Fish, coral from off-limits Hawaii come to Waikiki

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.