Historic Richardson Ocean Center building surrounded by tropical vegetation

The Ocean Center

The Heart of Richardson's Marine Community

Written by a Local Expert

The Honu of Richardson's: A Sacred Encounter

Of all the creatures you can see here, none captures the heart quite like the honu, the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle. For many Hawaiian families, the honu is a revered ʻaumakua, a spiritual guardian and ancestor. Seeing them is a privilege, and it comes with a deep responsibility, or kuleana.

At Richardson's, you'll see them doing two main things: basking on the warm black sand to rest and regulate their body temperature, and foraging for limu in the shallow waters. It's an incredible sight, but it is critical that you give them space. State and federal laws, as well as local custom, require you to stay at least 10-15 feet away at all times, whether they are on land or in the water. Never touch a turtle, chase it, or block its path. The best way to show your aloha is with your distance.

If you see a turtle that appears to be sick, injured, or entangled, please do not intervene. Instead, call the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at 1-888-256-9840 to report it.

The World in the Tide Pools

Don't forget to explore the shallow tide pools along the rocky shoreline, especially at low tide. They are miniature ecosystems teeming with fascinating creatures.

Rock-boring Urchin (ʻIna ʻeleʻele)

A small, black sea urchin that uses its spines to carve out a perfectly sized home in the solid lava rock.

Black Rock Crab (ʻAʻama)

A large, flat, black crab that seems to defy gravity as it scurries across the wave-splashed lava rocks.

Featherduster Worm (Kaunaʻoa)

Looks like a beautiful, feathery flower expanding in the water. Touch the water near it, and it will retract into its tube in a flash!

Snakehead Cowry (Leho kupa)

A common and beautifully patterned snail. After the snail dies, its empty shell often becomes a mobile home for a hermit crab (unauna).

Black Sea Cucumber (Loli)

A soft-bodied, black, sausage-shaped creature found on the sandy bottom of pools. They are the clean-up crew of the reef.

Brittle Star (Peʻa)

A delicate, fast-moving relative of the sea star, usually found hiding under rocks. If you lift a rock, be sure to gently place it back exactly as you found it.

The Heart of the Park: The Richardson Ocean Center

Many visitors walk right past the beautiful, historic home at the center of the park, assuming it's just a park office or a small museum. Some online guides might vaguely call it a "marine center." But the truth is so much more profound. This is not the Maui Ocean Center with massive public aquariums and ticket booths. This is the Richardson Ocean Center, a place of learning, community, and the perpetuation of Hawaiian ocean culture. It is the true soul of the park.

A Historic Home Reborn: The New Exhibits

The Center recently underwent a major $5 million renovation, completed in March 2024, which not only upgraded the entire space but also made it fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), making it more accessible to everyone in our community.

One of the most exciting results of this renovation is a new partnership with the prestigious Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum in Honolulu. The museum has loaned a collection of artifacts and informational displays that are now housed within the Ocean Center. These exhibits focus specifically on Hawaiian ocean traditions, bringing to life the history of heʻe nalu (surfing), traditional sailing and voyaging, and lawaiʻa (fishing). This collaboration elevates the center from a simple community building to a legitimate cultural institution, offering a glimpse into the deep relationship between the Hawaiian people and the sea.

Where Keiki Connect with the Kai: The Center's Youth Programs

This is the story that most guides miss, and it's the most important one. The Richardson Ocean Center is home to incredible, free programs for local youth that are designed to build confidence, teach responsibility, and foster a deep connection to the ocean.

🛶 ʻIke Kai Program

Run by the Hawaiʻi County Department of Parks and Recreation, the ʻIke Kai (Ocean Knowledge) program is a free summer and after-school enrichment opportunity for children ages 8 to 12. The curriculum blends modern Western marine science with traditional Hawaiian knowledge, or ʻike. The kids conduct hands-on studies of the coastal ecosystem, participate in the restoration of ancient Hawaiian fishponds (loko iʻa), and learn the skills to sail a traditional Hawaiian canoe.

🏄 Surfers Healing Camp

Another incredibly moving program hosted at Richardson's is the Surfers Healing camp. Founded in 1996 by a couple for their autistic son, this non-profit holds a free, one-day camp here for children with autism and other special needs. For many children on the autism spectrum, who can be prone to sensory overload, the rhythmic motion and feeling of gliding on a wave can be profoundly calming and therapeutic.

When I see a child from Hilo, whose parents might work two jobs, get the chance to connect with the same voyaging traditions that brought our people to these shores, I know this place is special. The ocean becomes their classroom, and the lessons they learn are for life.

The Center's Role in Grassroots Marine Conservation

The Richardson Ocean Center demonstrates that true, lasting conservation isn't just about signs and regulations. It's about education and inspiration. It's about fostering a genuine love and respect for the environment. By providing these programs, the center is doing more than just keeping kids busy—it's engaging in a powerful form of proactive, grassroots conservation. It is creating the next generation of kamaʻāina (locals) who possess deep ocean knowledge and feel a profound sense of kuleana (responsibility) to care for the marine resources that sustain us all.