Hundreds of rare fish and coral pieces from one of the most remote parts of the planet have arrived in bustling Waikiki.
The Waikiki Aquarium is opening a new permanent exhibit on Monday that showcases specimens gathered from the pristine atolls of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
The area is so well-protected it’s generally off-limits to everyone but researchers and Native Hawaiians performing cultural rites.
It promises to be a special treat for scuba divers and fish enthusiasts only rarely able to see species like masked angelfish or table corals that spread out like tabletops around a central stem.
It should also appeal to those curious about the 1,200-mile long string of atolls named a World Heritage Site last year and a marine national monument in 2006.