Many kamaaina grew up with Sea Life Park; the marine attraction/bird sanctuary has been popular for family outings since it opened in 1964. It champions education and conservation through fun, interesting exhibits, shows and interactive encounters with ocean creatures that intrigue even the most avid water babies.

Haven’t been to the park in a while? Here are four reasons to get reacquainted with it. Call or check the website for details.

Shark Trek

Imagine watching a shark glide a foot away — so close you can see the whites of its eyes.

Is your heart racing? Do your chest and throat feel tight? That’s understandable, especially since there are 11 other sharks swimming nearby in a 285,000-gallon, 17-foot-deep tank, and there’s no cage separating you from them.

According to curator Jeff Pawloski, however, there’s nothing to fear: The 30-minute Shark Trek activity, which reopened on June 2 sans barriers, is quite safe.

“We’ve trained the sharks not to associate divers with food,” Pawloski explained. “Instead, they’re fed by staff who are out of the tank with fish attached to poles. The sharks take the fish from the poles, so there’s no visual association between people and food. They know there are specific times and locations where they will be fed, and we feed them well so they have no reason to bother divers other than curiosity.”

Participants walk among the sharks on the floor of the tank, communicating with their guide via the sound system in their headgear, which also carries their air supply. The guide demystifies sharks by describing the anatomy, characteristics, habitats and behaviors of the four species in the tank (sandbar, blacktip reef, whitetip reef and scalloped hammerhead), all of which were collected in Hawaii waters.

Shark Trek is available daily at 10 and 11 a.m., and 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Cost is $69.99 (kamaaina rate is $59.99), including park admission. Participants don’t have to be certified scuba divers or have prior diving experience, but some restrictions do apply.

Keiki Sunday

This new quarterly event fosters kids’ love and respect for the marine environment. “Birds Rock!” was the theme of the inaugural event March 6. Among other activities, youngsters made bird nests out of coconuts and fashioned bird hats out of recycled manila folders, faux feathers and a choice of beaks and feet, depending on whether they were making a seabird or a bird that lives on land. They also learned about Sea Life Park’s Seabird Sanctuary, where native Hawaiian seabirds that can no longer survive in the wild are living in peace and safety.

During “Shark Tales” on June 5, children examined displays of real shark jaws and teeth, strung “shark teeth” necklaces from card stock and enjoyed a “shark teeth” treat (Bugles snacks covered in white chocolate). There were even mermaid sightings in the Shark Trek tank.

The next Keiki Sunday, “A Honu World” on Sept. 4, will focus on sea turtles. The theme of the last event for 2016, on Dec. 4, has yet to be determined.

As usual, though, there will be special activities and entertainment, which might include face painting, a magic show and/or hula and school band performances. Even better, on Keiki Sundays, two children 3 through 12 years old receive free park admission with each paying adult.

Touch Pool

At this recently renovated 3,000-square-foot exhibit, visitors can get up-close looks at an array of undersea creatures and touch them if they want. Surrounded by greenery, it comprises three pools of varying sizes, including a three-tiered main pool that’s home to reef fish, hermit crabs, baby honu (sea turtles) and invertebrates such as sea urchins and sea cucumbers.

A cool feature of the bean-shaped second pool is a clear acrylic observation dome in which kids can crawl to get a 360-degree view of the resident sea stars and moi (threadfish). The small, round third pool holds pencil sea urchins and cleaner shrimp, miniature “vacuums” that will obligingly remove dead skin from guests’ hands.

The Touch Pool is open between 10:30 a.m. and noon, and 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. daily. During those times, a staffer is on hand to talk about the animals and answer questions.

Concert Series

Six of Hawaii’s brightest stars will light up the stage during the new Summer Twilight Concert Series, which begins Saturday at the open-air Makapuu Meadows with headliners Amy Hanaiali‘i and Hoku Zuttermeister. Up next will be Anuhea and the Makaha Sons on July 16, and Willie K and Na Leo Pilimehana on Aug. 13. All of the entertainers have won multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.

Gates will open at 5:30 p.m.; performances will start at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $49.50 at the door. Holders of annual Sea Life Park passes can buy an unlimited number of tickets for $29.

Bring mats or blankets as most seating will be on the lawn. Food and beverages will be available for purchase; no outside edibles and drinks will be allowed except for bottled water.

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.