Places You’d Like to Hear
I love to go all over, from the Windward Mall and Honolulu Museum of Art to Aloun Farms and Sea Life Park. I like to have fun, but some places aren't friendly to the Blind Visually Impaired (BVI) community. When places aren’t accessible to the BVI community, it can lead to feelings of depression, embarrassment, and disappointment. One in four people with vision loss tend to have high levels of anxiety and depression. This is attributed to the loss of access to various places and people. Not all places are like that, though, such as ‘Iolani Palace.
‘Iolani Palace was built in 1882 by King Kalākaua and served as the residence for Hawai'i's last reigning monarchs. It remained an official royal residence until the overthrow of Queen Lili’uokalani. Located in downtown Honolulu, it is registered as a National Historic Landmark and is the only royal palace in the United States. Fun fact: ‘Iolani Palace was the first place in Hawai’i to have electric lights, which were installed on July 21, 1886. The palace is named after King Kamehameha V’s brother, Alexander Liholiho ‘Iolani.
I visited ‘Iolani Palace on March 15, 2022, with another person, and it was a wonderful experience. The staff was friendly and informative, providing shoe covers to protect the floors and headphones to describe the exhibits inside. The listening devices offered clear and specific descriptions of each exhibit. I believe ‘Iolani Palace is a great place to visit for the BVI community because the staff asked if I wanted to feel the intricate patterns and explained the arts and history of the palace. The palace was spacious, and I felt confident using my cane. Although I still needed someone to help identify the numbers that matched each exhibit, I would love to return, as it’s a place I would like to hear more about.
The Waikiki Aquarium, located in Honolulu, Hawai’i, in the Waikiki Marine Life Conservation District, was founded in 1904. Since 1919, it has been operated by the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. The aquarium houses many rare species, including the black-tip reef shark and flashback cuttlefish. Fun fact: The Waikiki Aquarium is the third oldest public aquarium in the United States. It began with 35 tanks and 400 marine organisms, supported by donations from James Bicknell Castle, Charles Montague Cooke, and Anna Rice Cooke.
My last visit to the Waikiki Aquarium was on March 10, 2023, a cloudy day. The staff was kind and tried to resolve issues with the headphones that provided descriptive information. Unfortunately, the aquarium lacked braille signs or descriptions on displays, and my phone couldn’t scan the QR codes. I had to ask someone to read the exhibits, which was frustrating as it prevented me from being independent. Additionally, finding the touch screens was challenging due to their random placement. Despite these challenges, I enjoyed parts of the aquarium, especially the shark tank exhibit. Overall, my experience was disappointing, but I hope the Waikiki Aquarium will become more accessible in the future because I’d like to hear more about it. Ms. Marri and Travel Visions want people to know that we are capable of living full and happy lives, so keep reading my blog to find out about more adventures! —Kelly
Citations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, September 27). Vision loss and Mental Health.
- Dimple. (2023, July 6). Waikiki Aquarium. Hawaii Travel Guide.
- O’ahu – Waikīkī. Division of Aquatic Resources. (2015, April 1). Hawaii Marine Life Conservation Districts.
- Waikīkī Aquarium.
