FROM his second-floor office Bruce Carlson, director of Waikiki Aquarium, can look across two-plus miles of bay in front of Waikiki to the entrance to Kewalo Basin. An aquarium at
Kewalo Basin entranceIn his dreams he sees the Waikiki Aquarium relocating near the channel mouth in time to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2004.
The site, he says, is nothing less than the world's best location for an aquarium -- in some ways even better than the famous Monterey Bay (Calif.) Aquarium water's-edge site.
The Kewalo locale has a view of Diamond Head, of surfers and of the open ocean, while being backed up by federal and University of Hawaii marine research facilities. It could integrate educational activities with its exhibits as part of a seven-acre marine science campus.
Best of all, Carlson says, Gov. Ben Cayetano shares his vision and hopes. Millions in private money will be needed but the state will be cooperative as part of its Honolulu waterfront redevelopment program.
Carlson calls Kewalo the last great opportunity for a world-class aquarium in Hawaii. The present Waikiki Aquarium is a gem, but a small gem, limited by its site from any great expansion.
The proposed aquarium would be about three times the size of the present Waikiki one with 60,000 square feet of space. Cost? Around $50 million, most of which would have to be privately raised because of the state government's tight financial condition.
Thus, says Carlson, it won't happen unless the public really wants it. Business and industry groups and philanthropic citizens must be persuaded of its worth to Hawaii.
Planning contemplates some 750,000 visitors a year, more than twice what the Waikiki Aquarium draws now but less than half the 1.8 million who see Monterey.
Planners will work closely with tour services that can make or break an attraction with their decisions on whether they can profitably deliver tourists by the multi-bus loads. Their operators customarily want a 30 per cent share of admissions, a key reason for high admission prices to Hawaii attractions.
"Aquarium of Polynesia" is one of the possible names for the new site. This is something the Waikiki Aquarium already is with its superb exhibits of living coral including black coral, the chambered nautilus, cuttlefish and giant clams. These hard-to-achieve living displays were pioneered by programs Waikiki has helped other aquariums copy.
Waikiki also has sharks, seals, jellyfish and a greater variety of shades and colors in fishes than the rainbow, plus hands-on and interactive exhibits. It already is a "must see" for residents and visitors, too many of whom miss it.
Sea Life Park on Windward Oahu is a commercial venture with a different character, best known for its shows with leaping and performing whales and dolphins. The new Maui Ocean Center at Ma'alaea Bay, also commercial, already is billing itself as Maui's most popular visitor attraction. It has divers going into tanks to explain the fish around them and an acrylic tube that allows visitors to seemingly walk through the under-ocean.
OTHER aquarium ventures planned for Hawaii seem to have been scrapped. Thus it comes down to three for the state in the near future -- none of them in head-on competitive with each other. Maui's is alone on its island, and quite good. Waikiki and its possible successor aquarium will share Oahu with Sea Life Park, but with different appeals.
Carlson dreams of a soaring aquarium design that would make it as much of a signature building for Honolulu as Sydney Opera House is for that Australian city.
A.A. Smyser is the contributing editor
and former editor of the the Star-Bulletin
His column runs Tuesday and Thursday.