RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Visitors yesterday walked in the tube that runs through the giant aquarium at the DFS Galleria in Waikiki. DFS plans to remove the 65,000-gallon aquarium later this month.

Fish left adrift as DFS condemns aquarium

DFS Galleria's plan to remove the two-story saltwater aquarium from its Waikiki store could leave its marine life occupants looking for a new home. Reef sharks, rays, yellow tangs and dozens of other fish have lived in the 65,000-gallon aquarium at Kalakaua and Royal Hawaiian avenues since 2001.

The $2.5 million aquarium with a walk-through tube was part of a $65 million expansion of the shopping complex, but it has not fulfilled DFS's hopes of attracting customers, spokeswoman Sharon Weiner said yesterday. DFS has decided to upgrade the Galleria's image, and the aquarium does not fit with the as-yet-unnamed luxury boutique that will go into the space now occupied by a T-shirt shop, Weiner said. The fish are to be removed from the tank by April 23, she said.

Chris Boyles, whose business Trouble Free Corp. has been contracted to maintain fish in the aquarium, did not respond to calls yesterday seeking comment on where the fish will go.