash up in. This is also a great place to watch the free-roaming peafowl (more commonly known as peacocks). You'll find these birds strutting around and may even catch the male shaking his tail feathers to attract the ladies.

On Saturdays, you will want to stop in at The Barn, where the petting zoo is open from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Here you'll find a variety of animals like ducks, guinea pigs, a pot-bellied pig, a llama, a Hawaiian hawk and a hand-raised mongoose.

Further along, you'll find enclosures of feral pigs, feral goats and African pygmy goats and several bird cages containing macaws, parrots and a pueo or owl. The goats stand proudly atop their rock mountain and the parrots' calls cut through the air.

Still further along are two cages of capuchin monkeys. Native to Central and South America, they are of the same family as the squirrel and spider monkeys. Housed nearby are some turtles, tropical squirrels, lemurs and a two-toed sloth named Lolohi.

In the far corner of the zoo is the African Aviary, home to the crowned crane and white-faced whistling tree ducks. Adjacent to them are the kinkajous and binturongs. A kinkajou is a small mammal that live among the trees and are most active at night. Panaewa's kinkajous are called Lilo and Stitch. Binturongs are similar to kinkajous because they are also nocturnal and arboreal. However, these animals are in danger of becoming extinct because of poaching and a shrinking habitat.

The zoo's main attraction is Namaste, a male white Bengal tiger. He is housed in a large, one-acre enclosure that contains a grassy hill and pond. Namaste was donated to the zoo by Dirk Arthur, a Las Vegas magician. The public can witness tiger feedings at 3:30 p.m. daily. His diet is made up of 3 whole chickens, 10 lb. meat, ground bone and vitamins per day. His enclosure allows him to come within several yards of zoo visitors. He is definitely a sight to see with his dark brown stripes on white fur and clear blue eyes.

The Panaewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on Christmas and New Year's days, and is free to the public. It is run by the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation. It is a great family adventure that is educational and fun for all.