Planning Your Visit
All tours will take place rain or shine.
Please arrive 10-15 minutes before the tour start time to check in. All tours begin on the hour.
What to bring:
Kanaloa Octopus Farm is situated outdoors, so we recommend taking precautions against the heat and sunlight. We do have a sunshade covering our facility, but hats will offer additional protection from the elements. Reusable water bottles are beneficial as we do not offer water bottles for sale. Please wear closed-toed shoes to protect your feet from the gravel. Beware of heat exhaustion! Please hydrate prior to your arrival. Masks are not required, but are recommended. And finally, be prepared to have fun!
Where to park (weekday visit; Monday-Friday):
If you are visiting the farm on a weekday, please pull into the Natural Energy Labs of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) Research Campus gate and park directly in front of the farm, or in front of Hale Iako.
Where to park (weekend visit; Saturday and Sunday):
If you are visiting the farm on the weekend, the Natural Energy Labs of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) Research Campus gate will be closed to the public. Please park outside this gate to the right, in front of the guard shack, and wait for a staff member to come and collect you.
Accommodations:
Restrooms, a water fountain, and air conditioning can be found in Hale Iako, across the parking lot north of the Farm.
Check in:
Check in begins at 10 minutes before your start time. Please bring your confirmation number. You do not need a physical copy of the confirmation email to gain entrance, a digital copy on your phone will be accepted. Give your reservation name to the staff member at the gift shop register to check in. ​
Rules:
These rules will also be included in the introduction of the farm tour. Animal care and safety is our priority- failure to follow these rules will result in your removal from the facility.
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After the tour introduction, you will be shown where to wash your hands. Please wash from the tips of your fingers up to your elbows to ensure any hand sanitizers, lotions, or sunscreens come off in the sink, and not in the octopus tanks.
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All interactions with the octopuses must be wrist deep. Please do not dip your arm in any further, as that may scare them and cause them to hide for the duration of the tour.
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Do not touch, move, or shake the octopus dens.
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There are a number of pipes and faucets around the farm- please watch where you walk, stand, and lean up against so you do not trip or become soaked in water.
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Children under the age of 12 must stay within an arms’ length of the adult who brought them. This is to ensure the child feels safe and is following the rules.
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Underwater cameras and phones with underwater housing are allowed to be used on premises. Please rinse them with fresh water before placing them in the tank. If the octopus reaches out to grab your camera, please remove it from their grasp.
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Jewelry: if a 3 year old can take it or break it, so can an octopus. If it is loose fitting or sentimental please remove it before entry to the farm. Well fitting jewelry is encouraged, as the octopuses may become interested in new, shiny objects.
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Please do not scream or yank your hands away from the octopus as this will scare or injure them.