Book Description

The HONOLULU ZOO, Waikiki's Wildlife Treasure, 1915-2015, is a vivid history of this zoo's hundred years from its beginning to the present day, with more than 300 carefully selected photographs, many from private collections never before published. For more than a decade, authors Paul Breese, Honolulu Zoo Director Emeritus, and his spouse, Jean DeMercer-Breese, retired teacher, diligently researched and documented the zoo's long and fascinating history for this book.The zoo in Kapiolani Park began in 1915, led by 25 year old Ben Hollinger, newly elected member of the city's Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Hollinger vigorously carried out the duties of acting zoo director during his time in office, 1914-1926. He obtained and housed lions and bears before he acquired the zoo's major prize, an African elephant named Daisy, in 1916.In 1935 the zoo was named the Waikiki Bird Park and stocked with many birds under the supervision of skilled aviculturist Edwin H. Lewis until 1941.In 1947, a local dairy offered the city of Honolulu its collection of zoo animals including an Asian elephant, Bactrian camel, and two adult chimpanzees. Paul Breese had worked at the San Diego Zoo before World War II. During the war he served in the navy in the Pacific and settled in Hawaii at war's end. His goal was to rebuild the zoo in Honolulu and he and his supporters urged the city to accept the gift animals. The Parks Board did so and named the collection the Honolulu Zoo, employing Breese as the zoo's director. Breese led the major development of the zoo, beginning by obtaining the services of the San Diego Zoo's planner to draw up the Honolulu Zoo's Master Plan. He supervised the construction of many animal enclosures, the zoo's infrastructure, and the planting of many shade trees. Between 1949 and 1958, he made seven trips on freighters from the West Coast to Honolulu, bringing back large numbers of zoo animals. Breese left the zoo's directorship in 1965.This book covers the exciting development of the Honolulu Zoo and its succession of leaders to the present.