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Hawaii News

Officials urged to ‘step up’ on zoo

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STAR-ADVERTISER

Fundraising is one area that officials agree can be improved upon at the Honolulu Zoo. The nonprofit Honolulu Zoo Society’s cash contributions over the past five years have averaged just 5 percent of the zoo’s operating budget. Meanwhile, the majority of operating funds at other AZA-accredited zoos typically comes from private fundraising.

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“The zoo is going in the right direction, and care for the animals is superb and that matters most of all. … If AZA feels the zoo isn’t getting enough county funding, it’s likely because those funds are being expended on higher-priority issues involving human lives.”

George D. Szigeti

Chief executive, Hawaii Tourism Authority