In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Hawai‘i Revised Statutes §347-2.5, the County of Hawai‘i welcomes all persons accompanied by their fully trained service animal into the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens (‘Zoo’).
A service animal is defined as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.
- Pets, emotional support animals, and comfort animals are not permitted.
- Service animals in training are not permitted.
Hawaii Revised Statutes §347-2.6 makes it unlawful to knowingly misrepresent an animal as a service animal and includes a civil penalty.
Admission Procedure
Prior to admittance to the Zoo, our Zoo or Gift Shop staff will ask the service animal’s handler the following questions, which the handler is required to answer:
- Is this service animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task is the service animal trained to perform?
During your visit:
A. A service animal must be controlled by its handler for the duration of their visit. The service animal must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless its handler’s disability prevents the use of these devices or these devices interfere with the service animal’s safe and effective performance of its task(s). If the latter is true, the handler must maintain control of the animal through voice, signals, or other effective means.
B. If the service animal becomes agitated, behaves improperly, fails to follow its handler’s instructions, or presents a safety concern, a Zoo staff member will identify the problem and request the handler take effective action to control the service animal. If the handler does not immediately and effectively control their service animal, the service animal shall be removed from that area or removed from the Zoo premises at the sole discretion of any Zoo staff member.
C. The service animal must be housebroken. If the service animal excretes any bodily waste in the Zoo, the handler must immediately clean up and sanitize the affected area using their own resources and to the satisfaction of the Zoo staff.
D. The service animal must not approach or enter the following restricted areas at any time:
- Petting Zoo.
- Tiger Exhibit’s hillside area.
The handler is solely responsible for ensuring their service animal is adequately controlled for the duration that they are separated should they decide to enter an area restricted to service animals.
E. A handler shall maintain a minimum of 6 feet of separation between their service animal and:
- All free-roaming birds: The zoo’s free-roaming birds (predominantly peacocks and chickens) act erratically and may display aggressive behavior towards other animals.
- Zoo animals are being walked about the Zoo premises by Zoo staff members or properly trained volunteers. Further, the handler shall not inhibit or restrict any Zoo animal’s course and shall adequately clear a path for said animal to pass.
- All aviary (bird) exhibits and primate (monkey) exhibits, regardless of the presence or positioning of any physical barriers at the exhibit.
F. If a handler fails to adhere to the requirements in items C, D, or E (above), the handler and their service animal may be removed from that area or removed from the Zoo premises at the sole discretion of any Zoo staff member.
Thank you for your cooperation as we strive to provide a safe and positive experience for everyone at the Zoo. If you have any questions or need assistance during your visit, please contact Zoo staff at 808-959-7224 or 808-959-6525.
