HONOLULU (KHON2) — Sea Life Park Hawaii is inviting the public to participate in naming two young sharks as part of their festivities for World Reef Day celebrations.
Working alongside Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School, children ranging from pre-K to sixth grade have contributed their suggestions for names, and currently, eight top choices are open for public voting. The naming competition can be found active on the park’s Instagram account at @sealifepark and will continue until noon on May 27th.
The winners will be announced at Sea Life Park’s Keiki Sunday Mālama Kai – World Reef Day event on June 1st, which takes place after the Aloha Nai‘a dolphin performance at 12:30 p.m., located at the Hawaiian Reef Habitat.
“This collaboration with Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary allows students to engage directly with marine life and gain knowledge about conservation,” stated Michael Davis, who serves as the park’s education manager.
Every shark pup exhibits distinct characteristics. Among them is one called “The Big Shark,” recognized for being the most daring swimmer within the Hawaiian Reef Lagoon at the park. As stated in its profile: “Being the largest shark in this lagoon makes me quite significant.”
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Here are some naming suggestions for this energetic puppy including:
-
Bluey
(Pre-K) -
Charzard
(Kindergarten) -
Koa
(1st grade) -
Shadow
(2nd grade)
The second one, “The Shy Shark,” is a tranquil watcher that favors peaceful waters and dimly lit areas.
The finalists for this puppy’s name are:
-
Pearl
(3rd grade) -
Mālie
(4th grade) -
Midnight
(5th grade) -
Moonie
(6th grade)
“The shark-themed project seemed like a perfect match for us since our school mascot is a shark,” explained Chelsea Tavo, who works as an instructional coach at Pearl Harbor Kai. “It offers a significant opportunity for our military families to form enduring memories here in Hawai‘i.”
The student ambassadors at the school will participate in the event on June 1 to assist with revealing the winning names.
The World Reef Day celebration will begin with a beach clean-up at Baby Makapuʻu Beach starting at 8:30 a.m., followed by the release of a green sea turtle at 9:30 a.m. The park will open for visitors at 10 a.m.
Event highlights include:
- Shark puppy naming announcement event
- Complimentary kids’ face painting and keepsake photo booth available.
- Meet-and-greets with storybook characters
- Keiki hula performance and kapa making
- Artisan market and sea creature presentations
A exclusive buy-one-get-one offer will be offered as well: for each full-priced adult ticket purchased, one child ticket (for children aged 4–12) will be complimentary. This promotion adheres to Kama’āina pricing rules, and those who hold an annual pass can enter for free throughout the year. Additionally, children below the age of three continue to have free admission.
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Tickets along with additional details can be found at
www.sealifeparkhawaii.com
, or by dialing (808) 259-2500.
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