Sophia Benz, 6, takes a close look at an exhibit at the Waikiki Aquarium. Higher entry fees to the aquarium are being proposed; see the chart below for details.
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The cost of admission to the Waikiki Aquarium will go up by several dollars on Aug. 1 under a fee proposal up for final approval by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents this morning.
But regents raised concerns over the fee increase to $4 for children between the ages of 5 and 12. Children under 12 are currently admitted free with an adult admission.
The aquarium, which is managed by UH-Manoa, has not increased fees in 10 years, since they were first enacted in March 1994.
Aquarium Director Andrew Rossiter said the costs to run the aquarium have risen since then.
Admission fees, facilities rentals and other programs and donations account for 78 percent of the aquarium's annual $2.2 million budget, with the remaining 22 percent coming from the state general fund.Regent Jane Tatibouet, citing the need to keep the aquarium affordable for local families and its mission to educate children, expressed concern about the fee increase for kids.
"I think the children are what we are all about," Tatibouet said.
Under the proposed fee increase, children under 5 would continue to get in free, but children ages 5 to 17 would pay $4. Currently, children ages 13 through 17 pay $3.50.
Regent Myron Yamasato asked if reducing the fee for children ages 5 to 12 would have a major impact on the aquarium's revenues.
Rossiter said reducing the fee probably would not have a major impact and added that he would not object if the fee for children ages 5 to 12 was $1, the same cost as admission to the Honolulu Zoo.
He noted that children in school groups and senior citizen tours would remain free, as would admission for members of the Friends of the Waikiki Aquarium, who pay an annual fee.
Under the proposed fee increase, general admission would go up 28 percent to $9 from $7. Local residents with a Hawaii ID would pay $6 instead of the current $5, a 20 percent increase.
The rental fee for use of the aquarium for functions after hours would go up 150 percent to $750 from the current $300.
The facilities committee of the board approved the increase yesterday with the understanding that the aquarium consider reducing the fee for children ages 5 to 12 to $1.
The proposal advanced to the full board, which is scheduled to vote on it today.
